In 1977, the first Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, came out and the world was introduced to the legendary film franchise. Star Wars gained millions of fans after that and the film franchise just kept getting more and more popular as the years went on. Between the amazing stories of good vs. evil and the groundbreaking visual effects, it's no wonder why the films caught the world's attention (and the Academy's attention). The movies have won seven Oscars in total, including three for visual effects.
Even though the franchise is still popular today, it surprisingly hasn't won any Oscars in years. All of the Star Wars movies have been nominated for an Oscar, but only a few have actually won the award. Let's take a look at which Star Wars movies have won an Oscar.
6 The First ‘Star Wars’ Movie Won The Most Oscars
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is the movie that started the Star Wars era. According to IMDb, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is about “Luke Skywalker [who] joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.” It was the very first Star Wars movie ever created and is probably still the best one. It won seven Oscars at once, including a Special Achievement Award.
5 ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope’ Won A Special Achievement Award
Along with winning seven Oscars in one night, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope also earned a Special Achievement Award. Ben Burtt, who is a director, sound designer, film editor, screenwriter, and voice actor, won the Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects. He won it for his creation of the alien, creature, and robot voices. The award was presented by C-3PO in a bowtie, which made it even more special. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope might be the only Star Wars film to win seven Academy Awards, but it’s not the only one to win a Special Achievement Award.
4 ‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’ Was The Second To Win An Oscar
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is the second film in the Star Wars franchise and the second one to ever win an Oscar. The sequel continues Luke Skywalker’s journey as he begins Jedi training with Yoda and has to battle Darth Vader again along with bounty hunter Boba Fett. According to Vulture, “Though The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is now often cited as the greatest of all Star Wars films, its reception in 1980 was cooler, amongst both fans and the Academy. It won only one competitive Oscar, for Best Sound. Empire was also nominated for Original Score and Art Direction.”
3 ‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’ Also Won A Special Achievement Award
On top of winning an Oscar for Best Sound, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back earned a Special Achievement Award as well. The film won the Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects and was awarded to multiple filmmakers who worked on the movie. Talented filmmakers such as Brian Johnson, Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, and Bruce Nicholson all won the special Oscar. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is the last Star Wars film to win more than one Oscar, but it’s not the last one to win a Special Achievement Award.
2 ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’ Is The Last One To Win An Oscar
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is the third and last Star Wars movie to ever win an Oscar. The movie tells the story of the Rebels rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and going on a mission to destroy the second Death Star. Luke Skywalker also tries to help Darth Vader from going back to the dark side. It didn’t win any regular Oscars like the first two Star Wars movies though—the only Academy Award it won was a Special Achievement Award. According to Liveabout, “Repeating the recognition Empire received three years prior, Return of the Jedi was given a Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects at the 1984 Oscars. Returning to accept were effects artists Richard Edlund and Denis Muren; they were joined by effects artist Ken Ralston and creature designer Phil Tippett.”
1 The ‘Star Wars’ Franchise Hasn’t Won An Oscar In Decades
There have been eight different Star Wars movies since Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi came out in 1983 and that’s not including the new Star Wars movies that are set to come out within the next few years. But none of them have won an Oscar.
“Return of the Jedi (1983) was the first (of many) Star Wars films to win zero competitive Oscars, despite nominations for Art Direction, Original Score, and both sound categories. It did take home another special achievement Oscar for visual effects, the last Oscar given to any Star Wars film,” according to Vulture. Even though the Star Wars franchise has millions of fans, it can’t seem to win another Oscar. Maybe one of the new movies in the next few years will finally break the losing streak.
