Think You Know The Academy Awards? Take This Quiz And See If You Can Win 'Most Answers'!
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 25 min play time
Every year, the members of The Academy vote on the best in film achievement for the past year. These awards are then given out to Hollywood's best and brightest. Take this quiz and see what you know about the Academy Awards!
Quiz written by
Daniel RackleyAcademy Awards Quiz Questions
67 Questions · 138 Plays · No comments
Question 1
And I present to you the O.G. emcee. Who was the host of the first televised Oscars?
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AJohnny Carson
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BBill Murray
-
CBob Hope
-
DJerry Lewis
Bob Hope
The host who holds the record for most emceed Oscars was also the first host to ever head the show. Bob Hope was trusted to make the ceremony enjoyable, and he set the standard.
Question 2
2010 saw two 3D films nominated for Best Picture – the first time a 3D picture was ever nominated. Name those films.
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AAvatar and Up
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BHugo and Life of Pi
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CUp and Hugo
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DLife of Pi and Gravity
Avatar and Up
Believe it or not, the 3D format predates the Academy Awards. Around since 1915, 3D was only just given an Oscar nod in 2010 with <i>Avatar</i> and <i>Up</i> both up for Best Picture.
Question 3
Known for When Harry Met Sally, what beloved Oscar host is second only to Bob Hope in the number of times he's emceed?
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ABilly Crystal
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BCharlton Heston
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CFred Astaire
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DDouglas Fairbanks
Billy Crystal
One of the most highly favored Oscar hosts, Billy Crystal has hosted nine times, mostly in the '90s, and also in 2000, 2004, and 2012. He is said to have "reinvented the job" during his early '90s stint.
Question 4
This host is a class act. What favorite SNL cast member and "Father of the Bride" has taken to the Oscars stage solo twice?
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AJames Stewart
-
BHugh Jackman
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CFrank Sinatra
-
DSteve Martin
Steve Martin
Steve Martin hosted on his own in 2001 and 2003. The fan-favorite is a natural performer, and his wit and intelligence never go out of style. As a side note, the crew said Martin was incredibly low-maintenance. Makes you wonder what the other divas were like.
Question 5
This performer was succinct. What is the shortest acceptance speech made by an actor/actress in Oscar history?
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A"I want to thank the Academy."
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B"Gracias"
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C"Thanks, Mom."
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D"Thank you."
"Thank you."
According to Statista, Patty Duke is credited with the shortest Oscar speech in history made by an actor. With a simple, "thank you," Duke grabbed her Oscar and left the stage.
Question 6
Some past winners of this category include Renee Zellweger, Olivia Colman, and Meryl Streep (of course).
-
ABest Cinematography
-
BBest Actress
-
CBest Picture
-
DBest Supporting Actress
Best Actress
Everyone from Meryl Streep to Renee Zellweger to Halle Berry has won an Oscar for her outstanding performance in a leading role. The honor is traditionally presented by the previous year's Best Actor, which is sometimes quite a treat for the winner.
Question 7
This five-time Oscar host is one of the most beloved Tonight Show hosts of all time. Name that "King of Late Night".
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AJay Leno
-
BJohnny Carson
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CConan O'Brien
-
DJimmy Fallon
Johnny Carson
"Heeerrreee's Johnny!" The "King of Late Night" was also the king of the Academy Awards. Johnny Carson's ease with hosting – and with schmoozing celebrities – showed in his five performances at the Oscars.
Question 8
The Oscars were black-and-white until 1940, when this film won Best Picture, becoming the first color film to do so.
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ALa La Land
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BGone with the Wind
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CA Star is Born
-
DThe Wizard of Oz
Gone with the Wind
Although <i>A Star is Born</i> was the first all-color film to receive an Oscar nomination in 1938, it wasn't until <i>Gone with the Wind</i> came around two years later that it took home the top prize. Apparently, Hollywood was slow to "get with the times," as it wasn't until two decades later, in 1956, that all Best Picture nominees were full color.
Question 9
This one's dirty. What was the first – and only – X-rated film to win a Best Picture Oscar?
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AMidnight Cowboy
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BWhen Harry Met Sally
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CRequiem for a Dream
-
DShowgirls
Midnight Cowboy
<i>Midnight Cowboy</i> won Best Picture in 1970, demonstrating that a little risque never hurt anybody. The last X-rated film to receive a nomination was <i>A Clockwork Orange</i> two years later.
Question 10
To qualify for this category, the film must be 40 minutes or less and be based on true stories. "A Love Song for Latasha" is one example.
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ABest Animated Short
-
BBest Documentary Film
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CBest Live-Action Short
-
DBest Documentary Short
Best Documentary Short
Documentary Shorts are the bite-size version of the Documentary Films category. "A Love Song for Latasha," for instance, is a 19-minute film that documents and honors the life of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins, whose shooting death in 1991 prompted the L.A. uprisings. Instead of using the shooting footage, filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison set out to shoot the video through the eyes of Latasha, capturing what her life may have been.
Question 11
The host of a self-named daytime show, which Oscar emcee broke the internet with her Tweet heard round the world?
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AEllen DeGeneres
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BJane Fonda
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CWhoopi Goldberg
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DGoldie Hawn
Ellen DeGeneres
Not many women can say they've hosted the Oscars solo, but Ellen DeGeneres did just that in 2007 and 2014, and she did an all-around wonderful job of it. DeGeneres kept it light and even manufactured a selfie-heard-round-the-world, when she tweeted out a pic with some serious celebrity star power. At the time, it was the most retweeted pic ever on Twitter.
Question 12
Winners of this category know what stays and what should be left on the cutting room floor. Winners include Bohemian Rhapsody, Whiplash, and Argo.
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ABest Software Designer
-
BBest Director
-
CBest Editing
-
DBest Production Design
Best Editing
If you saw the first cut of any film, it would probably look like a high school production. Film editors possess the critical eye of selection and are able to splice together the best takes available and create cohesion.
Question 13
Known as Wolverine and for The Greatest Showman, what musical actor really lived up to that title, becoming the greatest showman the Oscars has ever seen host?
-
AHugh Grant
-
BHugh Laurie
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CHugh Jackman
-
DHugh Hefner
Hugh Jackman
The Academy had had enough of comedians, so in 2009, they went another way. Hugh Jackman brought showmanship back to the Oscars, with his talent in singing and dancing – and of course, his undeniable charisma.
Question 14
This one-time host bombed, calling the performance his “single biggest professional embarrassment”. Name that Late Show host.
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AJack Benny
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BDavid Letterman
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CJerry Lewis
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DChris Rock
David Letterman
The Oscars were clearly not the environment for David Letterman. Hosting in 1995, he told many jokes about celebrities present at the show, and they all fell flat. <i>The Atlantic</i> called his set "the gold standard of Oscar bombing". Ouch, that's gotta hurt.
Question 15
This Oscars got a little carried away. How long was the longest televised Academy Awards ceremony?
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A3 hours, 47 minutes
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B4 hours, 23 minutes
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C6 hours, 7 minutes
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D2 hours, 59 minutes
4 hours, 23 minutes
At a draining 4 hours, 23 minutes, the 74th Academy Awards in 2002 was the longest ceremony in Academy history. It also prompted the 45-second rule which limits winner's speeches before the orchestra cuts them off.
Question 16
These sisters have a healthy competition. What sisterly pair have won acting Oscars?
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ARosanna and Patricia Arquette
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BJoan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland
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CKate and Rooney Mara
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DConstance and Joanne Bennett
Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland
Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland are the only two sisters to take home acting Oscars. Fontaine won her 1942 Oscar for <i>Suspicion</i>, while de Havilland took home two for 1947's <i>To Each His Own</i> and 1950's <i>The Heiress</i>.
Question 17
The Academy Awards are judged by specific representatives. Who nominates and votes for Oscar winners?
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AEveryone whose name is Oscar
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BMembers of the Academy
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CA panel chosen by the Academy
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DAll those in the film industry
Members of the Academy
"I'd like to thank the Academy..." There's a reason most Oscar winners thank "the Academy". Its members nominate and vote for the Oscar contenders. Each branch of film production nominates and votes on the candidates in its own branch – and all Academy members vote on Best Picture.
Question 18
Sequels rarely live up to the original. Except this one, which became the first to win Best Picture.
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ALord of the Rings: The Two Towers
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BToy Story 2
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CThe Godfather: Part II
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DThe Bourne Ultimatum
The Godfather: Part II
<i>The Godfather: Part II</i> nabbed the top prize in 1975, making it the first Best Picture sequel. It followed in the footsteps of Part I, which had won two years earlier.
Question 19
Who said cartoons aren't Oscar-worthy? Winners of this category include Shrek, Frozen, and Brave.
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ABest Animation
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BBest Animated Short
-
CBest Editing
-
DBest Animated Feature Film
Best Animated Feature Film
Although <i>Beauty & the Beast</i> became the first animated film nominated for Best Picture, the first to win the Best Animated Feature category was <i>Shrek<i> when the category was introduced in 2002. Dreamworks, Pixar, and Disney dominate the field.
Question 20
Um, this is a bit awkward...Which actress presented herself with an Oscar, becoming the first presenter to do so?
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AVivien Leigh
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BAudrey Hepburn
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CNorma Shearer
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DKate Winslet
Norma Shearer
In 1931, three years in, Norma Shearer presented herself an Oscar for Best Actress for one of her two nominated roles, <i>The Divorce</i>. This put an end to nominees presenting in their own categories.
Question 21
This film jumped the gun. What Best Picture winner was the first to be released on VHS before winning an Oscar?
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AE.T.
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BTitanic
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CThe Silence of the Lambs
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DA Clockwork Orange
The Silence of the Lambs
Prior to the awards ceremony, <i>The Silence of the Lambs</i> had been released on VHS and laserdisc in October, after having been released in theaters in February of 1991. It was the first film to have done so – and also the first horror movie to take home Best Picture.
Question 22
This host of The Daily Show emceed the Oscars twice and did some gags with his friends, including Stephen Colbert.
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ASteve Martin
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BAlec Baldwin
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CJon Stewart
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DTrevor Noah
Jon Stewart
During Jon Stewart's popular run as <i>Daily Show</i> host, he was invited to host the Oscars for two non-consecutive years, in 2006 and 2008. Stewart's first gig was a bit bumpy, but the second time around, he nailed it.
Question 23
Celebrities, they're just like us...Who fell up the stairs on the way to retrieve her Best Actress Oscar?
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ACarey Mulligan
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BJennifer Lawrence
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CEmma Stone
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DMarcia Clark
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence klutzed out on the stairs while heading up for her Best Actress Oscar. After receiving a standing ovation, Lawrence told the audience, "You guys are just standing because you feel bad that I fell."
Question 24
Beloved as Barney in How I Met Your Mother, this Oscar host cut his teeth on the Grammys and the Emmys. Name that "legen-wait for it-dary" funny man.
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AJohnny Carson
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BHugh Jackman
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CNeil Patrick Harris
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DJohn Mulaney
Neil Patrick Harris
Although Neil Patrick Harris shone brightly when hosting the Tonys and the Emmys, his Oscar gig received lackluster reviews. While the opening number won over the crowd, the remainder was a bit "clunky," but many critics blamed it more on the writing than on the host himself.
Question 25
Tenth time's the charm. Which actress has the most Oscar nominations without a win?
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AGlenn Close
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BAnnette Bening
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CJudi Dench
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DBette Davis
Glenn Close
Glenn Close took the lead over Peter O'Toole, who had, until the 2021 Oscars, tied with the record for most acting nominations without a win at eight nominations. With her 2021 loss for <i>Hillbilly Elegy</i>, Glenn Close now has nine nominations without a win.
Question 26
Now, that's what we'd call a "power couple". Aside from Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, what is the only other married couple to both win Oscars?
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ANoah Baumbach & Greta Gerwig
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BDiane Ladd & Bruce Dern
-
CLaurence Olivier & Vivien Leigh
-
DGoldie Hawn and Kurt Russell
Laurence Olivier & Vivien Leigh
Two of Hollywood's celebrity couples were so uber-talented as to have both won Oscars. Oscar winners Laurence Olivier (<i>Hamlet</i>) and Vivien Leigh (<i>A Streetcar Named Desire</i>, <i>Gone with the Wind</i>), were married for twenty years. Paul Newman (<i>The Color of Money</i>) and Joanne Woodward (<i>The Three Faces of Eve</i>) were married for fifty.
Question 27
Which Oscars hashtag was a criticism on the acting nominations?
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A#instagood
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B#OscarsSoWhite
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C#TimesUp
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D#tbt
#OscarsSoWhite
In 2015, all twenty acting nominees were white, prompting the hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite. Activist April Reign is credited with starting the hashtag and bringing attention to the lack of racial diversity and representation in film and the lack of recognition at the Oscars.
Question 28
"My Heart Will Go On" is one example of a winner of this category.
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ABest Original Song
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BBest Original Score
-
CBest Sound Editing
-
DBest Theme Song
Best Original Song
Believe it or not, Celine Dion almost passed on the song, which she admitted to in an interview. She said, "I was probably very tired that day — very tired." The Best Original Song is chosen from songs written specifically for films – and for their importance to the films.
Question 29
Walt Disney has taken home 23 Oscars in his time. What was the first animated Disney film to win an Oscar?
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APinocchio
-
BPocahontas
-
CThe Lion King
-
DMulan
Pinocchio
"When you wish upon a star..." Although <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture, Pinocchio took home the first statuettes for Disney in 1940, for Original Score and Original Song.
Question 30
Meryl Streep is the most nominated actress of all time. Out of 21 nominations, she's won three Oscars. Which movie did she NOT win for?
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AJulie and Julia
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BThe Iron Lady
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CSophie's Choice
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DKramer vs. Kramer
Julie and Julia
With 21 nominations and counting, Meryl Streep nabs the "most nominated" title handily. She's won three, taking home the awards for <i>Sophie's Choice</i>, <i>Kramer vs. Kramer</i>, and <i>The Iron Lady</i>.
Question 31
Hosting or co-hosting 19 times, he was the most prolific host in Academy Awards history. Name that venerated comedian.
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ADavid Letterman
-
BJohnny Carson
-
CBob Hope
-
DBilly Crystal
Bob Hope
Bob Hope was the captain who steered the Academy Awards' ship, with his first hosting gig in 1939. He hosted or co-hosted the awards ceremony fourteen times through 1977, making him the hostest with the mostest.
Question 32
Once upon a time...the first Academy Awards were held here.
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AHollywood Pantages Theatre
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BHollywood Roosevelt Hotel
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CDolby Theatre
-
DThe Orpheum Theatre
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
The iconic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel served as the first event hall for the Academy Awards ceremony in August of 1927. At the time, the ceremony wasn't nearly as hyped, as it wasn't yet televised.
Question 33
Sometimes, Oscar-winning is in the genes. What two families have three generations of Oscars under their belt?
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ACoppola & Huston Families
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BArquette & Coppola Families
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CBridges & Arquette Families
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DHuston & Bridges Families
Coppola & Huston Families
Oscar-winning is in their blood. The Hustons and the Coppolas have three generations of Oscar wins, with Walter Huston and his granddaughter, Anjelica Huston, both winning acting Oscars, while Walter's son, John Huston, won for both Best Director and Best Screenplay. Carmine Coppola was the first generation of the Coppolas to win for Original Dramatic Score, while his son is a well-known director who's won in multiple categories, and his granddaughter, Sofia, won for Best Original Screenplay.
Question 34
Hollywood isn't the only place where the magic happens. What was the first non-Hollywood film to win Best Picture?
-
AHamlet
-
BLife is Beautiful
-
CAmelie
-
DMadame Rosa
Hamlet
Until <i>Hamlet</i>, all Best Picture winners had been Hollywood productions. The Laurence Olivier-directed film came all the way from Britain. The film also won the actor/director a Best Actor Oscar.
Question 35
Originally known under the title, "Best Engineering Effects," this category is a sight for sore eyes. Past winners include Inception, Life of Pi, and The Jungle Book.
-
ABest Animated Feature Film
-
BBest Engineering Direction
-
CBest Cinematography
-
DBest Visual Effects
Best Visual Effects
Visually stunning movies can really take an audience out of their element, from off their couches into the films themselves. From Narnia to Middle Earth, a film's visual effects feature artistic illusions, often achieved through CGI or other elements of post-production.
Question 36
Having been nominated in all four acting categories, what was the first film to win three Oscars for acting?
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AGone with the Wind
-
BCasablanca
-
CA Streetcar Named Desire
-
DThe Usual Suspects
A Streetcar Named Desire
<i>A Streetcar Named Desire</i> was, without a doubt, well-acted, taking home Best Actress for Vivien Leigh and Best Supporting Actress and Actor for Kim Hunter and Karl Malden. Although Marlon Brando was nominated, he apparently wasn't favored by the Academy, though his performance in the role of Stanley Kowalski is widely considered one of the greatest examples of method acting in film history.
Question 37
"Thanks, but no thanks." Who did Marlon Brando send in his place to refuse his Oscar for The Godfather?
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ARobert DeNiro
-
BAl Pacino
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CSacheen Littlefeather
-
DRob Lowe
Sacheen Littlefeather
As one of the only actors to refuse his Oscar, Marlon Brando sent Apache actress, Sacheen Littlefeather, in his place to reject the statue. His reasoning for declining? The unacceptable treatment of Native Americans in the film industry. Unfortunately, the message wasn't received, as Sacheen said the stunt got her blacklisted from Hollywood.
Question 38
This two-time host was the unfortunate emcee when the Best Picture flub occurred...and he made a ton of Matt Damon jokes. Name that Live late-nighter.
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AJimmy Fallon
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BBen Affleck
-
CJimmy Kimmel
-
DJimmy Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel was the last to host the Oscars before they went hostless in 2019. For two consecutive years, he entertained, working in his <i>Jimmy Kimmel Live!</i> vendetta with Matt Damon. But most will probably remember him for the Best Picture fiasco, when <i>La La Land</i> was announced as the winner in lieu of <i>Moonlight</i>, although the incident was out of his control.
Question 39
While many may be vying to win an Oscar, some nominees refuse theirs. Which of the following did NOT refuse their Oscar?
-
AGeorge C. Scott
-
BHumphrey Bogart
-
CDudley Nichols
-
DMarlon Brando
Humphrey Bogart
In 1971, George C. Scott called the Academy Awards a "two-hour meat parade". For his role in <i>Patton</i>, he declined both the nomination for Best Actor and his win, saying competing with fellow actors was "artistically wrong". Marlon Brando also refused his Oscar for his role in <i>The Godfather</i>, and screenwriter Dudley Nichols declined his for his work on <i>The Informer</i> in 1936, becoming the first to ever refuse an Oscar (although, he later accepted it).
Question 40
This woman's multitalented. Who is the only person to have won Oscars for best acting AND writing?
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ANicole Kidman
-
BEmma Thompson
-
CHelen Mirren
-
DOlivia Colman
Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson tried her hand at writing in 1995 – and more than pulled it off. She took home an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for penning <i>Sense and Sensibility</i>, after having taken home an acting Oscar three years earlier for <i>Howards End</i>
Question 41
This man made all the Oscars proud when he became the first "Oscar" to win an Oscar.
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AOscar Wilde
-
BOscar Niemeyer
-
COscar Peterson
-
DOscar Hammerstein
Oscar Hammerstein
Oscar Hammerstein, the composer of many a musical, was the first man named Oscar to win an Oscar. He won two throughout his career, for his original songs, 1942's "The Last Time I Saw Paris" and 1946's "It Might As Well Be Spring".
Question 42
Roll out the red carpet! When was the iconic carpet introduced to the Academy Awards?
-
A1987
-
B1961
-
C1943
-
D2002
1961
The Oscars rolled out the red carpet in 1961, for better or for worse. Red carpet interviews (and sharp-tongued fashion critiques) are now part and parcel of the awards ceremony.
Question 43
The emcee has been absent on occasion. Which of the following Academy Awards ceremonies were hostless?
-
A2019 and 2020
-
B1976 and 2020
-
C1953 and 2020
-
D2018 and 2019
2019 and 2020
In 2019, after the proposed host, Kevin Hart, was ousted for past controversial tweets, the Oscars went hostless for the first time. In 2020 and 2021, the ceremony went hostless again. Whether or not this adds or detracts from the ceremony is up to the audience.
Question 44
One for the money, two for the show...Who was the first actor to win consecutive Oscars two years running?
-
APaul Newman
-
BClark Gable
-
CLuise Rainer
-
DCary Grant
Luise Rainer
Luise Rainer was celebrated two years in a row, with 1937's <i>The Great Ziegfeld</i> and 1938's <i>The Good Earth</i>. She was the first to win consecutive acting trophies, both for Best Actress.
Question 45
The televised Academy Awards have jumped around. Which network was the first to broadcast them?
-
ACBS
-
BABC
-
CNBC
-
DTCM
NBC
The Oscars have aired on different broadcasting networks, but they premiered on NBC. The show went live from Hollywood at the Pantages Theatre in 1953.
Question 46
This female director broke the glass ceiling with her picture, The Hurt Locker. Name this trailblazing Oscar-winner.
-
AKathryn Bigelow
-
BGreta Gerwig
-
CSofia Coppola
-
DJane Campion
Kathryn Bigelow
As of 2021, only seven women have been nominated for Best Director in Academy Awards history. With Chloé Zhao's recent win for <i>Nomadland</i>, two have taken home the prize. The first was Kathryn Bigelow in 2010 for <i>The Hurt Locker</i>, after more than eight decades of Academy Awards seasons.
Question 47
This dress made many a fashion list...usually for negative reasons. Who wore this iconic swan dress on the red carpet?
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ABjork
-
BCharlize Theron
-
CJennifer Lopez
-
DEnya
Bjork
Bjork's swan song to fashion appeared at the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001. The iconic dress is certainly one for the books.
Question 48
These blood bros are favored for the golden statue. Who are the only brothers to be nominated for acting Oscars?
-
ALuke and Owen Wilson
-
BRiver and Joaquin Phoenix
-
CBen and Casey Affleck
-
DAlexander and Bill Skarsgard
River and Joaquin Phoenix
While River and Joaquin Phoenix are the only pair of brothers who've been nominated for acting Oscars (Joaquin won in 2019 for his role in <i>Joker</i>), they aren't the only Oscar-nominated pair listed. Ben and Casey Affleck have both won Oscars – Casey for acting (he won Best Actor in 2017 for <i>Manchester by the Sea</i>), and Ben not for acting, but for screenwriting (<i>Good Will Hunting</i>) and Best Picture (<i>Argo</i>).
Question 49
In 2019, recent history saw the first non-English film receive Best Picture. Name that foreign film.
-
APan's Labyrinth
-
BRoma
-
CLife is Beautiful
-
DParasite
Parasite
The South Korean film, <i>Parasite</i>, took home Best Picture in 2020, becoming the first foreign-language film to do so. Most non-English films are relegated to the Best Foreign Language Film category. Not only did it win the top prize, but <i>Parasite</i> won in four categories.
Question 50
At twelve minutes of clapping, who received the longest standing ovation in Oscar history?
-
ACharlie Chaplin
-
BTom Cruise
-
CBob Hope
-
DPaul Newman
Charlie Chaplin
The longest – and well-deserved – standing ovation at the Oscars lasted an astounding twelve minutes. The man on the receiving end of such applause was none other than Charlie Chaplin, who was there to receive an honorary award after having been accused of being a Communist and exiled from the States for twenty years during the McCarthy era.
Question 51
In one of the oddest Oscar pairings, this host joined Anne Hathaway in bombing in 2011.
-
AJames Franco
-
BSeth Rogen
-
CShia LaBeouf
-
DNeil Patrick Harris
James Franco
Many critical reviews of the 2011 Academy Awards opine that Anne Hathaway was pretty much abandoned on stage by her co-host, James Franco. The pairing was unusual to begin with, and it became more apparent just how unusual when the co-hosts took to the floor, with Franco incredibly subdued, while Anne Hathaway was, well, Anne Hathaway.
Question 52
This four-time Oscar host is, herself, an EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) – one of only sixteen people with that claim to fame.
-
AAgnes Moorehead
-
BAnne Hathaway
-
CWhoopi Goldberg
-
DShirley MacLaine
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg rode her wave of popularity in the '90s to the Academy Awards. Hosting in 1994, 1996, 1999, and then again in 2002, Goldberg put the pizzazz back into the Oscars with her costume changes and her regular need for censorship.
Question 53
What actor accidentally outed his high school drama teacher in his acceptance speech?
-
ASean Penn
-
BTom Hanks
-
CMark Ruffalo
-
DMark Twain
Tom Hanks
In 1993, Tom Hanks thanked his high school drama teacher in his speech for <i>Philadelphia</i>, calling him one of "the finest gay Americans I have known". Thing is, said teacher liked to keep his private life private. The faux pas inspired the movie, <i>In & Out</i>.
Question 54
Let's get this show on the road! Which Academy Awards ceremony was the first to be televised?
-
A40th Academy Awards
-
B25th Academy Awards
-
C30th Academy Awards
-
D15th Academy Awards
25th Academy Awards
After 24 years of chumming it up with other industry insiders, the Academy Awards were televised for the first time In 1953. The black-and-white 25th Academy Awards were simulcast in both New York City and L.A.
Question 55
"I want to thank the Academy..." When was the first Academy Awards ceremony held?
-
A1973
-
B1956
-
C1929
-
D1934
1929
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences convened in 1929 to host the first of what would be dozens of Academy Awards ceremonies. MGM's Louis B. Mayer thought up the film industry awards which brought together 250 people in its inaugural ceremony.
Question 56
Finally, the Oscars made their way around the globe. When were the Academy Awards first televised internationally?
-
A1993
-
B1969
-
C1983
-
D1975
1969
Although the awards were first broadcast in America in 1953, it took more than a decade for the world to catch on. The star-studded show went international in 1969.
Question 57
Today, there are 24 Oscar categories; in the beginning, there were 12. What is NOT one of the original categories?
-
AVisual Effects
-
BMost Artistic or Unique Production
-
CTitle Writing
-
DOriginal Story Writing
Visual Effects
Twelve categories were awarded at the inaugural Academy Awards in 1928. These include most artistic or unique production and most outstanding production. Achievement in each of the following categories was also awarded: actor, actress, dramatic directing, comedy directing, art directing, cinematography, original story writing, adaptation writing, title writing, and engineering effects.
Question 58
The manuscript for Spotlight is an example of one of these.
-
ABest Script
-
BBest Adapted Screenplay
-
CBest Animated Short
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DBest Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
What would a film be without the script? Whether it's a wordy number like <i>The Trial of the Chicago 7</i> or the beauty of the script isn't in the dialogue but rather the subtleties, screenplays can make or break a film. Original ones aren't based on any one source.
Question 59
Three films took home 11 prizes each, making them the most successful in Oscar history. What is NOT one of the record-holders?
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AThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
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BBen Hur
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CCasablanca
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DTitanic
Casablanca
Three films swept the Oscars with 11 wins, the record of most Oscar wins to date. These films are 1959's <i>Ben-Hur</i>, 1997's <i>Titanic</i>, and 2003's <i>The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King</i>. The <i>LOTR</i> won every category for which it was nominated.
Question 60
This pair of hosts went together like peanut butter and mustard. What co-host (who holds the record for hosting SNL the most times) joined Steve Martin in 2010?
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AJohnny Carson
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BMartin Short
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CBob Hope
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DAlec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin
Steve Martin hosted the Oscars solo twice, and he was a critical darling. When paired with Alec Baldwin, however, reviewers could either take 'em or leave 'em.
Question 61
Which two-time Oscar host and SNL alum laid into Jude Law, and later in the show, was told off by Sean Penn?
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ASeth MacFarlane
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BKevin Hart
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CRichard Pryor
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DChris Rock
Chris Rock
The Golden Globes have been the more laidback version of the Academy Awards, with hosts like Ricky Gervais really taking care to cut into the very Hollywood celebrities being venerated. But before Ricky, there was Chris Rock, and he did it not at the Golden Globes, but at the stuffier Oscars. When hosting in 2005, Rock slagged off Jude Law in his monologue. Although some in the audience really didn't appreciate this gag (Sean Penn, in particular), Rock was welcomed back a decade later, hosting again in 2016.
Question 62
Five actors have won back-to-back Academy Awards... show-offs. Which actor did NOT nab consecutive Oscars?
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ATom Hanks
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BSpencer Tracy
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CCate Blanchett
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DKatharine Hepburn
Cate Blanchett
Winning acting Oscars two years in a row is almost unheard of. In fact, it's only happened five times in Oscar history, first in 1936 and '37 with Luise Rainer, next 1937 and '38 with Spencer Tracy, then of course 1967 and '68 with Katharine Hepburn, followed by 1976 and '77 with Jason Robards, and lastly in 1993 and '94 with Tom Hanks.
Question 63
While some have also won three acting awards, who is the only actor to have won three Best Actor Oscars?
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AJack Nicholson
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BLaurence Olivier
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CDaniel Day-Lewis
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DSpencer Tracy
Daniel Day-Lewis
Jack Nicholson also has three acting Oscars (two for Best Actor, one for Best Supporting), but Daniel Day-Lewis is the only actor with three lead wins. Two actresses can say the same: Frances McDormand, who's also won three (including her 2021 win for <i>Nomadland</i>), and Katharine Hepburn, who leads with four Lead Actress wins.
Question 64
TWO different directors were awarded in the same year twice in Academy history. Which director is NOT amongst them?
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AJerome Robbins
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BEthan Coen
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CSteven Speilberg
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DRobert Wise
Steven Speilberg
In both 1961 and 2007, two directors were both awarded simultaneously. That's because they co-directed the same film. Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins won for <i>West Side Story</i>, while Joel and Ethan Coen won for <i>No Country for Old Men</i>.
Question 65
Three candidates have won Oscars for both Best Actor and Best Picture. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
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ALiam Neeson
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BMichael Douglas
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CBrad Pitt
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DGeorge Clooney
Liam Neeson
Michael Douglas, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt have something in common: they've all won Oscars for both acting AND Best Picture. The acting Oscars were for <i>Wall Street</i> (Douglas), <i>Syriana</i> (Clooney), and <i>Once upon a Time...in Hollywood</i> (Pitt), while the Best Picture wins were respectively for <i>One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest</i>, <i>Argo</i>, and <i>12 Years a Slave</i>.
Question 66
Some people have all the talent...Who was the first person to receive an award for both writing and directing – and for what film?
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AOrson Welles for Citizen Kane
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BWes Anderson for The Grand Budapest Hotel
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CWoody Allen for Annie Hall
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DLeo McCarey for Going My Way
Leo McCarey for Going My Way
Leo McCarey would go down in history as the first writer/director to win in both categories for his many talents. He did so with his 1944 musical, <i>Going My Way</i>, starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald.
Question 67
This actress has had a long and storied career. Who's been nominated for a single award for four consecutive decades?
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AJane Fonda
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BDiane Keaton
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CJodie Foster
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DMeryl Streep
Diane Keaton
Since the '70s, Diane Keaton has been nominated for just one Oscar each decade. In '77 it was for <i>Annie Hall</i>, in '81 for <i>Reds</i>, in '96 for <i>Marvin's Room</i>, and in 2003 for <i>Something's Gotta Give</i>. She took home the golden statue for her first nomination.
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