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26 unbelievable Oscars records, from the oldest winner to the man with 59 nominations

Gabbi Shaw   

26 unbelievable Oscars records, from the oldest winner to the man with 59 nominations
Bong Joon Ho with two of his four Oscars.Rachel Luna/Getty Images
  • The 93rd Academy Awards will be held on April 25, 2021.
  • Over the last century, multiple records have been set and broken by nominees and winners alike.
  • Bong Joon-ho is now tied with Walt Disney for most Oscars in a single night. He won four last year.

Awards season has officially begun. The 93rd Academy Awards will take place on April 25, with nominations being announced on March 15.

In honor of Hollywood's biggest night, here are 26 records that have been set over the past nine decades, from the youngest winner to the longest movie that won Best Picture.

Bong Joon-ho is now tied with Walt Disney for most Oscars in a single night - "Parasite" earned him four statues.

Bong Joon-ho is now tied with Walt Disney for most Oscars in a single night - "Parasite" earned him four statues.
The director won four Oscars at last year's ceremony.      Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

He wrote, directed, and produced "Parasite," which won awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, Best International Feature Film, and the most prestigious honor of the night, Best Picture.

This feat has only been replicated once before, at 1954's Oscars when Walt Disney won Best Documentary Feature for "The Living Desert," Best Documentary Short Subject for "The Alaskan Eskimo," Best Short Subject (Cartoon) for "Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom," and Best Short Subject (Two-Reel) for "Bear Country."

"Parasite" also became the 12th film in history to win Best Picture without receiving a single acting nod.

"Parasite" also became the 12th film in history to win Best Picture without receiving a single acting nod.
"Parasite."      CJ Entertainment

The last time this happened was in 2009, with "Slumdog Millionaire."

"Parasite" is also the first foreign language film to win Best Picture.

According to Guinness World Records, Martin Scorsese is the most nominated living director in Oscars history, after receiving his ninth nomination for "The Irishman."

According to Guinness World Records, Martin Scorsese is the most nominated living director in Oscars history, after receiving his ninth nomination for "The Irishman."
Martin Scorsese.      Gotham / Contributor / Getty Images

Scorsese failed to take home any Academy Awards at the 2020 ceremony, but he did break a record with his nomination for directing "The Irishman."

Overall, he's been nominated nine times for "Raging Bull," "The Last Temptation of Christ," "Goodfellas," "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator," "The Departed," "Hugo," "The Wolf of Wall Street," and "The Irishman." He's only won once, for "The Departed."

Legendary composer John Williams has the most Oscar nominations of any living person, with 52 nods.

Legendary composer John Williams has the most Oscar nominations of any living person, with 52 nods.
John Williams.      Reuters

Williams has won five times, for his work on "Fiddler on the Roof," "Jaws," "Star Wars," "E.T. the Extra Terrestrial," and "Schindler's List."

He is also the only person to ever be nominated for an Oscar in seven different decades.

He is also the only person to ever be nominated for an Oscar in seven different decades.
John Williams in 1982.      Bettmann/Getty Images

He's been nominated at least once a decade since his first nomination for 1968's "Valley of the Dolls."

Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro were the only people to win Oscars for playing the same role, Vito Corleone, in "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II" - until Joaquin Phoenix took home the Oscar for "Joker."

Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro were the only people to win Oscars for playing the same role, Vito Corleone, in "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II" - until Joaquin Phoenix took home the Oscar for "Joker."
"The Dark Knight" and "Joker."      Warner Bros. Pictures.

Brando portrayed Vito Corleone as an old man, with adult kids and grandkids. De Niro played Corleone as a young man who had just emigrated from Italy.

When Joaquin Phoenix won for "Joker" last year, it marked the second time this happened, as Heath Ledger posthumously won for his performance as the Joker in 2008's "The Dark Knight."

Christopher Plummer was the oldest person to ever be nominated for an Oscar - and the oldest person to ever win.

Christopher Plummer was the oldest person to ever be nominated for an Oscar - and the oldest person to ever win.
Christopher Plummer.      AP Photo/Joel Ryan

He was 82 when he won for "Beginners," and 88 when he was nominated for "All the Money in the World." He was also nominated in 2010 for "The Last Station."

Plummer died in February 2021 at the age of 91.

The youngest person to ever be nominated for an Oscar was 8-year-old Justin Henry for "Kramer vs. Kramer" in 1979.

The youngest person to ever be nominated for an Oscar was 8-year-old Justin Henry for "Kramer vs. Kramer" in 1979.
"Kramer vs. Kramer."      Columbia Pictures

Henry is now 49 and acts sporadically.

And the youngest winner was 10-year-old Tatum O'Neal for "Paper Moon" in 1974. She won Best Supporting Actress.

And the youngest winner was 10-year-old Tatum O
Tatum O'Neal.      Hulton Archive/Getty Images

O'Neal co-starred in "Paper Moon" with her father, Ryan O'Neal.

But the true youngest winner is Shirley Temple, who was 6 when she won the Academy Juvenile Award in 1935. This category doesn't exist anymore.

But the true youngest winner is Shirley Temple, who was 6 when she won the Academy Juvenile Award in 1935. This category doesn
Shirley Temple as a child star wearing an accordion pleated dress.      Bettmann/Getty Images

Other notable winners include Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Bobby Driscoll, and Margaret O'Brien.

Three movies are tied for the most wins. "Ben-Hur" (1959), "Titanic" (1997), and "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" (2003) all won 11 awards.

Three movies are tied for the most wins. "Ben-Hur" (1959), "Titanic" (1997), and "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" (2003) all won 11 awards.
"Titanic."      Paramount Pictures

Last year, "Joker" was nominated 11 times but only won two awards (Best Actor and Best Original Score).

Three movies are also tied for the most nominations with 14 Oscar nods: "All About Eve" (1950), "Titanic" (1997), and "La La Land" (2016).

Three movies are also tied for the most nominations with 14 Oscar nods: "All About Eve" (1950), "Titanic" (1997), and "La La Land" (2016).
"La La Land."      Lionsgate

As previously stated, "Titanic" went on to win 11 awards. "All About Eve" and "La La Land" each took home six statues.

The longest winner of Best Picture in Oscars history is 1939's "Gone with the Wind," which clocks in at 3 hours, 58 minutes.

The longest winner of Best Picture in Oscars history is 1939
"Gone with the Wind."      Loews Cineplex Entertainment

That's even longer than the notoriously long "The Irishman."

The country that's taken home Best Foreign Language Film the most is Italy, which has produced 14 winners from 32 nominations.

The country that
Director Paolo Sorrentino in 2014.      Jason LaVeris/WireImage/Getty Images

Most recently, Italy won for "The Great Beauty," or "La grande bellezza" in 2014, directed by Paolo Sorrentino.

Meryl Streep is the most-nominated actress in Oscar history, with a staggering 21 nominations under her belt. She's won three times.

Meryl Streep is the most-nominated actress in Oscar history, with a staggering 21 nominations under her belt. She
Meryl Streep.      Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Streep has won Best Actress twice, for "Sophie's Choice" and "The Iron Lady." She won Best Supporting Actress for "Kramer vs. Kramer."

However, with 22 wins from 59 nominations, Walt Disney is the most decorated Oscar winner in history.

However, with 22 wins from 59 nominations, Walt Disney is the most decorated Oscar winner in history.
Walt Disney holding four Oscars.      George Silk/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

In one night, Disney took home the Oscars for Best Documentary (Feature), Best Documentary (Short Subject), Best Short Subject (Cartoon), and Best Short Subject (Two-Reel) in 1953.

The most prestigious award of the night is Best Picture - but it doesn't always go to the best movie. The worst-reviewed winner, according to Rotten Tomatoes, is 1929 winner "The Broadway Melody." It has a 33%.

The most prestigious award of the night is Best Picture - but it doesn
"The Broadway Melody."      MGM

"'The Broadway Melody' is interesting as an example of an early Hollywood musical, but otherwise, it's essentially bereft of appeal for modern audiences," writes Rotten Tomatoes.

Last year, people were upset that women were again shut out of the Best Director category. The first woman to win was Kathryn Bigelow in 2009 for "The Hurt Locker."

Last year, people were upset that women were again shut out of the Best Director category. The first woman to win was Kathryn Bigelow in 2009 for "The Hurt Locker."
Kathryn Bigelow.      Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Prior to Bigelow, just three women had been nominated for directing — Lina Wertmüller for 1975's "Seven Beauties," Jane Campion for 1993's "The Piano," and Sofia Coppola for 2003's "Lost in Translation."

This year, however, this seems like it'll change. Emerald Fennell and Regina King were each nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes, while Chloé Zhao won — the first time a woman won a Golden Globe for directing since 1984, when Barbra Streisand won for directing "Yentl."

Only one movie to win Best Picture has been rated X: "Midnight Cowboy" (1969).

Only one movie to win Best Picture has been rated X: "Midnight Cowboy" (1969).
"Midnight Cowboy."      United Artists

It was mainly rated X simply because it wasn't suitable for kids — the "X" rating was almost brand new in 1969 and didn't have the same connotations as it does today. However, MTV does point out the film has "a fair amount of nudity and some brief scenes of sexual activity."

When it was later re-rated, it earned an R rating.

Only two sequels have won Best Picture: "The Godfather Part II" (1974) and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003).

Only two sequels have won Best Picture: "The Godfather Part II" (1974) and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (2003).
"The Godfather Part II."      Paramount Pictures

In total, seven sequels have been nominated for Best Picture — "Toy Story 3," "Mad Max: Fury Road," "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," "The Godfather Part III," and "The Bells of St. Mary's," plus the two winners.

You may be wondering, what about "The Silence of the Lambs"? The Anthony Hopkins/Jodie Foster joint could be considered a sequel to "Manhunter," but it's really more of a reboot.

When Cate Blanchett earned an Oscar for playing Katharine Hepburn in 2004's "The Aviator," she became the first person to win an Oscar for playing an Oscar winner.

When Cate Blanchett earned an Oscar for playing Katharine Hepburn in 2004
Cate Blanchett in "The Aviator" and the real Katharine Hepburn.      Warner Bros.; Bettmann/Getty Images

She's not the only actor to win an Oscar for portraying an icon, but she was the first to win an Oscar for portraying an Oscar winner.

Hepburn herself holds the record for most Oscars for acting - she won four times.

Hepburn herself holds the record for most Oscars for acting - she won four times.
Katharine Hepburn.      Reuters Pictures

Hepburn won in 1933, 1967, 1968, and 1981 for "Morning Glory," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "The Lion in Winter," and "On Golden Pond," respectively.

Though, famously, she never attended an awards show to collect her statues in person.

The first Black actor to win an Oscar was Hattie McDaniel in 1939.

The first Black actor to win an Oscar was Hattie McDaniel in 1939.
Hattie McDaniel in 1940.      Bettmann/Getty Images

McDaniel won the Best Supporting Actress award for "Gone with the Wind," in which she played Mammy, a role that's since been mired in controversy.

Sidney Poitier became the first Black man to win when he was awarded Best Actor for "Lilies of the Field" (1963).

Sidney Poitier became the first Black man to win when he was awarded Best Actor for "Lilies of the Field" (1963).
Sidney Poitier.      Bettmann/Getty Images

Poitier had previously been nominated for his role in 1958's "The Defiant Ones."

Marlee Matlin became the first deaf person to win an Oscar when she won for 1986's "Children of a Lesser God."

Marlee Matlin became the first deaf person to win an Oscar when she won for 1986
Marlee Matlin.      Bettmann/Getty Images

In addition to being the first deaf person to win, Matlin is also the youngest woman to win Best Actress. She was 21.

Only two people have won Oscars posthumously: Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight" and Peter Finch for "Network."

Only two people have won Oscars posthumously: Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight" and Peter Finch for "Network."
Ledger and Finch.      BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images; Photoshot/Getty Images

Joaquin Phoenix recently thanked Ledger in his SAG Awards acceptance speech, calling Ledger his "favorite actor."

Sadly, a third actor might be added to this list in 2021: Chadwick Boseman's perfomance in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" has already earned a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award. Boseman died in August 2020 at age 43.

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