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A celebration of cinematic excellence -

The Academy Awards are the most prestigious accolades in the world of cinema. Presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), these awards honor outstanding achievements in filmmaking, from acting to directing and beyond.

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A golden tradition -

The Oscars began in 1929 as a modest ceremony at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Today, they have grown into a global spectacle, watched by millions around the world in celebration of the art and craft of storytelling through film.

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The iconic golden statuette -

Each Oscar winner receives a coveted gold-plated statuette, officially called the Academy Award of Merit. This iconic figure represents a knight holding a crusader’s sword, standing atop a reel of film.

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A reflection of cinema’s evolution -

Over the decades, the Oscars have evolved alongside the film industry, recognizing diverse genres, groundbreaking technologies, and global talent. From silent films to blockbuster epics, the awards spotlight the ever-changing landscape of cinematic storytelling.

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The pinnacle of recognition -

Winning an Oscar is considered the ultimate honor in filmmaking, often propelling careers and cementing legacies. But while some films and individuals have made their singular mark, there are others that have stood out above the rest. Let’s see what (or who) they are!

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Most awards won by a single film -

The 1959 classic ‘Ben-Hur’ is one of three films to be awarded the most Oscars. The film raced into the record books with 11 wins from 12 nominations. Its epic scale, groundbreaking action sequences, and spiritual depth highlighted Hollywood’s Golden Age, making it a monumental achievement in film history.

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Most awards won by a single film -

Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ was released in 2003 as the final film in an epic trilogy originally penned by J.R.R. Tolkien, and it swept all 11 Oscars it was nominated for, including Best Picture. This historic clean sweep crowned the epic trilogy and showcased the boundless storytelling power of cinematic fantasy.

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Most awards won by a single film -

James Cameron’s ‘Titanic’ (1997) also made waves after winning 11 awards at the Oscars. Its tale of love and loss aboard a doomed ship captivated hearts, and is one of the highest-grossing films of all time, with a box-office gross of US$2.264 billion.

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Most nominations received by a single film -

Interestingly, ‘Titanic’ is also one of three films tied for the most nominations at the Academy Awards. Although the film won 11 Oscars, it was nominated for 14.

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Most nominations received by a single film -

The 1950 drama ‘All About Eve’ also earned 14 nominations. It won six Oscars, including Best Picture. A biting exploration of ambition and rivalry in show business, the film delivered unforgettable performances and iconic lines, remaining a classic of sharp wit.

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Most nominations received by a single film -

The musical ‘La La Land’ (2016) waltzed into the Oscars with 14 nominations and won six, tying for the most nominations ever. Its heartfelt homage to Hollywood musicals combined vibrant visuals and stirring music that enchanted audiences and critics alike.

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A new candidate -

Recently, the Academy Awards announced the nominations for the 97th edition of the Oscars, and the leading contender in terms of number of nominations is the 2024 musical crime film ‘Emilia Pérez,’ with 13 nods. Astonishingly, it is the first non-English film to ever reach this number, and the world will wait with bated breath to see how many wins, if any, the movie takes home.

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A musical wonder -

Interestingly, of the 13 nominations that ‘Emilia Pérez’ received, two of them were for the same category: Best Original Song. The two nominated songs were written and created by composer Clément Ducol and singer Camille.

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Most total awards won by a person -

The record for the most Oscars won by a single individual belongs to Walt Disney, who earned an incredible 22 competitive Academy Awards during his lifetime, along with four honorary Oscars. His groundbreaking contributions to animation and family entertainment revolutionized cinema, with classics like ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937) and ‘Fantasia’ (1940) among his enduring legacies.

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Most total awards won by a person -

Dennis Muren, a legendary visual effects artist, holds nine Academy Awards (six competitive and three special awards), which is the most of anyone alive. Muren’s groundbreaking work on films like ‘Star Wars’ (1977) and ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982) revolutionized the way audiences experience cinema.

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Most total awards won by a person -

While Dennis Muren has won the most Oscars in total for anyone alive, music composer Alan Menken boasts the most number of competitive Academy Awards, which is eight! Menken earned all of his awards for his work on Disney classics. His wins include Best Original Song and Best Original Score for films like ‘The Little Mermaid’ (1989) and ‘Aladdin’ (1992).

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Most total nominations for a person -

Walt Disney also holds the record for the most number of Academy Award nominations, with 59 nominations throughout his illustrious career. His unparalleled contributions to animation, shorts, and documentaries brought him unmatched recognition from the Academy.

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Most total awards won by a woman -

The record for the most Oscars won by a woman is held by Edith Head, a legendary costume designer who won eight Academy Awards from 35 nominations. Known for her impeccable designs in films like ‘The Sting’ (1973) and ‘Roman Holiday’ (1953), Head’s work defined Hollywood elegance during the Golden Age of cinema.

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Most nominations received by a non-English country -

France holds the record for the most nominations in the Best International Feature Film category, with 41 nods. Known for its rich cinematic tradition, including films like ‘Indochine’ (1992), France has consistently delivered acclaimed films that have captivated global audiences.

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Most awards won by a non-English country -

Italy leads the pack with the most wins in the Best International Feature Film category, having secured 14 Oscars. Iconic filmmakers like Federico Fellini and Vittorio De Sica contributed to Italy’s dominance with masterpieces such as ‘La Dolce Vita’ (1960) and ‘Bicycle Thieves’ (1948).

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"Big Five" winner -

The "Big Five" Academy Awards—Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)—have been won by only three films in Oscar history. The first to achieve this was the 1934 romantic comedy ‘It Happened One Night.’

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"Big Five" winner -

The second film to win all of the Big Five awards was ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ (1975), which was adapted from a novel originally written by Ken Kesey. The film is a cinematic triumph that explores themes of individuality, authority, and the human spirit.

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"Big Five" winner -

The third and most recent film to have won the Big Five was the 1991 psychological horror ‘The Silence of the Lambs,’ starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. The film was also adapted from a novel, and it is (to date) the only horror film to have won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

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Most awards won by a non-English film -

Despite the more than 200 non-English language films nominated since the creation of the Oscars, only four films have received a maximum of four awards (the most achieved by any international feature). The first film to achieve this was the 1982 period drama ‘Fanny and Alexander,’ from Sweden.

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Most awards won by a non-English film -

The second non-English film to be awarded four Oscars was Taiwan's ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000). Incidentally, the film received 10 nominations, which was the most nominations ever for a non-English language film at the time.

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Most awards won by a non-English film -

Another international feature to win four awards was the South Korean black comedy ‘Parasite’ (2019). The film was the first non-English feature in the history of the Academy Awards to win Best Picture, and it was also the first South Korean film to receive any recognition at the Oscars.

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Most awards won by a non-English film -

The fourth film to go home with four Oscars was the 2022 German anti-war feature ‘All Quiet on the Western Front,’ which was adapted from the 1929 novel by Erich Maria Remarque.

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Worthy of the craft -

From films that swept the ceremony with record-breaking wins, to individuals whose unparalleled talents earned countless nominations, these achievements represent the pinnacle of artistic excellence. They remind us of the dedication that defines the best in filmmaking, as well as the potential that humanity has for exceptional creativity.

Sources: (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) (Britannica)

See also: How are Oscar nominees and winners chosen?

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