LOS ANGELES: Dark comedy “Birdman” won the most nominations for the Golden Globes on Thursday, securing another boost for its awards season hopes leading up to the all-important Oscars in February.

The film, which stars Michael Keaton as a washed-up superhero film star trying to revive his career on the stage, earned seven nods for the Globes, one day after topping the list for the key Screen Actors Guild awards.

Tied for second in the Globes nominations tally were coming-of-age drama “Boyhood” and Nazi code-breaking thriller “The Imitation Game” with five each.

Among the acting highlights, veterans Julianne Moore and Bill Murray both won two nominations.

On the small screen, “Fargo” took the most nominations with five for the 72nd Golden Globes show, the second most high-profile awards show after the Oscars.

The best motion picture drama nominees for the Globes, which will be handed out on January 11 in Beverly Hills, are “Boyhood,” “Foxcatcher,” “The Imitation Game,” “Selma” and “The Theory of Everything."

In the race for best comedy or musical film are “Birdman,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Into the Woods,” “Pride” and “St. Vincent."

“Birdman” had already topped the nominees list for the Independent Spirit awards announced last month, also seen as a key pre-Oscars indicator.

On Thursday, the movie scooped Globes nominations for best comedy/musical, best actor for Keaton, best director for Mexico's Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, as well as best supporting actor nods for Emma Stone and Edward Norton.

It is also shortlisted for best original score and best screenplay.

Strong showing for 'Boyhood'

The five nominations for “Boyhood” included best director for Richard Linklater, best drama film, best supporting actor and actress for Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, and best screenplay.

“The Imitation Game” won nods for best drama film, best actor for Britain's Benedict Cumberbatch, best supporting actress for his compatriot Keira Knightley, as well as best original score and screenplay.

In the best comedy/musical actor category, former “Batman” star Keaton will take on Ralph Fiennes ( “The Grand Budapest Hotel “), Murray ( “St. Vincent “), Joaquin Phoenix ( “Inherent Vice “) and Christoph Waltz for Tim Burton's “Big Eyes."

Best comedy/musical actress nominees are Amy Adams for “Big Eyes,” Emily Blunt ( “Into the Woods “), Helen Mirren ( “The Hundred-Foot Journey “), Moore for “Maps to the Stars” and 11-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis for “Annie."

In the drama categories, best actor nominees are Cumberbatch, Steve Carell ( “Foxcatcher “), Jake Gyllenhaal (“Nightcrawler “), David Oyelowo ( “Selma “) and Eddie Redmayne for the Stephen Hawking biopic “The Theory of Everything."

Jennifer Aniston is up for best drama actress for “Cake” against Felicity Jones ( “The Theory of Everything “), Moore ( “Still Alice “), Rosamund Pike ( “Gone Girl “) and Reese Witherspoon in “Wild."

The Globes nominations were announced a day after the SAG award contenders.

“Birdman” topped that list with four nods, including best ensemble cast and best actor for Keaton.

Although more high-profile than the SAGs, the Golden Globes are seen as less of an indicator of Oscars glory, as a relatively small group of non-US journalists chooses the winners, rather than the industry itself.

The Academy Awards will be held on February 22.