Like most other prestigious film prizes, the Oscars offer recognition to almost every member of a film crew — with categories covering both the acting ensemble and those working behind the camera. Starting next year, casting directors will also be eligible for a statuette. The history of the Oscars shows that although many films do indeed become true champions and collect multiple awards, acting prizes most often go to different films altogether.
Nevertheless, three past nominees have managed to score an almost record-breaking number of acting awards — one of them, which swept the 2023 ceremony, you’ll likely remember well.
Only Three Films Have Won Three Oscars in Acting Categories
Although no film has yet claimed all four acting statuettes — for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress — there are examples in Oscar history where three out of four went to a single film. The first was A Streetcar Named Desire, which received awards at the 1952 ceremony for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Second on the list is the satirical drama Network, which in 1977 won Oscars for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress.
Finally, among recent record holders is the sci-fi action comedy Everything Everywhere All at Once, which, in addition to winning Best Picture, received Oscars for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.
Only Three Films Have Ever Won the Oscar “Big Five”
The 'Big Five' traditionally refers to winning the five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay (original or adapted). Only three films in history have managed to achieve this rare feat — It Happened One Night, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Silence of the Lambs.
And while such a sweep is certainly considered an impressive accomplishment, many regard winning three acting Oscars as something even more difficult to achieve.
