To be nominated for an Oscar is an honor. But let’s be honest: Winning is a lot more fun and a lot more satisfying.
So much goes into making a film, from top-notch acting and script-writing to set design and special effects. While the final product may look effortless on screen, a great movie weaves imaginative storytelling with technical proficiency to leave audiences spellbound. When all those elements come together in one film, it is often rewarded with multiple Oscars and takes its place as a true cinema classic. And it will also probably make a lot of money. (These are the most profitable movies of all time.)
To identify the movies that have won the most Oscars, 24/7 Tempo consulted The Official Academy Awards Database to determine every film that has won at least seven Academy Awards, how many nominations each of these received, and what studio produced each film. Information on domestic ticket sales comes from The Numbers, an online movie database owned by Nash Information Services.
Three very different movies are tied for the most wins – 11 for each. They are 2003’s fantasy saga “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” the third film in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy; James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster “Titanic; and a throwback to 1959, the biblical epic “Ben-Hur.” If “Titanic” is No. 1 on our list, it’s only because it beat out the others in number of nominations – 14, as opposed to 12 for “Ben-Hur” and 11 for “The Return of the King.” (Here are all the Oscar winners for Best Picture ranked.)
Click here to see the movies that won the most Oscars
Historical dramas seem to stand a good chance of garnering a shelf-full of Oscars. Many of the films tapped for multiple honors portray historical figures, like “Gandhi,” “Patton,” and “Lawrence of Arabia” – as well Mozart and Shakespeare. Four musicals scored big, too – “Cabaret,” “My Fair Lady,” “Gigi,” and the original, pre-Spielberg version of “My Fair Lady.” Science fiction fans, on the other hand, may be disappointed that only one film set in outer space – “Gravity” – made the list.
This year, “The Power of the Dog” has a shot to make the list of most awarded films with 12 nominations. Winners will be announced on March 27.
26. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 8 nominations
> Studio: Columbia
> Ticket sales: $33 million
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25. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 8 nominations (plus 1 special Oscar)
> Studio: RKO Radio
> Ticket sales: $23.6 million
24. Gravity (2013)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 10 nominations
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Ticket sales: $274 million
23. The Sting (1973)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 10 nominations
> Studio: Universal
> Ticket sales: $160 million
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22. Going My Way (1944)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 10 nominations
> Studio: Paramount
> Ticket sales: $16.3 million
21. Patton (1970)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 10 nominations
> Studio: 20th Century-Fox
> Ticket sales: $63 million
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20. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 10 nominations
> Studio: Columbia
> Ticket sales: $37 million
19. Out of Africa (1985)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 11 nominations
> Studio: Universal
> Ticket sales: $79 million
18. Schindler’s List (1993)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 12 nominations
> Studio: Universal
> Ticket sales: $97 million
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17. Dances With Wolves (1990)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 12 nominations
> Studio: Orion
> Ticket sales: $184 million
16. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
> Wins and nominations: 7 wins, 13 nominations
> Studio: Miramax
> Ticket sales: $100 million
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15. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
> Wins and nominations: 8 wins, 10 nominations
> Studio: Fox Searchlight
> Ticket sales: $141 million
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14. Cabaret (1972)
> Wins and nominations: 8 wins, 10 nominations
> Studio: Allied Artists
> Ticket sales: $41 million
13. Amadeus (1984)
> Wins and nominations: 8 wins, 11 nominations
> Studio: Orion
> Ticket sales: $52 million
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12. Gandhi (1982)
> Wins and nominations: 8 wins, 11 nominations
> Studio: Columbia
> Ticket sales: $53 million
11. My Fair Lady (1964)
> Wins and nominations: 8 wins, 12 nominations
> Studio: Warner Bros.
> Ticket sales: $72 million
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10. On the Waterfront (1954)
> Wins and nominations: 8 wins, 12 nominations
> Studio: Columbia
> Ticket sales: $9.6 million
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9. From Here to Eternity (1953)
> Wins and nominations: 8 wins, 13 nominations
> Studio: Columbia
> Ticket sales: $31 million
8. Gone with the Wind (1939)
> Wins and nominations: 8 wins, 13 nominations (plus 1 special Oscar and 1 Sci/Tech Award)
> Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Ticket sales: $199 million
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7. The Last Emperor (1987)
> Wins and nominations: 9 wins, 9 nominations
> Studio: Columbia
> Ticket sales: $44 million
6. Gigi (1958)
> Wins and nominations: 9 wins, 9 nominations
> Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Ticket sales: $7.3 million
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5. The English Patient (1996)
> Wins and nominations: 9 wins, 12 nominations
> Studio: Miramax
> Ticket sales: $79 million
4. West Side Story (1961)
> Wins and nominations: 10 wins, 11 nominations
> Studio: United Artists
> Ticket sales: $44 million
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
> Wins and nominations: 11 wins, 11 nominations
> Studio: New Line
> Ticket sales: $378 million
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2. Ben-Hur (1959)
> Wins and nominations: 11 wins, 12 nominations
> Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
> Ticket sales: $73 million
1. Titanic (1997)
> Wins and nominations: 11 wins, 14 nominations
> Studio: 20th Century Fox and Paramount
> Ticket sales: $659 million
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