What Academy / Oscar Awards has Star Wars film won?

28 February 2023
Star Wars is an epic space opera franchise that has captured the imagination of generations of moviegoers since its debut in 1977. Created by George Lucas, the original film was an instant sensation, grossing over $775 million at the box office and changing the landscape of Hollywood forever. The film also received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its groundbreaking special effects, iconic characters, and thrilling storyline.

The success of Star Wars at the box office was matched by its achievements at the Academy Awards, where it received a total of ten nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for George Lucas. Although it did not win in these categories, it did take home six Oscars for its technical achievements, including Best Original Score for John Williams, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound.

One of the standout performances in Star Wars was delivered by the legendary British actor Alec Guinness, who played the wise Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. Guinness was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 50th Academy Awards, which was a testament to his talent and skill as an actor. Although he did not win, his performance in Star Wars remains one of the most iconic and beloved in the history of cinema.

luke tatooine concept

In addition to its critical and commercial success, Star Wars has also had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring countless sequels, spin-offs, and merchandise. Its influence can be seen in everything from video games to music, and its characters and storylines have become an indelible part of our collective imagination.

Over the years, the Star Wars franchise has continued to be recognized by the Academy Awards, with the most recent film in the series, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, receiving three nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, including Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. While it did not win any of these awards, the continued recognition of Star Wars by the Academy is a testament to its enduring legacy and impact on the world of cinema.

Here is a list of Academy Award nominations and wins for the Star Wars franchise, ordered by the year in which they were awarded:

  • 1978 Academy Awards (50th):
    • Nominated for Best Picture (Gary Kurtz, producer) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Director (George Lucas) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Original Screenplay (George Lucas) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi) - did not win
    • Won for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Roger Christian)
    • Won for Best Costume Design (John Mollo)
    • Won for Best Film Editing (Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, Richard Chew)
    • Won for Best Original Score (John Williams)
    • Won for Best Sound (Don MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler, Derek Ball)
    • Won for Best Visual Effects (John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune, Robert Blalack)
  • 1981 Academy Awards (53rd):
    • Nominated for Best Original Score (John Williams for The Empire Strikes Back) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Sound (Bill Varney, Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker, Peter Sutton for The Empire Strikes Back) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Harry Lange for The Empire Strikes Back) - did not win
    • Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects (Brian Johnson, Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, Bruce Nicholson for The Empire Strikes Back)
  • 1984 Academy Awards (56th):
    • Nominated for Best Original Score (John Williams for Return of the Jedi) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Sound (Ben Burtt, Gary Summers, Randy Thom, Tony Dawe for Return of the Jedi) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Norman Reynolds, Fred Hole, James Schoppe for Return of the Jedi) - did not win
    • Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects (Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, Phil Tippett for Return of the Jedi)
  • 1998 Academy Awards (70th):
    • Won for Best Sound Editing (Ben Burtt for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Special Edition)
  • 2000 Academy Awards (72nd):
    • Nominated for Best Sound (Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Shawn Murphy, John Midgley for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Visual Effects (John Knoll, Dennis Muren, Scott Squires, Rob Coleman for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace) - did not win
  • 2003 Academy Awards (75th):
  • 2006 Academy Awards (78th):
    • Nominated for Best Achievement in Makeup (Dave Elsey, Nikki Gooley for Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith) - did not win
  • 2016 Academy Awards (88th):
    • Nominated for Best Film Editing (Maryann Brandon, Mary Jo Markey for Star Wars: The Force Awakens) - did not win
    • Nominated for Best Original Score (John Williams)
ben burtt mark hamil special oscar award C3PO


 How Maria Lucas helped edit Star Wars and won the Oscar

Marcia Lucas, who was married to George Lucas during the production of the original Star Wars trilogy, played a significant role in the film's success at the 1978 Academy Awards, particularly in the Best Film Editing category. Marcia was a skilled film editor and had previously worked with George on American Graffiti (1973), which was also nominated for the Best Film Editing award.

For Star Wars, Marcia played a key role in shaping the film's story and pacing through her editing work. She worked closely with George and the other editors, Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew, to refine the film's structure and emotional tone, particularly in the climactic trench run sequence.

In fact, it was Marcia who suggested that Luke Skywalker's last-minute use of the Force to destroy the Death Star should be set up earlier in the film, by having Obi-Wan Kenobi teach him to trust his instincts.

Marcia's work on Star Wars was also notable for her use of sound and music to enhance the film's emotional impact. She helped to shape the film's iconic sound design, including the now-famous "lightsaber hum," and worked closely with composer John Williams to create a score that perfectly complemented the action on screen.

In addition to her work on Star Wars, Marcia Lucas had a successful career as a film editor, working on a number of critically acclaimed films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She collaborated with Martin Scorsese on several films, including Taxi Driver (1976), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), which won the Best Actress Oscar for Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream).

Here is a list of all the films on which Marcia Lucas is credited as an editor:
  • THX 1138 (1971)
  • American Graffiti (1973)
  • Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
  • Star Wars (1977)
  • The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - as a supervising editor
  • Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - as a supervising editor
  • Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985) - as a creative consultant
Marcia's contributions to the art of film editing have been recognized by her peers in the industry. In 1978, she became the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Film Editing, for her work on Star Wars.

 

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My name is Jimmy Jangles, the founder of The Astromech. I have always been fascinated by the world of science fiction, especially the Star Wars universe, and I created this website to share my love for it with fellow fans.

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