The Oscars or Academy Awards is the most prestigious award in the world of filmmaking. Along with the Emmys, Grammys, and Tonys, the Oscars are the top most award any actor or filmmaker can win. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) hands out the awards annually. The aim is to recognize the merit and excellency in filmmaking. Oscars have been handed out every year since 1929.
‘Parasite’ won the Oscar for Best Picture and became the first ever foreign language film to bag Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Award. Three films have received the most nominations in Academy history which are ‘Titanic’, ‘All About Eve’ and ‘La La Land’ with 14 nominations each. Dennis Muren and Alan Menken hold the record for the most statuettes received by an alive individual. Whereas, Walt Disney holds the record for most Oscar wins by a person ever with 22 wins out of a whopping 59 nominations. Here are the top 5 films with the most Oscar wins.
Related – Top 10 Movies Snubbed By Oscars In 2023
Top 5 Movies With Most Academy Awards
5. ‘Gigi’ – 9 Oscars
‘Gigi’ is a romantic comedy musical that was released in the year 1958. It is based on the novella written by Colette in 1944. The musical is set in high-society Paris where wealthy men enjoy being with multiple mistresses instead of getting married. One such wealthy man is Gaston Lachaille who enjoys the company of Gigi. They both agree to be platonic but soon start developing feelings for each other. Gigi’s family wants her to become Gaston’s mistress but she refuses to live the uncertain life of mistress.
It stars Leslie Caron, Louis Jordan, and Maurice Chevalier. The film was nominated for nine awards at the 31st Academy Awards, where it cleanly swept and won all nine awards. ‘Gigi‘ held this record until 2004. The film won awards like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, Best Writing (Screenplay), and more.
Also Read – Top 10 Films You Didn’t Know Won Oscars
4. ‘West Side Story’ – 10 Oscars
‘West Side Story’ is a romantic drama musical film released in the year 1961. The film is based on the Broadway musical ‘West Side Story‘ by Jerome Robbins. The movie stars Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, Richard Beymer, and Russ Tamblyn. The movie is set in late 1950s New York, where two groups battle over Upper West Side. The factions are The Jets, the white people, led by Riff, and The Sharks, Puerto Ricans, led by Bernardo. Riff’s best friend Tony and Bernardo’s sister Maria fall in love and sought to end the long-time rivalry to be together.
The movie was nominated for 11 Academy Awards at the 34th Academy Awards, winning 10 awards. The film won awards like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Sound, and more. This was the first instance where two people shared the Best Director Award as it was shared between Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins.
3. ‘Ben-Hur’ – 11 Oscars
‘Ben-Hur’ is an American religious film released in the year 1959. It is based on the book ‘Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ’ written by Lew Wallace in 1880. The film is directed by William Wyler and stars Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Martha Scott, Cathy O’Donnell, and Haya Harareet. It is the story of a Jewish prince who is wrongfully imprisoned by an old friend. The movie shows how the prince fights for his freedom and fulfills his revenge against his friend.
The film was nominated for 12 awards at the 32nd Academy Awards, winning 11 awards. The movies won awards like Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Best Cinematography, and more. As of 2022, only two other movies have matched this feat.
2. ‘Titanic’ – 11 Oscars
‘Titanic’ is an American romantic drama movie released in the year 1997. It is a fictionalized story based on the sinking of the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic. The film is directed by James Cameron and stars Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Billy Zane, and Gloria Stewart. It is the story of Rose DeWitt and Jack Dawson, who meet aboard the Titanic and fall in love, much to the chagrin of Rose’s wealthy mother and fiancé. The ship while going across the Atlantic Ocean, collides with an iceberg and slowly starts sinking. In the ensuing chaos, Jack gives up his life to save Rose from sinking and to fulfill her dreams of an adventurous and free life.
The movie was nominated for a whopping 14 awards at the 70th Academy Awards, winning 11 of them. The film won awards like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song, Best Visual Effects, and more. The song ‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion also won the Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys the same year.
1. ‘The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King’ – 11 Oscars
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ is a fantasy adventure film and the third and final film in the ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy. The movie was released in 2003 and is based on the third novel of the ‘The Lord of the Rings’ series by J.R.R. Tolkien. The movie stars Elijah Woods, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Billy Boyd, Andy Serkis, and many more. The movie starts with the former members of the Fellowship getting ready for the decisive conflict. Frodo and Sam follow Gollum without realizing where he is heading them as they head toward Mount Doom to wreck the One Ring.
The movie was nominated for 11 Academy Awards at the 76th Academy Awards and won all of them. It became only the second film after ‘Gigi’ to sweep all the awards. The movie won awards like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, and more.
You might also like to read: Top 10 Actors Who Have Won The Most Oscars
