Star Wars at the Oscars

Everybody seems to like Star Wars, both men and women, old and young, and everyone in between. It has left its mark on modern pop culture and completely revolutionized the film industry. But have you ever wondered how well it has been received by movie critics? More specifically, the Academy Awards? I’ve made a list of all the Oscars the six Star Wars movies have won or at least been nominated for, starting with 1977’s A New Hope. Awards won are listed in bold.


Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

- Best Art Direction -- John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Roger Christian
- Best Costume Design -- John Mollo
- Best Film Editing -- Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, Richard Chew
- Best Original Score -- John Williams
- Best Visual Effects -- Industrial Light & Magic: Richard Edlund, John Stears, John Dykstra, Grant McCune, Robert Blalack
- Special Achievement Award (Sound Effects) -– Ben Burtt
- Best Supporting Actor -- Alec Guiness (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
- Best Writing -- George Lucas
- Best Director -- George Lucas
- Best Picture of the Year -- George Lucas, Gary Kurtz (Producer)


Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

- Best Sound -- Bill Varney, Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker, Peter Sutton
- Special Achievement Award (Visual Effects) -- Industrial Light & Magic: Dennis Muren, Richard Edlung, Brian Johnson, Bruce Nicholson
- Best Art Direction -- Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Harry Lange, Alan Tomkins, Michael Ford
- Best Original Score -- John Williams


Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

- Special Achievement Award (Visual Effects) -- Industrial Light & Magic: Dennis Muren, Richard Edlung, Phil Tippett, Ken Ralston
- Best Art Direction -- Norman Reynolds, Fred Hole, James Schoppe, Michael Ford
- Best Original Score -- John Williams
- Best Sound -- Ben Burtt, Gary Summers, Randy Thom, Tony Dawe
- Best Sound Effects Editing -- Ben Burtt


Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

- Best Sound -- Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Shawn Murphy, John Midgley
- Best Sound Effects Editing -- Ben Burtt, Tom Bellfort
- Best Visual Effects -- Industrial Light & Magic: Dennis Muren, John Knoll, Scott Squires, Rob Coleman


Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

- Best Visual Effects -- Industrial Light & Magic: Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll, Ben Snow


Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

- Best Make-Up -- Dave Elsey, Nikki Gooley

So it won 9 Oscars out of 24. Not bad, but I'm still wondering why it didn't win more Best Visual Effects awards, with Episode III not even being nominated for it. Actually, none of the prequels won anything. Still, it’s a very impressive list of achievements and shows that everyone acknowledges the awesomeness of one of the greatest, most technologically advanced movies series ever made. Remember, the Force will be with you, always.