There have always been celebrities who have avoided the Academy Awards for one reason or another. Reclusive director Terrence Malick has never attended, despite multiple nominations. Actor Marlon Brando also famously refused to appear to accept his award for best actor in “The Godfather,” sending actress Sacheen Littlefeather in his place to read a speech protesting the movie industry’s treatment and depiction of Native Americans.
Despite these special cases, one will be hard pressed to find an event that brings more entertainers together in one place. The 91st Academy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, will be no exception. From the red carpet to the awards ceremony itself, viewers will get see nearly all of Hollywood’s top brass.
As the Academy Awards ceremony nears, 24/7 Wall St. has created an index of the most popular Oscar winners of all time based on their internet popularity and appeal of their work to determine the winners who are the most popular among fans today.
Among the most popular Oscar winners are actors both young and old, as well as a number of directors. While fans and industry insiders frequently debate the merits of many Academy Award recipients, those featured here are the most popular — and therefore, at least in that respect, deserving of the distinction. These are the people we tune in to see.
Click here to see the most popular Oscar winners of all time.
Click here to read our methodology.
50. Jane Fonda
> Acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,443,681
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actress in a Leading Role (1972) – “Klute”
Best Actress in a Leading Role (1979) – “Coming Home”
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49. Jamie Foxx
> Acting credits: 71
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,162,955
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (2005) – “Ray”
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48. Jennifer Connelly
> Acting credits: 53
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 4,953,604
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (2002) – “A Beautiful Mind”
47. Julianne Moore
> Acting credits: 93
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 3,709,898
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2015) – “Still Alice”
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46. Michael Douglas
> Acting credits: 60
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,536,449
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1988) – “Wall Street”
45. Brie Larson
> Acting credits: 59
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,473,248
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2016) – “Room”
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44. Audrey Hepburn
> Acting credits: 34
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,824,811
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role (1954) – “Roman Holiday”
43. Ron Howard
> Directing credits: 43
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,527,140
> Oscars won: 1
Best Director (2002) – “A Beautiful Mind”
42. Rachel Weisz
> Acting credits: 56
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,341,204
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (2006) - “The Constant Gardener”
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41. Mel Gibson
> Directing credits: 9
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,558,236
> Oscars won: 1
Best Director (1996) - “Braveheart”
40. Jodie Foster
> Acting credits: 80
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,367,178
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actress in a Leading Role (1989) – “The Accused”
Best Actress in a Leading Role (1992) – “The Silence of the Lambs”
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39. James Cameron
> Directing credits: 24
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 4,516,688
> Oscars won: 1
Best Director (1998) - “Titanic”
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38. Peter Jackson
> Directing credits: 21
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 1,991,606
> Oscars won: 1
Best Director (2004) - “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
37. Marlon Brando
> Acting credits: 46
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,827,338
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1955) – “On the Waterfront”
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1973) – “The Godfather”
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36. Gwyneth Paltrow
> Acting credits: 56
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,832,491
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role (1999) – “Shakespeare in Love”
35. Anthony Hopkins
> Acting credits: 134
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 4,589,079
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1992) - “The Silence of the Lambs”
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34. Russell Crowe
> Acting credits: 58
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 3,692,477
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role (2001) – “Gladiator”
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33. Alicia Vikander
> Acting credits: 40
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,134,116
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (2016) – “The Danish Girl”
32. Cher
> Acting credits: 63
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,326,975
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role (1988) – “Moonstruck”
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31. Reese Witherspoon
> Acting credits: 59
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,685,262
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2006) - “Walk the Line”
30. Kate Winslet
> Acting credits: 60
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,271,685
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2009) – “The Reader”
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29. Sean Connery
> Acting credits: 93
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,504,190
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (1988) – “The Untouchables”
28. Gary Oldman
> Acting credits: 98
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,137,755
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (2018) - “Darkest Hour”
27. Cate Blanchett
> Acting credits: 71
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,108,403
> Oscars won: 2
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (2005) – “The Aviator”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2014) – “Blue Jasmine”
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26. Jack Nicholson
> Acting credits: 77
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,937,984
> Oscars won: 3
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1976) – “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (1984) – “Terms of Endearment”
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1998) - “As Good as It Gets”
25. Martin Scorsese
> Directing credits: 62
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 3,910,334
> Oscars won: 1
Best Achievement in Directing (2007) – “The Departed”
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24. Anne Hathaway
> Acting credits: 47
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,858,988
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (2013) – “Les Misérables”
23. Meryl Streep
> Acting credits: 84
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,273,080
> Oscars won: 3
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (1980) – “Kramer vs. Kramer”
Best Actress in a Leading Role (1983) - “Sophie’s Choice”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2012) – “The Iron Lady”
22. Julia Roberts
> Acting credits: 62
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,986,014
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role (2001) – “Erin Brockovich”
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21. Matthew McConaughey
> Acting credits: 68
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,258,195
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (2014) – “Dallas Buyers Club”
20. Nicolas Cage
> Acting credits: 97
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,898,548
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1996) – “Leaving Las Vegas”
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19. Denzel Washington
> Acting credits: 56
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,542,497
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (1990) - “Glory”
Best Actor in a Leading Role (2002) – “Training Day”
18. Nicole Kidman
> Acting credits: 84
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,249,428
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role (2003) – “The Hours”
17. Sandra Bullock
> Acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,229,585
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2010) – “The Blind Side”
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16. Charlize Theron
> Acting credits: 59
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,106,661
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Leading Role (2004) – “Monster”
15. Robin Williams
> Acting credits: 108
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,009,977
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (1998) – “Good Will Hunting”
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14. Al Pacino
> Acting credits: 61
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 6,929,098
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1993) – “Scent of a Woman”
13. Emma Stone
> Acting credits: 43
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,683,825
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2017) – “La La Land”
12. George Clooney
> Acting credits: 89
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 8,214,857
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (2006) – “Syriana”
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11. Heath Ledger
> Acting credits: 23
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,570,787
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (2009) - “The Dark Knight”
10. Angelina Jolie
> Acting credits: 54
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 10,593,908
> Oscars won: 1
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (2000) – “Girl, Interrupted”
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9. Christian Bale
> Acting credits: 52
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 5,752,453
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (2011) – “The Fighter”
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8. Jennifer Lawrence
> Acting credits: 31
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 11,888,973
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2013) – “Silver Linings Playbook”
7. Natalie Portman
> Acting credits: 62
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,663,029
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2011) – “Black Swan”
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6. Clint Eastwood
> Directing credits: 40
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 13,097,572
> Oscars won: 2
Best Director (1993) â “Unforgiven”
Best Achievement in Directing (2005) - “Million Dollar Baby”
5. Morgan Freeman
> Acting credits: 123
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,759,016
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (2005) – “Million Dollar Baby”
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4. Robert De Niro
> Acting credits: 116
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,931,887
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (1975) – “The Godfather: Part II”
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1981) - “Raging Bull”
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3. Steven Spielberg
> Directing credits: 58
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 7,059,132
> Oscars won: 2
Best Director (1994) - “Schindler’s List”
Best Director (1999) – “Saving Private Ryan”
2. Tom Hanks
> Acting credits: 89
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 9,636,998
> Oscars won: 2
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1994) - “Philadelphia”
Best Actor in a Leading Role (1995) – “Forrest Gump”
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1. Leonardo DiCaprio
> Acting credits: 42
> Wikipedia views (2 yr.): 12,895,562
> Oscars won: 1
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (2016) – “The Revenant”
Methodology:
To identify the most popular Oscar winners of all time, 24/7 Wall St. created an index based on two metrics of appeal: the popularity of the films and television shows each winner has appeared in or directed and the popularity of the winner’s Wikipedia page based on pageviews over the past two years.
The number of user votes a film or television episode received on the Internet Movie Database was used as a proxy for a given winner’s popularity. A winner’s total popularity was determined by the sum of the votes the winner received for all the films and television episodes for which he or she is credited as being in a top-billed role or as director. Winners were only given credit for episodes of television series in which they appeared or they directed. IMDb vote counts for winners in starring roles were given equal weight in the index to Wikipedia pageviews. Wikipedia pageviews were collected for the two years ending Jan. 10, 2019. All Oscar data is from IMDb.com.
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