Sci-fi movies don’t always get the respect they deserve from the Academy, but there are some exceptions which were huge successes on Oscar night. Sci-fi is often looked down on by critics and awards ceremonies, partly because it appeals to such huge audiences and partly because the genre’s penchant for spectacle is often seen as brash and unrefined.
Historically, sci-fi movies have mainly been in contention in the technical categories at the Oscars. It’s not too uncommon for a sci-fi movie to scoop Best Visual Effects or Best Sound, for example. Sometimes, an outstanding sci-fi movie can win several of these categories, and there have even been a few examples of sci-fi movies competing for above-the-line awards.
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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E.T. Coupled Box Office Success With Major Accolades
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial became the highest-grossing movie ever made for a while, and it’s still regarded as one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies. The story of a boy who befriends an alien and tries to help him return to his home planet is dripping with Spielberg’s awe-inspiring magic. It’s as heartwarming as it is exciting.
Gandhi director Richard Attenborough said “I was certain that not only would E.T. win, but that it should win.“
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial paired its commercial success with a stellar critical reputation, which culminated in nine Oscar nominations. E.T. lost out on Best Picture to Gandhi, although director Richard Attenborough said “I was certain that not only would E.T. win, but that it should win.” E.T. did win four Oscars though, including Best Original Score for John Williams.
9
Jurᴀssic Park (1993)
Steven Spielberg Struck Gold Again
11 years after E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Steven Spielberg broke his own box office record with Jurᴀssic Park. The adaptation of Michael Crichton’s sci-fi novel is a brilliant spectacle, and it combines elements of action, adventure and even horror. It gave rise to one of cinema’s biggest franchises, but the original remains unparalleled. Jurᴀssic World Rebirth will deliver the franchise into a new era this summer.
Jurᴀssic Park was nominated for three Oscars, and it won all three. The awards were all in technical categories: Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects. This is testament to Jurᴀssic Park‘s immersive effects, which hold up better than most other movies from the same era, but it might have been nominated for Best Picture and Best Director if Steven Spielberg hadn’t released Schindler’s List in the same year.
8
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller Brought His Old Franchise To New Heights
Mad Max: Fury Road spent decades in development hell, but it proved to be worth the wait. Released 30 years after Beyond Thunderdome, Fury Road is a radical reinvention of the franchise, with a new actor in the lead role and a more ambitious eye for spectacle. It’s been hailed as one of the best action movies of the 21st century.
Fury Road received 10 Oscar nominations, which is rare for both sci-fi movies and action movies. It ended the night with six awards, which was more than any other movie, but it missed out on Best Picture and Best Director. Fury Road won Best Production Design, which highlights the remarkable worldbuilding of the legacy sequel.
7
Dune (2021)
Denis Villeneuve’s Adaptation Was A Hit With Critics
Dune has been one of the most influential sci-fi novels ever since its publication, but it has taken a long time for a popular movie adaptation to come along. David Lynch’s version has as many critics as admirers, and other attempts to adapt the novel have failed to get off the ground. Denis Villeneuve succeeded where others failed, and Dune was a hit with critics.
Dune lost Best Picture to CODA, but it won six of its 10 nominations. Its awards include Best Original Score for Hans Zimmer and Best Cinematography for Greig Fraser. Together, these awards go some way to explaining Dune‘s visceral impact. It’s the kind of movie that’s best enjoyed on the biggest screen possible. After Dune: Part Two scooped two more awards from five nominations, Dune Messiah is already in the works.
6
Gravity (2013)
Gravity Was Rewarded For Its Technical Feats
Gravity is one of the best space exploration movies ever, and it kicked off a minor trend in the 2010s that brough the genre back to life. The story is simple, fitting into Gravity‘s relatively short runtime with ease, but its impact is seismic. Gravity was a box office sensation, especially in IMAX and 3D screenings, which delivered the full effect of the movie’s excruciating tension.
Gravity won seven Oscars, which underlines its mastery of all elements of technical filmmaking. The visual effects, cinematography and sound editing were all rightly recognized, and Alfonso Cuarón scooped Best Director for helming such a technically sound masterpiece. It lost out on Best Picture to 12 Years a Slave, although Gravity had more nominations and awards overall.
5
Poor Things (2023)
Yorgos Lanthimos’ Strange Fable Continued His Oscars Success
Poor Things is often talked about as if it’s a fantasy movie, since it doesn’t share the aesthetic sensibilities of other sci-fi movies. There are parts of the story which seem to take place within a dream or a painting by Hieronymus Bosch, but it’s a sci-fi story about reanimation and crude experimentation. Poor Things is a twisted, subversive Frankenstein story.
After Yorgos Lanthimos scored 10 Oscar nominations for The Favourite, he beat this tally with 11 nominations for Poor Things. Although Oppenheimer was hard to beat, Poor Things won four Oscars. Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling were all well-deserved technical achievements, and Emma Stone won her second Oscar in the Best Actress category.
4
Avatar (2009)
James Cameron’s Movies Are Often Critically And Commercially Successful
Avatar was a box office juggernaut in 2009. The sci-fi epic arguably represents the best use of 3D technology ever, and this is one factor that made Avatar a must-see movie in theaters. After a few years of dormancy, Avatar has blossomed into a franchise, and Avatar: Fire and Ash looks likely to have another gargantuan box office run.
Like Aliens, The Terminator, тιтanic and more, Avatar demonstrates James Cameron’s technical skill as a director and his ability to appeal to mᴀssive audiences. This delivered nine nominations, including Best Picture, and a total of three awards. The Way of Water was less successful, but four nominations and the franchise’s second win for Best Visual Effects is still impressive.
3
Star Wars (1977)
The Franchise Started With Huge Oscars Success
The first Star Wars movie was an immediate cultural phenomenon, surpᴀssing expectations at the box office and developing a devoted fan base. It remains one of the most influential and popular sci-fi movies ever made, but people don’t often talk about its success during awards season.
Star Wars won eight Oscars, including a Special Achievement Award for its creature designs and effects. It has four more nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, but lost out to Woody Allen’s Annie Hall in both categories. In total, the Star Wars franchise has received 37 Oscar nominations, but none of the prequels, spinoffs or the sequel trilogy won any awards. The slate of upcoming Star Wars movies could reverse this trend.
2
The Shape Of Water (2017)
The Shape Of Water Made Oscars History
The Shape of Water is a peculiar romance movie that features a mute woman falling in love with a mysterious creature being held in a top-secret government facility. It demonstrates Guillermo del Toro’s flair for the surrel and the abnormal, as it tells a deeply moving story about a completely alien situation.
The Shape of Water won four Oscars from 13 nominations, becoming the first sci-fi movie to win Best Picture. Guillermo del Toro also scooped Best Director, while Alexandre Desplat’s gorgeous score was also a winner. The Shape of Water doesn’t get as much love as some other recent Best Picture winners, but it’s a wonderful dark romance, and a worthy winner.
1
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
EEAAO Dominated The Oscars Like No Other Sci-Fi Movie
Everything Everywhere All at Once blends sci-fi, action, comedy and drama into a multiverse-spanning epic that revels in its unpredictability. The meaning of Everything Everywhere All at Once lies in its surreal approach, as it overwhelms the viewer with windows into different realities, but it’s still an emotional, grounded story about family.
Sci-fi movies rarely win the above-the-line awards, sticking to the technical categories instead.
Everything Everywhere All at Once dominated the Oscars, ending the night with seven awards from 11 nominations. What’s most impressive about this total is that most of the wins came in above-the-line categories such as Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress. Sci-fi movies rarely win these types of awards, sticking to the technical categories instead.
