Academy Award given for the best achievement in visual effects
TheAcademy Award for Best Visual Effects is presented annually by theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for the best achievement invisual effects . It has been handed to four members of the team directly responsible for creating the film's visual effects since1980 .
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences first recognized the technical contributions of special effects to movies at its inaugural dinner in 1929, presenting a plaque for "Best Engineering Effects" to the first Best Picture Oscar winner, theWorld War I flying dramaWings .
ProducerDavid O. Selznick , then production head atRKO Studios , petitioned the Academy Board of Governors to recognize the work of animatorWillis O'Brien for his groundbreaking work on 1933'sKing Kong .[ 1] However, the Academy did not have a category to acknowledge its visual achievements at the time.[ 2] [ 3]
It was not until 1938 when a film was actually recognized for its effects work, when a "Special Achievement Award for Special Effects " was given to the Paramount filmSpawn of the North . The following year, "Best Special Effects " became a recognized category, although on occasion the Academy has chosen to honor a single film outright rather than nominate two or more films. From 1939 to 1963, it was an award for a film's visual effects as well as audio effects, so it was often given to two persons, although some years only one or the other type of effect was recognized. For the22nd Academy Awards , RKO was nominated for the work done onMighty Joe Young (1949), and when they won, it wasWillis H. O'Brien who went on stage to accept the statue.[ 4] In 1964, it was given only for visual effects, and the following year the name of the category was changed to "Best Special Visual Effects ".
Honorees for this award have been bestowed several times as aSpecial Achievement Academy Award . In 1977, the category was given its current name "Best Visual Effects ." For decades, shortlisted finalists were selected by a steering committee. They are presently chosen by the visual effects branch executive committee.[ 5] 1990 was the last year there were no official nominees.Back to the Future Part III ,Dick Tracy ,Ghost andTotal Recall advanced to a second stage of voting, but onlyTotal Recall received a requisite average and it was given a special achievement Oscar.[ 6]
There have been three wholly animated films nominated in this category:The Nightmare Before Christmas in 1993,Kubo and the Two Strings in 2016, andThe Lion King in 2019. There have been three semi-animated films nominated, which also won:Mary Poppins in 1964,Bedknobs and Broomsticks in 1971, andWho Framed Roger Rabbit in 1988.[ 7] In2024 ,Godzilla Minus One became the first non-English-language film ever to win in the category.[ 8]
In 1979, there were five films nominated. For most of the next three decades, there were three nominees a year, although at some times there were two and at others, a single film was given the award outright.
In 2007, it was decided that a list of no more than 15 eligible films would be chosen, from which a maximum of seven would be shortlisted for further consideration. A vote would then proceed, with a maximum of three nominees. Since 2010, there are ten shortlisted finalists which, using a form ofrange voting , produce five nominees.[ 9] No more than four people may be nominated for a single film.[ 10]
According to the official Academy Awardrules , the criteria are:
(a) consideration of the contribution the visual effects make to the overall production and(b) the artistry, skill and fidelity with which the visual illusions are achieved.
A number of filmmakers have had their movies honored for their achievements in visual effects; i.e., six by directorJames Cameron (who began his career in Hollywood as an effects technician), five films produced byGeorge Pal , five by director/producerGeorge Lucas , four by directorsRichard Fleischer ,Steven Spielberg andPeter Jackson , three by directorsRobert Zemeckis ,Christopher Nolan , andDenis Villeneuve , and two by directorsClarence Brown ,Cecil B. DeMille ,Mark Robson ,Ridley Scott ,Robert Stevenson .
Only two directors have won in the same category: Four timeBest Director nomineeStanley Kubrick 's only Oscar win for 1968's2001: A Space Odyssey , and Japanese filmmakerTakashi Yamazaki 's first Oscar win for 2023'sGodzilla Minus One .[ 8] [ 11] The credits for2001 list four effects contributors, includingDouglas Trumbull . However, according to the rules of the Academy in effect at the time, only three persons could be nominated for their work on a single film, which would have resulted in the omission of either Trumbull,Tom Howard , Con Pederson or Wally Veevers. Ultimately, it was Kubrick's name that was submitted as a nominee in this category, resulting in his winning the award, which many consider a slight to the four men whose work contributed to the film's success.[ 12]
Engineering Effects Award [ edit ] The table below display the Oscar nominees for Best Engineering Effects.
indicates competitive winner
indicates non-competitive winner
Special Effects Awards [ edit ] The tables below display the Oscar nominees for Best Special Effects including the recipients of the Special Achievement Awards.
Year Film Nominees 1940 (13th) The Thief of Bagdad Lawrence Butler (photographic) ;Jack Whitney (sound) The Blue Bird Fred Sersen (photographic) ;E. H. Hansen (sound) Boom Town A. Arnold Gillespie (photographic) ;Douglas Shearer (sound) The Boys from Syracuse John P. Fulton (photographic) ;Bernard B. Brown andJoseph Lapis (sound) Dr. Cyclops Gordon Jennings andFarciot Edouart (photographic) Foreign Correspondent Paul Eagler (photographic) ;Thomas T. Moulton (sound) The Invisible Man Returns John P. Fulton (photographic) ;Bernard B. Brown andWilliam Hedgcock (sound) The Long Voyage Home R. T. Layton andR. O. Binger (photographic) ;Thomas T. Moulton (sound) One Million B.C. Roy Seawright (photographic) ;Elmer Raguse (sound) Rebecca Jack Cosgrove (photographic) ;Arthur Johns (sound) The Sea Hawk Byron Haskin (photographic) ;Nathan Levinson (sound) Swiss Family Robinson Vernon L. Walker (photographic) ;John O. Aalberg (sound) Typhoon Farciot Edouart andGordon Jennings (photographic) ;Loren Ryder (sound) Women in War Howard J. Lydecker ,William Bradford , andEllis J. Thackery (photographic) ;Herbert Norsch (sound) 1941 (14th) I Wanted Wings Farciot Edouart andGordon Jennings (photographic) ;Louis Mesenkop (sound) Aloma of the South Seas Farciot Edouart andGordon Jennings (photographic) ;Louis Mesenkop (sound) Dive Bomber [ note 5] [ 13] Byron Haskin (photographic) ;Nathan Levinson (sound) Flight Command A. Arnold Gillespie (photographic) ;Douglas Shearer (sound) The Invisible Woman John Fulton (photographic) ;John Hall (sound) The Sea Wolf Byron Haskin (photographic) ;Nathan Levinson (sound) That Hamilton Woman Lawrence Butler (photographic) ;William H. Wilmarth (sound) Topper Returns Roy Seawright (photographic) ;Elmer Raguse (sound) A Yank in the R.A.F. Fred Sersen (photographic) ;E. H. Hansen (sound) 1942 (15th) Reap the Wild Wind Gordon Jennings ,Farciot Edouart , andWilliam Pereira (photographic) ;Louis Mesenkop (sound) The Black Swan Fred Sersen (photographic) ;Roger Heman andGeorge Leverett (sound) Desperate Journey Byron Haskin (photographic) ;Nathan Levinson (sound) Flying Tigers Howard Lydecker (photographic) ;Daniel J. Bloomberg (sound) Invisible Agent John Fulton (photographic) ;Bernard B. Brown (sound) Jungle Book Lawrence Butler (photographic) ;William H. Wilmarth (sound) Mrs. Miniver A. Arnold Gillespie andWarren Newcombe (photographic) ;Douglas Shearer (sound) The Navy Comes Through Vernon L. Walker (photographic) ;James G. Stewart (sound) One of Our Aircraft Is Missing Ronald Neame (photographic) ;C. C. Stevens (sound) The Pride of the Yankees Jack Cosgrove andRay Binger (photographic) ;Thomas T. Moulton (sound) 1943 (16th) Crash Dive Fred Sersen (photographic) ;Roger Heman (sound) Air Force Hans Koenekamp andRex Wimpy (photographic) ;Nathan Levinson (sound) Bombardier Vernon L. Walker (photographic) ;James G. Stewart andRoy Granville (sound) The North Star Clarence Slifer andR. O. Binger (photographic) ;Thomas T. Moulton (sound) So Proudly We Hail! Gordon Jennings andFarciot Edouart (photographic) ;George Dutton (sound) Stand By for Action A. Arnold Gillespie andDonald Jahraus (photographic) ;Michael Steinore (sound) 1944 (17th) Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo A. Arnold Gillespie ,Donald Jahraus , andWarren Newcombe (photographic) ;Douglas Shearer (sound) The Adventures of Mark Twain Paul Detlefsen andJohn Crouse (photographic) ;Nathan Levinson (sound) Days of Glory Vernon L. Walker (photographic) ;James G. Stewart andRoy Granville (sound) Secret Command David Allen ,Ray Cory , andRobert Wright (photographic) ;Russell Malmgren andHarry Kusnick (sound) Since You Went Away Jack Cosgrove (photographic) ;Arthur Johns (sound) The Story of Dr. Wassell Farciot Edouart andGordon Jennings (photographic) ;George Dutton (sound) Wilson Fred Sersen (photographic) ;Roger Heman (sound) 1945 (18th) Wonder Man John P. Fulton (photographic) ;Arthur Johns (sound) Captain Eddie Fred Sersen andSol Halperin (photographic) ;Roger Heman andHarry Leonard (sound) Spellbound Jack Cosgrove (photographic) They Were Expendable A. Arnold Gillespie ,Donald Jahraus , andRobert A. MacDonald (photographic) ;Michael Steinore (sound) A Thousand and One Nights Lawrence W. Butler (photographic) ;Ray Bomba (sound) 1946 (19th) Blithe Spirit Thomas Howard (visual) A Stolen Life William McGann (visual) ;Nathan Levinson (audible) 1947 (20th) Green Dolphin Street A. Arnold Gillespie andWarren Newcombe (visual) ;Douglas Shearer andMichael Steinore (audible) Unconquered Farciot Edouart ,Devereux Jennings ,Gordon Jennings ,W. Wallace Kelley , andPaul Lerpae (visual) ;George Dutton (audible) 1948 (21st) Portrait of Jennie Paul Eagler ,Joseph McMillan Johnson ,Russell Shearman , andClarence Slifer (visual) ;Charles Freeman , andJames G. Stewart (audible) Deep Waters Ralph Hammeras ,Fred Sersen , andEdward Snyder (visual) ;Roger Heman (audible) 1949 (22nd) Mighty Joe Young RKO Productions Tulsa Walter Wanger Pictures
Visual Effects Awards [ edit ] The tables below display the Oscar nominees for Best Visual Effects including the recipients of the Special Achievement Awards.
Year Film Nominees 1970 (43rd) Tora! Tora! Tora! A. D. Flowers andL. B. Abbott Patton Alex Weldon 1971 (44th) Bedknobs and Broomsticks Alan Maley ,Eustace Lycett , andDanny Lee When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth Jim Danforth andRoger Dicken 1972 (45th) The Poseidon Adventure [ note 3] L. B. Abbott andA. D. Flowers 1974 (47th) Earthquake [ note 3] Frank Brendel ,Glen Robinson , andAlbert Whitlock 1975 (48th) The Hindenburg [ note 3] Albert Whitlock andGlen Robinson 1976 (49th) King Kong [ note 3] Carlo Rambaldi ,Glen Robinson , andFrank Van der Veer Logan's Run [ note 3] L. B. Abbott ,Glen Robinson , andMatthew Yuricich 1977 (50th) Star Wars John Stears ,John Dykstra ,Richard Edlund ,Grant McCune , andRobert Blalack Close Encounters of the Third Kind Roy Arbogast ,Douglas Trumbull ,Matthew Yuricich ,Greg Jein , andRichard Yuricich 1978 (51st) Superman [ note 3] Les Bowie ,Colin Chilvers ,Denys Coop ,Roy Field ,Derek Meddings , andZoran Perisic 1979 (52nd) Alien H. R. Giger ,Carlo Rambaldi ,Brian Johnson ,Nick Allder , andDennis Ayling 1941 William A. Fraker ,A. D. Flowers , andGreg Jein The Black Hole Peter Ellenshaw ,Art Cruickshank ,Eustace Lycett ,Danny Lee ,Harrison Ellenshaw , andJoe Hale Moonraker Derek Meddings , Paul Wilson, andJohn Evans Star Trek: The Motion Picture Douglas Trumbull ,John Dykstra ,Richard Yuricich ,Robert Swarthe ,David K. Stewart , andGrant McCune
Year Film Nominees 1980 (53rd) The Empire Strikes Back [ note 3] Brian Johnson ,Richard Edlund ,Dennis Muren , andBruce Nicholson 1981 (54th) Raiders of the Lost Ark Richard Edlund ,Kit West ,Bruce Nicholson , andJoe Johnston Dragonslayer Dennis Muren ,Phil Tippett ,Ken Ralston , andBrian Johnson 1982 (55th) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Carlo Rambaldi ,Dennis Muren , andKenneth F. Smith Blade Runner Douglas Trumbull ,Richard Yuricich , andDavid Dryer Poltergeist Richard Edlund ,Michael Wood , andBruce Nicholson 1983 (56th) Return of the Jedi [ note 3] Richard Edlund ,Dennis Muren ,Ken Ralston , andPhil Tippett 1984 (57th) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Dennis Muren ,Michael J. McAlister ,Lorne Peterson , andGeorge Gibbs 2010 Richard Edlund ,Neil Krepela ,George Jenson , andMark Stetson Ghostbusters Richard Edlund ,John Bruno ,Mark Vargo , andChuck Gaspar 1985 (58th) Cocoon Ken Ralston ,Ralph McQuarrie ,Scott Farrar , andDavid Berry Return to Oz Will Vinton ,Ian Wingrove ,Zoran Perisic , andMichael Lloyd Young Sherlock Holmes Dennis Muren ,Kit West ,John R. Ellis , andDavid W. Allen 1986 (59th) Aliens Robert Skotak ,Stan Winston ,John Richardson , andSuzanne M. Benson Little Shop of Horrors Lyle Conway ,Bran Ferren , andMartin Gutteridge Poltergeist II: The Other Side Richard Edlund ,John Bruno ,Garry Waller , andBill Neil 1987 (60th) Innerspace Dennis Muren ,William George ,Harley Jessup , andKenneth F. Smith Predator Joel Hynek , Robert M. Greenberg,Richard Greenberg , andStan Winston 1988 (61st) Who Framed Roger Rabbit Ken Ralston ,Richard Williams ,Edward Jones , andGeorge Gibbs Die Hard Richard Edlund ,Al DiSarro ,Brent Boates , andThaine Morris Willow Dennis Muren ,Michael J. McAlister ,Phil Tippett , and Chris Evans1989 (62nd) The Abyss John Bruno ,Dennis Muren ,Hoyt Yeatman , andDennis Skotak The Adventures of Baron Munchausen Richard Conway andKent Houston Back to the Future Part II Ken Ralston ,Michael Lantieri ,John Bell , andSteve Gawley
Year Film Nominees 1990 (63rd) Total Recall [ note 3] Eric Brevig ,Rob Bottin ,Tim McGovern , andAlex Funke 1991 (64th) Terminator 2: Judgment Day Dennis Muren ,Stan Winston ,Gene Warren Jr. , andRobert Skotak Backdraft Mikael Salomon ,Allen Hall ,Clay Pinney , andScott Farrar Hook Eric Brevig ,Harley Jessup ,Mark Sullivan , andMichael Lantieri 1992 (65th) Death Becomes Her Ken Ralston ,Doug Chiang ,Douglas Smythe , andTom Woodruff Jr. Alien 3 Richard Edlund , Alec Gillis,Tom Woodruff Jr. , andGeorge Gibbs Batman Returns Michael L. Fink ,Craig Barron ,John Bruno , andDennis Skotak 1993 (66th) Jurassic Park Dennis Muren ,Stan Winston ,Phil Tippett , andMichael Lantieri Cliffhanger Neil Krepela ,John Richardson ,John Bruno , and Pamela EasleyThe Nightmare Before Christmas Pete Kozachik , Eric Leighton, Ariel Velasco-Shaw, and Gordon Baker1994 (67th) Forrest Gump Ken Ralston ,George Murphy ,Stephen Rosenbaum , andAllen Hall The Mask Scott Squires ,Steve 'Spaz' Williams ,Tom Bertino , andJon Farhat True Lies John Bruno ,Thomas L. Fisher ,Jacques Stroweis , andPatrick McClung 1995 (68th) Babe Scott E. Anderson ,Charles Gibson ,Neal Scanlan , andJohn Cox Apollo 13 Robert Legato ,Michael Kanfer ,Leslie Ekker , andMatt Sweeney 1996 (69th) Independence Day Volker Engel ,Douglas Smith ,Clay Pinney , andJoseph Viskocil Dragonheart Scott Squires ,Phil Tippett ,James Straus , andKit West Twister Stefen Fangmeier ,John Frazier ,Habib Zargarpour , andHenry LaBounta 1997 (70th) Titanic Robert Legato ,Mark Lasoff ,Thomas L. Fisher , andMichael Kanfer The Lost World: Jurassic Park Dennis Muren ,Stan Winston ,Randal M. Dutra , andMichael Lantieri Starship Troopers Phil Tippett ,Scott E. Anderson , Alec Gillis, andJohn Richardson 1998 (71st) What Dreams May Come Joel Hynek ,Nicholas Brooks ,Stuart Robertson , andKevin Mack Armageddon Richard R. Hoover ,Patrick McClung , andJohn Frazier Mighty Joe Young Rick Baker ,Hoyt Yeatman ,Allen Hall , andJim Mitchell 1999 (72nd) The Matrix John Gaeta ,Janek Sirrs ,Steve Courtley , andJon Thum Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace John Knoll ,Dennis Muren ,Scott Squires , andRob Coleman Stuart Little John Dykstra ,Jerome Chen , Henry F. Anderson III, and Eric Allard
Year Film Nominees 2000 (73rd) Gladiator John Nelson ,Neil Corbould ,Tim Burke , andRob Harvey Hollow Man Scott E. Anderson ,Craig Hayes ,Scott Stokdyk , andStan Parks The Perfect Storm Stefen Fangmeier ,Habib Zargarpour ,John Frazier , andWalt Conti 2001 (74th) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Jim Rygiel ,Randall William Cook ,Richard Taylor , andMark Stetson A.I. Artificial Intelligence Dennis Muren ,Scott Farrar ,Stan Winston , andMichael Lantieri Pearl Harbor Eric Brevig ,John Frazier ,Ed Hirsh , andBen Snow 2002 (75th) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Jim Rygiel ,Joe Letteri ,Randall William Cook , andAlex Funke Spider-Man John Dykstra ,Scott Stokdyk ,Anthony LaMolinara , andJohn Frazier Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones Rob Coleman ,Pablo Helman ,John Knoll , andBen Snow 2003 (76th) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Jim Rygiel ,Joe Letteri ,Randall William Cook , andAlex Funke Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Dan Sudick ,Stefen Fangmeier ,Nathan McGuinness , andRobert Stromberg Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl John Knoll ,Hal Hickel ,Charles Gibson , andTerry Frazee 2004 (77th) Spider-Man 2 John Dykstra ,Scott Stokdyk ,Anthony LaMolinara , andJohn Frazier Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Roger Guyett ,Tim Burke ,John Richardson , andWilliam George I, Robot John Nelson ,Andrew R. Jones ,Erik Nash , andJoe Letteri 2005 (78th) King Kong Joe Letteri ,Brian Van't Hul ,Christian Rivers , andRichard Taylor The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Dean Wright ,Bill Westenhofer ,Jim Berney , andScott Farrar War of the Worlds Dennis Muren ,Pablo Helman ,Randal M. Dutra , andDan Sudick 2006 (79th) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest John Knoll ,Hal Hickel ,Charles Gibson , andAllen Hall Poseidon Boyd Shermis, Kim Libreri, Chas Jarrett, andJohn Frazier Superman Returns Mark Stetson ,Neil Corbould ,Richard R. Hoover , andJon Thum 2007 (80th) The Golden Compass Michael L. Fink ,Bill Westenhofer ,Ben Morris , andTrevor Wood Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End John Knoll ,Hal Hickel ,Charles Gibson , andJohn Frazier Transformers Scott Farrar ,Scott Benza ,Russell Earl , andJohn Frazier 2008 (81st) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Eric Barba ,Steve Preeg ,Burt Dalton , andCraig Barron The Dark Knight Nick Davis ,Chris Corbould ,Tim Webber , andPaul Franklin Iron Man John Nelson ,Ben Snow ,Dan Sudick , andShane Mahan 2009 (82nd) Avatar Joe Letteri ,Stephen Rosenbaum ,Richard Baneham , andAndrew R. Jones District 9 Dan Kaufman ,Peter Muyzers ,Robert Habros , andMatt Aitken Star Trek Roger Guyett ,Russell Earl ,Paul Kavanagh , andBurt Dalton
Year Film Nominees 2010 (83rd) Inception Paul Franklin ,Chris Corbould ,Andrew Lockley , andPeter Bebb Alice in Wonderland Ken Ralston ,David Schaub ,Carey Villegas , andSean Phillips Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Tim Burke ,John Richardson ,Christian Manz , andNicolas Aithadi Hereafter Michael Owens ,Bryan Grill ,Stephan Trojansky , andJoe Farrell Iron Man 2 Janek Sirrs ,Ben Snow ,Ged Wright , andDan Sudick 2011 (84th) Hugo Robert Legato ,Joss Williams ,Ben Grossmann , andAlex Henning Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Tim Burke ,David Vickery ,Greg Butler , andJohn Richardson Real Steel Erik Nash ,John Rosengrant ,Dan Taylor , andSwen Gillberg Rise of the Planet of the Apes Joe Letteri ,Dan Lemmon ,R. Christopher White , andDaniel Barrett Transformers: Dark of the Moon Scott Farrar ,Scott Benza ,Matthew E. Butler , andJohn Frazier 2012 (85th) Life of Pi Bill Westenhofer ,Guillaume Rocheron ,Erik-Jan de Boer , andDonald R. Elliott The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Joe Letteri ,Eric Saindon ,David Clayton , andR. Christopher White Marvel's The Avengers Janek Sirrs ,Jeff White ,Guy Williams , andDan Sudick Prometheus Richard Stammers ,Trevor Wood ,Charley Henley , andMartin Hill Snow White and the Huntsman Cedric Nicolas-Troyan , Philip Brennan,Neil Corbould , and Michael Dawson2013 (86th) Gravity Tim Webber ,Chris Lawrence ,Dave Shirk , andNeil Corbould The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Joe Letteri ,Eric Saindon ,David Clayton , andEric Reynolds Iron Man 3 Christopher Townsend ,Guy Williams ,Erik Nash , andDan Sudick The Lone Ranger Tim Alexander ,Gary Brozenich ,Edson Williams , andJohn Frazier Star Trek Into Darkness Roger Guyett ,Patrick Tubach ,Ben Grossmann , andBurt Dalton 2014 (87th) Interstellar Paul Franklin ,Andrew Lockley ,Ian Hunter , andScott R. Fisher Captain America: The Winter Soldier Dan DeLeeuw ,Russell Earl ,Bryan Grill , andDan Sudick Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Joe Letteri ,Dan Lemmon ,Daniel Barrett , andErik Winquist Guardians of the Galaxy Stéphane Ceretti ,Nicolas Aithadi ,Jonathan Fawkner , andPaul Corbould X-Men: Days of Future Past Richard Stammers ,Lou Pecora ,Tim Crosbie , andCameron Waldbauer 2015 (88th) Ex Machina Mark Williams Ardington ,Sara Bennett ,Paul Norris , andAndrew Whitehurst Mad Max: Fury Road Andrew Jackson ,Dan Oliver ,Andy Williams , andTom Wood The Martian Anders Langlands ,Chris Lawrence ,Richard Stammers , andSteven Warner The Revenant Richard McBride ,Matt Shumway ,Jason Smith , andCameron Waldbauer Star Wars: The Force Awakens Chris Corbould ,Roger Guyett ,Patrick Tubach , andNeal Scanlan 2016 (89th) [ 14] The Jungle Book Robert Legato ,Adam Valdez ,Andrew R. Jones , andDan Lemmon Deepwater Horizon Craig Hammack ,Jason Snell ,Jason Billington , andBurt Dalton Doctor Strange Stéphane Ceretti ,Richard Bluff ,Vincent Cirelli , andPaul Corbould Kubo and the Two Strings Steve Emerson ,Oliver Jones ,Brian McLean , andBrad Schiff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story John Knoll ,Mohen Leo ,Hal Hickel , andNeil Corbould 2017 (90th) [ 15] Blade Runner 2049 John Nelson ,Gerd Nefzer ,Paul Lambert , andRichard R. Hoover Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Christopher Townsend ,Guy Williams ,Jonathan Fawkner , andDan Sudick Kong: Skull Island Stephen Rosenbaum ,Jeff White ,Scott Benza , andMike Meinardus Star Wars: The Last Jedi Ben Morris ,Mike Mulholland ,Neal Scanlan , andChris Corbould War for the Planet of the Apes Joe Letteri ,Daniel Barrett ,Dan Lemmon , andJoel Whist 2018 (91st) First Man Paul Lambert ,Ian Hunter ,Tristan Myles , andJ. D. Schwalm Avengers: Infinity War Dan DeLeeuw ,Kelly Port ,Russell Earl , andDan Sudick Christopher Robin Chris Lawrence ,Mike Eames , Theo Jones, andChris Corbould Ready Player One Roger Guyett ,Grady Cofer ,Matthew E. Butler , andDavid Shirk Solo: A Star Wars Story Rob Bredow ,Patrick Tubach ,Neal Scanlan , andDominic Tuohy 2019 (92nd) 1917 Guillaume Rocheron ,Greg Butler , andDominic Tuohy Avengers: Endgame Dan DeLeeuw ,Russell Earl ,Matt Aitken , andDan Sudick The Irishman Pablo Helman ,Leandro Estebecorena ,Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser , andStephane Grabli The Lion King Robert Legato ,Adam Valdez ,Andrew R. Jones , andElliot Newman Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Roger Guyett ,Neal Scanlan ,Patrick Tubach , andDominic Tuohy
Year Film Nominees 2020 (93rd) Tenet Andrew Jackson ,David Lee ,Andrew Lockley , andScott Fisher Love and Monsters Matt Sloan ,Genevieve Camilleri ,Matt Everitt , andBrian Cox The Midnight Sky Matt Kasmir ,Chris Lawrence ,Max Solomon , andDavid Watkins Mulan Sean Andrew Faden ,Anders Langlands ,Seth Maury , andSteve Ingram The One and Only Ivan Nick Davis , Greg Fisher, Ben Jones, andSantiago Colomo Martínez 2021 (94th) Dune Paul Lambert ,Tristan Myles ,Brian Connor , andGerd Nefzer Free Guy Swen Gillberg ,Bryan Grill ,Nikos Kalaitzidis , andDan Sudick No Time to Die Charlie Noble ,Joel Green ,Jonathan Fawkner , andChris Corbould Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Christopher Townsend ,Joe Farrell ,Sean Noel Walker , andDan Oliver Spider-Man: No Way Home Kelly Port ,Chris Waegner ,Scott Edelstein , andDan Sudick 2022 (95th) Avatar: The Way of Water Joe Letteri ,Richard Baneham ,Eric Saindon , andDaniel Barrett All Quiet on the Western Front Frank Petzold ,Viktor Müller ,Markus Frank , andKamil Jafar The Batman Dan Lemmon ,Russell Earl ,Anders Langlands , andDominic Tuohy Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Geoffrey Baumann ,Craig Hammack ,R. Christopher White , andDan Sudick Top Gun: Maverick Ryan Tudhope ,Seth Hill ,Bryan Litson , andScott R. Fisher 2023 (96th) Godzilla Minus One Takashi Yamazaki ,Kiyoko Shibuya ,Masaki Takahashi , andTatsuji Nojima The Creator Jay Cooper ,Ian Comley ,Andrew Roberts andNeil Corbould Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Stéphane Ceretti ,Alexis Wajsbrot ,Guy Williams andTheo Bialek Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Alex Wuttke ,Simone Coco ,Jeff Sutherland andNeil Corbould Napoleon Charley Henley ,Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet ,Simone Coco andNeil Corbould 2024 (97th) Dune: Part Two Paul Lambert ,Stephen James ,Rhys Salcombe andGerd Nefzer Alien: Romulus Eric Barba ,Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser ,Daniel Macarin andShane Mahan Better Man Luke Millar ,David Clayton ,Keith Herft andPeter Stubbs Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Erik Winquist ,Stephen Unterfranz ,Paul Story andRodney Burke Wicked Pablo Helman ,Jonathan Fawkner ,David Shirk andPaul Corbould
Shortlisted finalists [ edit ] Finalists for Best Visual Effects are selected by the Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee. Beginning with a long list of up to 20 titles, the committee then advances ten films to the shortlist.[ 16] Prior to the83rd Academy Awards , only fifteen films were long-listed, and only seven films were shortlisted.[ 17] The full membership of the Visual Effects Branch is invited to view excerpts and is provided with supporting information at a "bake-off" where balloting determines the five nominees. These are the additional films that presented at the bake-off.
Year Finalists Ref 1984 Dune ,Gremlins ,The Last Starfighter ,Star Trek III: The Search for Spock [ 18] 1993 Addams Family Values ,Alive ,Hocus Pocus ,Super Mario Bros. [ 19] 1994 The Hudsucker Proxy ,Interview with the Vampire ,The Lion King ,Speed [ 20] 1995 Batman Forever ,Casper ,Jumanji ,The Indian in the Cupboard ,Waterworld [ 21] 1996 Mars Attacks! ,Mission: Impossible ,The Nutty Professor ,Star Trek: First Contact [ 22] 1997 Batman & Robin ,Contact ,The Fifth Element ,Men in Black [ 23] 1998 Babe: Pig in the City ,Godzilla ,Small Soldiers ,The Truman Show [ 24] 1999 The Mummy ,Sleepy Hollow ,Wild Wild West ,The World Is Not Enough [ 25] 2000 Cast Away ,Dinosaur ,How the Grinch Stole Christmas ,X-Men [ 26] 2001 Black Hawk Down ,Cats & Dogs ,The Fast and the Furious ,Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ,Jurassic Park III [ note 7] [ 27] 2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ,Minority Report ,Men in Black II ,xXx [ 28] 2003 Hulk ,Peter Pan ,Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines ,X2: X-Men United [ 29] 2004 The Aviator ,The Day After Tomorrow ,Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events ,Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow [ 30] 2005 Batman Begins ,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ,Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ,Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith [ 31] 2006 Casino Royale ,Eragon ,Night at the Museum ,X-Men: The Last Stand [ 32] 2007 First Round :Beowulf ,Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ,Live Free or Die Hard ,National Treasure: Book of Secrets ,Ratatouille ,Spider-Man 3 ,Sunshine ,The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep Second Round :The Bourne Ultimatum ,Evan Almighty ,I Am Legend ,300
[ 33] [ 34] 2008 Australia ,Hellboy II: The Golden Army ,Journey to the Center of the Earth ,The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor [ 35] 2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ,Terminator Salvation ,Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen ,2012 [ 36] 2010 First Round: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ,Clash of the Titans ,The Last Airbender ,Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief ,Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time ,Shutter Island ,The Sorcerer's Apprentice ,Unstoppable Second Round: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World ,Tron: Legacy [ 17] 2011 First Round: Cowboys & Aliens ,Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows ,Sucker Punch ,Super 8 ,Thor Second Round: Captain America: The First Avenger ,Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol ,Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ,The Tree of Life ,X-Men: First Class [ 37] [ 38] 2012 The Amazing Spider-Man ,Cloud Atlas ,The Dark Knight Rises ,John Carter ,Skyfall [ 39] 2013 Elysium ,Oblivion ,Pacific Rim ,Thor: The Dark World ,World War Z [ 40] 2014 Godzilla ,The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies ,Maleficent ,Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ,Transformers: Age of Extinction [ 41] 2015 First Round: Bridge of Spies ,Chappie ,Everest ,Furious 7 ,The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 ,In the Heart of the Sea ,Jupiter Ascending ,Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation ,Spectre ,Terminator Genisys Second Round: Ant-Man ,Avengers: Age of Ultron ,Jurassic World ,Tomorrowland ,The Walk [ 42] [ 43] 2016 First Round: Alice Through the Looking Glass ,Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ,Deadpool ,Independence Day: Resurgence ,Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children ,Star Trek Beyond ,Suicide Squad ,Sully ,Warcraft ,X-Men: Apocalypse Second Round: Arrival ,The BFG ,Captain America: Civil War ,Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ,Passengers [ 44] [ 45] 2017 First Round: Beauty and the Beast ,Ghost in the Shell ,Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ,Justice League ,Life ,Logan ,Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales ,Spider-Man: Homecoming ,Thor: Ragnarok ,Wonder Woman Second Round: Alien: Covenant ,Dunkirk ,Okja ,The Shape of Water ,Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets [ 46] [ 47] 2018 First Round: Aquaman ,Bumblebee ,Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald ,Incredibles 2 ,Isle of Dogs ,Mission: Impossible – Fallout ,Mortal Engines ,The Nutcracker and the Four Realms ,Paddington 2 ,A Quiet Place Second Round: Ant-Man and the Wasp ,Black Panther ,Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ,Mary Poppins Returns ,Welcome to Marwen [ 48] [ 49] 2019 First Round: Ad Astra ,The Aeronauts ,Aladdin ,Dumbo ,Hobbs & Shaw ,Ford v Ferrari ,Jumanji: The Next Level ,Men in Black: International ,Midway ,Spider-Man: Far From Home Second Round: Alita: Battle Angel ,Captain Marvel ,Cats ,Gemini Man ,Terminator: Dark Fate [ 50] [ 51] 2020 Birds of Prey ,Bloodshot ,Mank ,Soul ,Welcome to Chechnya [ 52] 2021 Black Widow ,Eternals ,Ghostbusters: Afterlife ,Godzilla vs. Kong ,The Matrix Resurrections [ 53] 2022 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ,Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore ,Jurassic World Dominion ,Nope ,Thirteen Lives [ 54] 2023 First Round: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ,Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom ,Barbie ,The Boys in the Boat ,Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves ,Killers of the Flower Moon ,The Marvels ,Nyad ,Transformers: Rise of the Beasts ,Wonka Second Round: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny ,Poor Things ,Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire ,Society of the Snow ,Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse [ 55] [ 56] 2024 First Round :Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ,The Fall Guy ,Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga ,Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ,Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire ,Here ,A Quiet Place: Day One ,Spaceman ,The Substance Second Round :Civil War ,Deadpool & Wolverine ,Gladiator II ,Mufasa: The Lion King ,Twisters [ 57] [ 58]
Artists with multiple awards [ edit ] 8 awards 5 awards 4 awards 3 awards
2 awards
Artists with multiple nominations [ edit ] 15 nominations 13 nominations 12 nominations 11 nominations 10 nominations 8 nominations 7 nominations 6 nominations
5 nominations 4 nominations
3 nominations
2 nominations
Multiple nominations [ edit ] 14 Nominations 10 Nominations 5 Nominations 4 Nominations 3 Nominations 2 Nominations
For this Academy Award category, the following superlatives emerge:[ 59]
Most awards: Dennis Muren –8 awards (resulting from 15 nominations)Most nominations: Dennis Muren –15 nominations (resulting in 8 awards)Most nominations without a win: Dan Sudick –13 nominations Age superlatives:
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1963–1980 Emil Kosa Jr. –Cleopatra (1963)Peter Ellenshaw ,Eustace Lycett , andHamilton Luske –Mary Poppins (1964)John Stears –Thunderball (1965)Art Cruickshank –Fantastic Voyage (1966)L. B. Abbott –Doctor Dolittle (1967)Stanley Kubrick –2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)Robbie Robertson –Marooned (1969)A. D. Flowers andL. B. Abbott –Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)Alan Maley ,Eustace Lycett , andDanny Lee –Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)L. B. Abbott andA. D. Flowers –The Poseidon Adventure (1972)Frank Brendel ,Glen Robinson , andAlbert Whitlock –Earthquake (1974)Albert Whitlock andGlen Robinson –The Hindenburg (1975)Carlo Rambaldi ,Glen Robinson , andFrank Van der Veer –King Kong (1976)John Stears ,John Dykstra ,Richard Edlund ,Grant McCune , andRobert Blalack –Star Wars (1977)Les Bowie ,Colin Chilvers ,Denys Coop ,Roy Field ,Derek Meddings , andZoran Perisic –Superman (1978)H. R. Giger ,Carlo Rambaldi ,Brian Johnson ,Nick Allder , andDennis Ayling –Alien (1979)Brian Johnson ,Richard Edlund ,Dennis Muren , andBruce Nicholson –The Empire Strikes Back (1980)1981–2000 Richard Edlund ,Kit West ,Bruce Nicholson , andJoe Johnston –Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)Carlo Rambaldi ,Dennis Muren , andKenneth F. Smith –E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)Richard Edlund ,Dennis Muren ,Ken Ralston , andPhil Tippett –Return of the Jedi (1983)Dennis Muren ,Michael J. McAlister ,Lorne Peterson , andGeorge Gibbs –Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)Ken Ralston ,Ralph McQuarrie ,Scott Farrar , andDavid Berry –Cocoon (1985)Robert Skotak ,Stan Winston ,John Richardson , andSuzanne M. Benson –Aliens (1986)Dennis Muren ,Bill George ,Harley Jessup , andKenneth F. Smith –Innerspace (1987)Ken Ralston ,Richard Williams ,Edward Jones , andGeorge Gibbs –Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)John Bruno ,Dennis Muren ,Hoyt Yeatman , andDennis Skotak –The Abyss (1989)Eric Brevig ,Rob Bottin ,Tim McGovern , andAlex Funke –Total Recall (1990)Dennis Muren ,Stan Winston ,Gene Warren Jr. , andRobert Skotak –Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)Ken Ralston ,Doug Chiang ,Douglas Smythe , andTom Woodruff Jr. –Death Becomes Her (1992)Dennis Muren ,Stan Winston ,Phil Tippett , andMichael Lantieri –Jurassic Park (1993)Ken Ralston ,George Murphy ,Stephen Rosenbaum , andAllen Hall –Forrest Gump (1994)Scott E. Anderson ,Charles Gibson ,Neal Scanlan , andJohn Cox –Babe (1995)Volker Engel ,Douglas Smith ,Clay Pinney , andJoe Viskocil –Independence Day (1996)Robert Legato ,Mark Lasoff ,Thomas L. Fisher , andMichael Kanfer –Titanic (1997)Joel Hynek ,Nicholas Brooks ,Stuart Robertson , andKevin Mack –What Dreams May Come (1998)John Gaeta ,Janek Sirrs ,Steve Courtley , andJon Thum –The Matrix (1999)John Nelson ,Neil Corbould ,Tim Burke , andRob Harvey –Gladiator (2000)2001–2020 Jim Rygiel ,Randall William Cook ,Richard Taylor , andMark Stetson –The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)Jim Rygiel ,Joe Letteri ,Randall William Cook , andAlex Funke –The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)Jim Rygiel ,Joe Letteri ,Randall William Cook , andAlex Funke –The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)John Dykstra ,Scott Stokdyk ,Anthony LaMolinara , andJohn Frazier –Spider-Man 2 (2004)Joe Letteri ,Brian Van't Hul ,Christian Rivers , andRichard Taylor –King Kong (2005)John Knoll ,Hal Hickel ,Charles Gibson , andAllen Hall –Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)Michael L. Fink ,Bill Westenhofer ,Ben Morris , andTrevor Wood –The Golden Compass (2007)Eric Barba ,Steve Preeg ,Burt Dalton , andCraig Barron –The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)Joe Letteri ,Stephen Rosenbaum ,Richard Baneham , andAndrew R. Jones –Avatar (2009)Paul Franklin ,Chris Corbould ,Andrew Lockley , andPeter Bebb –Inception (2010)Robert Legato ,Joss Williams ,Ben Grossmann , andAlex Henning –Hugo (2011)Bill Westenhofer ,Guillaume Rocheron ,Erik-Jan de Boer , andDonald R. Elliott –Life of Pi (2012)Tim Webber ,Chris Lawrence ,Dave Shirk , andNeil Corbould –Gravity (2013)Paul Franklin ,Andrew Lockley ,Ian Hunter , andScott R. Fisher –Interstellar (2014)Mark Ardington ,Sara Bennett ,Paul Norris , andAndrew Whitehurst –Ex Machina (2015)Robert Legato ,Adam Valdez ,Andrew R. Jones , andDan Lemmon –The Jungle Book (2016)John Nelson ,Gerd Nefzer ,Paul Lambert , andRichard R. Hoover –Blade Runner 2049 (2017)Paul Lambert ,Ian Hunter ,Tristan Myles , andJ. D. Schwalm –First Man (2018)Guillaume Rocheron ,Greg Butler , andDominic Tuohy –1917 (2019)Andrew Jackson ,David Lee ,Andrew Lockley , andScott R. Fisher –Tenet (2020)2021–present Paul Lambert ,Tristan Myles ,Brian Connor , andGerd Nefzer –Dune (2021)Joe Letteri ,Richard Baneham ,Eric Saindon , andDaniel Barrett –Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)Takashi Yamazaki ,Kiyoko Shibuya ,Masaki Takahashi , andTatsuji Nojima –Godzilla Minus One (2023)Paul Lambert ,Stephen James ,Rhys Salcombe , andGerd Nefzer –Dune: Part Two (2024)