“Bridesmaids” and “The Hunger Games” dominate the nominations for the 21st annual edition of the MTV Movie Awards with eight bids apiece. For the first time, the net convened a panel of industry experts to determine the contenders in the dozen races. (See full list of nominations here.)
Both of these female-driven pictures contend for Movie of the Year against three other films that feature strong women: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” “The Help” and “Breaking Dawn: Part 1.”
And both of the leading contenders boast a pair of performers who landed a leading four bids: Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig from “Bridesmaids” and “Hunger Games” star-crossed lovers Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. “21 Jump Street” buddies Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill also received four nods apiece.
This year’s kudos include four new categories. All the Movie of the Year contenders but “Breaking Dawn: Part 1” are up for Best Cast. The fifth slot went to “21 Jump Street.”
The ladies from “Bridesmaids” have to be frontrunners for Best Gut-Wrenching Performances. They vie for this popcorn bucket against Tom Cruise (“MI-4”), Ryan Gosling (“Drive”), Jonah Hill & Rob Riggle (“21 Jump Street”) and Bryce Dallas Howard (“The Help”).
Howard is also in the running for the new prize Best On-Screen Dirtbag. She competes against “Horrible Bosses” Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell, “Bridesmaids” baddie Jon Hamm and Oliver Cooper (“Project X”).
Farrell is among those vying for Best On-Screen Transformation against Oscar nominees Rooney Mara (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Michelle Williams (“My Week with Marilyn”) as well as Elizabeth Banks (“The Hunger Games”) and Johnny Depp (“21 Jump Street”).
The only race not decided by popular vote is Breakthrough Performance. Nominees are Elle Fanning (“Super 8”), Liam Hemsworth (“The Hunger Games”), McCarthy, Mara, and Shailene Woodley (“The Descendants”).
Voting for the other 11 races is underway now online and will continue until showtime on June 3.
