Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Aida Takla-O'Reilly (L-R), Actress Megan Fox, Actor Ed Helms and Actress Jessica Alba pose for photographers at the announcement of nominations for the 70th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California December 13, 2012. The awards will be presented on January 13, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

"Lincoln," the tale of US President Abraham Lincoln's battle to end slavery, ruled at the Golden Globe nominations on Thursday, while a very different movie take on slavery - "Django Unchained" - got a big boost in Hollywood's crowded awards season.

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Steven Spielberg's portrayal of one of America's most revered presidents won a leading seven nominations, including best drama, best director, best screenplay and best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role.

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But "Lincoln" faces stiff competition at the Golden Globes from Ben Affleck's Iran hostage drama "Argo" and Quentin Tarantino's dark and quirky slavery-era Western, "Django Unchained".

The best drama nominees were rounded out by thriller "Zero Dark Thirty" about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, with four mentions, and the shipwreck tale, "Life of Pi," with three.

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The Golden Globe Awards, which will be given out by about 80 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) on January 13, are among the most widely watched honors programs leading up to the Oscars in February, although their ultimate choices for best movie rarely coincide.