The 88th Academy Awards will be here in less than two weeks so rather than bore you with odds on which films of 2016 will most likely win; we thought we show you which films have won the most Oscars from the beginning of time. Or, at least, the time when the Academy Awards started last century.
Some films receive all the Oscar hype and anticipation, but can’t seem to turn speculation into a win. Others receive abundant nominations and take home nearly every available trophy.
In case you’ve forgotten, here’s the short list of the most popular Oscar categories and who’s nominated, then you get on to a little history lesson.
BEST PICTURE
- The Big Short
- Bridge of Spies
- Brooklyn
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- The Martian
- The Revenant
- Room
- Spotlight
PERFORMANCE AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
- Bryan Cranston in Trumbo
- Matt Damon in The Martian
- Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant
- Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs
- Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl
PERFORMANCE AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
- Christian Bale in The Big Short
- Tom Hardy in The Revenant
- Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight
- Mark Rylance in Bridge of Spies
- Sylvester Stallone in Creed
PERFORMANCE AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
- Cate Blanchett in Carol
- Brie Larson in Room
- Jennifer Lawrence in Joy
- Charlotte Rampling in 45 Years
- Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn
PERFORMANCE AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
- Jennifer Jason Leigh in The Hateful Eight
- Rooney Mara in Carol
- Rachel McAdams in Spotlight
- Alicia Vikander in The Danish Girl
- Kate Winslet in Steve Jobs
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
- The Big Short Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
- Brooklyn Nick Hornby
- Carol Phyllis Nagy
- The Martian Drew Goddard
- Room Emma Donoghue
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
- Bridge of Spies Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
- Ex Machina Alex Garland
- Inside Out Screenplay Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley; Original story Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen
- Spotlight Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy
- Straight Outta Compton Screenplay Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff; Story S. Leigh Savidge & Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff
The most celebrated Academy Award recipients are the pictures that have swept the awards, having been nominated for several and winning most. With the 88th Academy Awards fast approaching, our friends at Pretty Famous took a look at the films that have won the most Oscars over the years. To do this, we first looked at the films that won the most Oscars and broke ties based on the number of nominations. We sorted this list from fewest to most wins. You may think our addition is off, but there are some films that tied so there will be a few with the same number.
#35. A Man for All Seasons
Oscar Wins: 6
Oscar Nominations: 8
Release Year: 1966
Winning six out of the eight Oscars it was nominated for, “A Man for All Seasons” came about in the era of religious, historical films (think “The Ten Commandments” and “The Greatest Story Ever Told“), telling the story of Sir Thomas More and his support of King Henry VIII in the face of the Pope. Best picture, actor and director were a few of the awards won by this epic film for all seasons.
#35. An American in Paris
Oscar Wins: 6
Oscar Nominations: 8
Release Year: 1951
Gene Kelly is perhaps best known for “Singin’ in the Rain,” but “An American in Paris” remains one of the actor-dancer’s Oscar-winning best. In the film, he plays ex-soldier-turned artist Jerry Mulligan who, while staying in Paris, falls in love with two women: A free-spirited French woman and a rich art collecting heiress.
Dance numbers were choreographed by Kelly, and the score, by the Gershwins, helped win the picture six Oscars.