Films That Have Bagged the Most Oscars

West Side Story (1961)

West Side Story was Stephen Sondheim’s modern musical take of Romeo and Juliet. It became a sensational wonder on Broadway back in 1957 giving credit to the modern uptake on choreography found in the film. The film adaptation garnered a whopping 10 Oscars for Music, Costume Design, Art Direction, Cinematography, Sound, and Film Editing. It bagged the most in-demand awards namely: Best Supporting Actor for George Chakiris, Best Supporting Actress for Rita Moreno, Best Director for Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, and Best Picture. The movie is known for its stellar soundtrack as it also featured musical hits from Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. The song list consists of I Feel Pretty, One Heart, Tonight, Something’s Coming, America, Somewhere, Maria, and One Hand.

Gigi

Gigi is a delightful musical about an intelligent young lady who was sent to Paris to learn all about etiquette. At a time when credit cards weren’t so rampant, this film seems to know its way around finance. The film didn’t really leave a huge impression with later generations, but for a time, Gigi was a record-breaking Oscar champion, right until Ben-Hur was released the following year. The film won nine Academy Awards, which includes major wins like Best Director for Vincente Minelli and Best Picture. It also raked in several awards in Original Song, Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, Original Score, Film Editing, and Art Direction.

Titanic

Titanic became a giant hit for moviegoers worldwide. James Cameron’s action-packed romantic film of the last days in the unfortunate Titanic, capturing the hearts of many, and it catapulted the film’s leads, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio into international stardom. Titanic’s biggest achievement would also have to be its number of Oscar wins. The cast and crew collected numerous trophies at the 70th Academy Awards and bagged a total of 11 Oscars that night. It won two of the award show’s most coveted accolades: Best Director for James Cameron and Best Picture. It won nine other prizes; Costume Design, Make-Up, Art Direction, Sound Effects Editing, Original Song for Celine Dion’s ballad My Heart Will Go On, Film Editing, and Sound. The ship has sailed on its roof repair ideas but made a timeless tale.

Ben-Hur

William Wyler’s historical epic, Ben-Hur was keeping up with the latest technologies of its time. The film featured topnotch special effects and enhanced movie technologies of the mid-20th century. They must have spent a fortune paying for the electricity bill. For the film’s quality, Ben-Hur won 11 Oscars. In addition to Best Picture, the movie also won Oscar Awards for Best Director, Cinematography, Costume Design, Special Effects, Sound Recording, Music, and Film Editing. The stars of the film, Hugh Griffith took home Best Actor in a Supporting Role while Hollywood icon Charlton Heston won Best Actor in Leading Role.

The Last Emperor

Considered to be a sleeper hit for many cinema fans; Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor still somehow managed to be an Oscar-winning masterpiece as it took home a total of nine Oscars at the 60th Academy Awards. It tells the story about a man who is chained up by his past. The emperor in the story inherits the throne as a little boy and is forced to become imprisoned inside the Forbidden City. This film is considered to be profound as it gives viewers an in-depth look at how politics can affect someone’s formative years. The biographical drama won the night’s most sought after awards namely Best Picture and Best Director. The biographical drama won prizes for Costume Design, Original Score, Art Direction, Film Editing, Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, and Sound.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The grand big-screen adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s renowned The Lord of the Rings made Oscar history back in 2004. The film became the first fantasy film to ever win the Academy Award for Best Picture. It won every award in each category it was nominated in. The franchise’s final installment, Return of the King won 11 awards during the 76th Academy Awards. In addition to winning the night’s most top awards, Peter Jackson, the film’s director, took home the Oscar for Best Director. The movie took trophies for Costume Design, Film Editing, Sound Mixing, Best Original Score, Visual Effects, Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song, and Art Direction.

The English Patient

The English Patient is a compelling story of love and betrayal set in World War II located in North African deserts and in the midst of the destruction in Italy. It took over the 69th Academy Awards in Los Angeles and received rave reviews from critics, audiences, and Academy voters alike. An attorney would know how much justice this film has given. The film’s director adapted the film from Michael Onddatje’s 1992 prize-winning novel. The English Patient won in 9 of the 12 Oscar categories. It also won nine of the 12 Oscar Awards it was nominated such as Best Supporting Actress for Juliette Binoche, Best Director for Anthony Minghella, and Best Picture. The film also won Oscars for Film Editing, Cinematography, Costume Design, Original Score, and Art Direction.