The big movie party has arrived. Early morning Sunday, March 12 to Monday, March 13, around 14:00, the 2023 Oscar Awards ceremony will begin. From midnight onward, the industry’s biggest stars will grace the red carpet in their finest attire, while anticipation builds for the evening’s moments of triumph.
The screen’s brightest lights, waiting to hear their names announced on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, are busy weighing possible winners. Will Cate Blanchett be rewarded for her performance in the film titled Tár? Might Steven Spielberg claim his fourth Oscar with The Fabelmans, a recognition long overdue since his 1999 win for Saving Private Ryan after Schindler’s List earned him two earlier trophies? Could Brendan Fraser finally win Academy recognition on his first nomination for The Whale?
Regardless of who takes home the statues, one thing remains certain: the record for the most Oscars by a single individual will not be reassigned in this edition or the next. Walt Disney, with 22 trophies across 59 nominations, plus four additional honors, still stands at the apex. The pioneer of animated cinema remains the top winner whose lead will endure for many years to come.
Two record-breaking names highlight this 95th Oscar Awards era. The legendary composer John Williams is Steven Spielberg’s longtime collaborator and a landmark figure in Oscar history. Williams has become the longest-serving nominee in the competition, with a 52nd nomination in 2023, while The Fabelmans earned him a Best Film Score nomination. At age 90 years and 350 days, Spielberg pulled his longtime friend back for one final collaboration.
On the female side, Katharine Hepburn’s mark as the most awarded actress with four Oscars remains a landmark. Edith Head, a designer, holds the distinction of being the most awarded woman from the Academy in the category of Best Costume Design, with eight statuettes earned across 34 nominations. Her first Oscar came with The Heiress in 1950, and her last with a film released in 1974. Head’s influence extended beyond the screen; she became a style icon in Hollywood, a connection that even inspired the look of a beloved animated character. In a nod to timeless influence, the character Edna Mode in The Incredibles embodies the spirit of costume design that Head helped standardize in cinema.
Returning to Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse is one of only two individuals to win four Academy Awards in a single year’s slate. Disney earned top honors for Best Animated Short, Best Realistic Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Documentary Feature. The other person to achieve this feat is Bong Joon-ho, who led the 2019 celebration for Parasite, taking home Best Foreign Language Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture.
Among the most frequently cited names in Oscar history are Cedric Gibbons, a designer credited with the statuette and an 11-time winner in Best Art Direction; Alfred Newman, a prolific composer with nine awards; Alan Menken, another figure from the Disney circle who has collected eight trophies; Edwin B. Willis, recognized in Best Art Direction; Fred Quimby, a seven-time recipient for Best Animated Short; Rick Baker, celebrated for makeup with seven wins and eleven nominations; Dennis Muren, a visual effects pioneer with nine wins; and a number of other legendary contributors such as Richard Day, Gary Rydstrom, Gordon Hollingshead, Walter Murch, Billy Wilder, and Thomas. The tally of four-time winners includes a long list of influential professionals who helped shape the awards’ history and the broader craft of filmmaking. Their combined legacies continue to influence generations of artists and technicians in the motion picture industry.