The Saturn Awards were devised by Donald A. Reed in 1973, who felt that work in films in the genre of science fiction at that time lacked recognition within the established Hollywood film industry's award system.[2] Initially, the award given was a Golden Scroll certificate.[3] In the late 1970s, the award was revamped to a representation of the planetSaturn, with its ring(s) composed of a film reel.
The Saturn Awards are voted upon by members of the presenting Academy. The Academy is a non-profit organization with membership open to the public. Its president and executive producer is Robert Holguin, and producer/writers Bradley Marcus and Kevin Marcus.[4] Its members include filmmakersJ. J. Abrams,Bryan Singer,Steven Spielberg,Bryan Fuller,Mark A. Altman,Vince Gilligan andJames Cameron, among others.[5]
Although the Awards still primarily focus on films and television in the science fiction, fantasy and horror categories, the Saturns have also recognized productions in other dramatic genres. There are also special awards for lifetime achievement in film production.
For the first televised Science Fiction Film Awards in 1978 (as it was called at the time), the production team needed a physical golden award statue to present the winners. Prior to 1978, there was no award statue. The unique statue, with film tape circling Saturn, was created by 19 year old Robert John Wold, the son of Robert Norman Wold, who founded The Robert Wold Company and Wold Communications, located in Los Angeles. The Robert Wold Company was responsible for the televised broadcast of the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards show, which was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Karen Black was a hostess, and William Shatner performed Bernie Taupin's Rocket Man, while seated at a stool on stage smoking a cigarette.
Following the46th ceremony held in 2021, the decision to rebrand what would have been the 47th as the "50th Saturn Awards" was made in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Saturn Awards, which were founded in 1973. Subsequent ceremonies have continued with the new numbering.[6] The television categories were majorly overhauled at the 50th ceremony, with several categories being split to recognise both network/cable and streaming series. These changes were reverted at the following ceremony, however. In 2023, the nominations announcement and awards process for the51st Saturn Awards was postponed by several months in solidarity with the2023 Hollywood labor disputes.[7]
The Saturn Awards has been criticized for having broadened its scope, nominating and awarding prestige movies genre awards (sci-fi, fantasy, or horror) and thereby stretching the meanings of the genres too far.[8][9][10][11][12]
^Largest sweep (winning awards in every nominated category).
^abThe Walking Dead (2010–2022) was nominated for 62 and won 24 competitive awards throughout its run, which lasted for 11 seasons. In addition, the series received a special award in 2024 for the cast and creators of theWalking Dead franchise.
^Nathaniel Rogers.«Nominations for Everyone!» — Saturn Awards. The Film Experience, February 26, 2014 "I think the Saturn Awards have lost focus. You're a genre award. You're supposed to be about fantasy, sci-fi and horror. That's your whole goddamn raison d'être".
^Myles McNutt.What’s my Genre Again?: The In(s)anity of the Saturn Awards. Cultural Learnings, February 19, 2010. "The problem is that, over time, the Saturn Awards have stretched the meaning of genre so far that it legitimately has no meaning. <...> Rather than seeming like a legitimate celebration of science fiction, fantasy or horror, the Saturn Awards read like an unflattering and at points embarrassing collection of films and television series which reflect not the best that genre has to offer, but rather a desperate attempt to tap into the cultural zeitgeist while masquerading as a celebration of the underappreciated.
^Francisco Salazar.Saturn Awards 2015 Date & Nominations. Latinpost, March 5, 2015 "However, sometimes the Saturn Awards choose prestige films and ignore some of the more important science fiction, fantasy and horror films of the year."
