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Academy Award for Best Sound Editing
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
First awarded1963
Currently held byRichard King and Alex Gibson
Dunkirk (2017)
Websiteoscars.org

The Academy Award for Best Sound Editing is an Academy Award granted yearly to a film exhibiting the finest or most aesthetic sound design or sound editing. Sound editing is the creation of sound effects (such as foley). The award is usually received by the Supervising Sound Editors of the film, sometimes accompanied by the Sound Designers.

The nominations process previously took place in two phases. The sound branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences shortlisted seven films during the early 1980s until 2006. Clips were screened at a "bake-off" and branch members voted using a weighted ballot to select up to three nominees. In a rule change on June 30, 2006, the bake-off for the Sound Branch was eliminated. The usual process of a "preferential ballot" submission was instituted resulting in five nominees each year.[1]

During certain years, the highest award given for this category may be a "Special Achievement Award", not an Oscar. Academy rules require that a minimum number of films must be nominated in a category for an Academy Award to be granted; when the number of qualifying nominees is insufficient, a Special Achievement Award is granted instead.

This is a list of films that have won or been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Effects (1963–1967, 1975), Sound Effects Editing (1977, 1981–1999), or Sound Editing (1979, 2000–present). See Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing for a corresponding list of winners for Best Sound.

Winners and nominees[]

  indicates the winner


1960s[]

Year Film Nominees
1963
(36th)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Walter Elliott
A Gathering of Eagles Robert Bratton
1964
(37th)
Goldfinger Norman Wanstall
The Lively Set Robert Bratton
1965
(38th)
The Great Race Treg Brown
Von Ryan's Express Walter Rossi
1966
(39th)
Grand Prix Gordon Daniel
Fantastic Voyage Walter Rossi
1967
(40th)
The Dirty Dozen John Poyner
In the Heat of the Night James Richard
1968
(41st)
No award given
1969
(42nd)
No award given

1970s[]

Year Film Nominees
1970
(43rd)
No award given
1971
(44th)
No award given
1972
(45th)
No award given
1973
(46th)
No award given
1974
(47th)
No award given
1975
(48th)
The Hindenburg [note 1] Peter Berkos
1976
(49th)
No award given
1977
(50th)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind [note 1] Frank Warner
1978
(51st)
No award given
1979
(52nd)
The Black Stallion [note 1] Alan Splet

1980s[]

Year Film Nominees
1980
(53rd)
No award given
1981
(54th)
Raiders of the Lost Ark [note 1] Ben Burtt and Richard L. Anderson
1982
(55th)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Charles L. Campbell and Ben Burtt
Das Boot Mike Le Mare
Poltergeist Stephen Hunter Flick and Richard L. Anderson
1983
(56th)
The Right Stuff Jay Boekelheide
Return of the Jedi Ben Burtt
1984
(57th)
The River [note 1] Kay Rose
1985
(58th)
Back to the Future Charles L. Campbell and Robert Rutledge
Ladyhawke Robert G. Henderson and Alan Robert Murray
Rambo: First Blood Part II Frederick Brown
1986
(59th)
Aliens Don Sharpe
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Mark Mangini
Top Gun Cecelia Hall and George Watters II
1987
(60th)
RoboCop [note 1] Stephen Hunter Flick and John Pospisil
1988
(61st)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit Charles L. Campbell and Louis Edemann
Die Hard Stephen Hunter Flick and Richard Shorr
Willow Ben Burtt and Richard Hymns
1989
(62nd)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Ben Burtt and Richard Hymns
Black Rain Milton Burrow and William Manger
Lethal Weapon 2 Robert G. Henderson and Alan Robert Murray

1990s[]

Year Film Nominees
1990
(63rd)
The Hunt for Red October Cecelia Hall and George Watters II
Flatliners Charles L. Campbell and Richard C. Franklin
Total Recall Stephen Hunter Flick
1991
(64th)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day Gary Rydstrom and Gloria Borders
Backdraft Gary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country George Watters II and F. Hudson Miller
1992
(65th)
Bram Stoker's Dracula Tom McCarthy and David Stone
Aladdin Mark Mangini
Under Siege John Leveque and Bruce Stambler
1993
(66th)
Jurassic Park Gary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns
Cliffhanger Wylie Stateman and Gregg Baxter
The Fugitive John Leveque and Bruce Stambler
1994
(67th)
Speed Stephen Hunter Flick
Clear and Present Danger Bruce Stambler and John Leveque
Forrest Gump Gloria Borders and Randy Thom
1995
(68th)
Braveheart Lon Bender and Per Hallberg
Batman Forever John Leveque and Bruce Stambler
Crimson Tide George Watters II
1996
(69th)
The Ghost and the Darkness Bruce Stambler
Daylight Richard Anderson and David A. Whittaker
Eraser Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
1997
(70th)
Titanic Tom Bellfort and Christopher Boyes
Face/Off Mark Stoeckinger and Per Hallberg
The Fifth Element Mark Mangini
1998
(71st)
Saving Private Ryan Gary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns
Armageddon George Watters II
The Mask of Zorro David McMoyler
1999
(72nd)
The Matrix Dane Davis
Fight Club Ren Klyce and Richard Hymns
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Ben Burtt and Tom Bellfort

2000s[]

Year Film Nominees
2000
(73rd)
U-571 Jon Johnson
Space Cowboys Bub Asman and Alan Robert Murray
2001
(74th)
Pearl Harbor George Watters II and Christopher Boyes
Monsters, Inc. Gary Rydstrom and Michael Silvers
2002
(75th)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn
Minority Report Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
Road to Perdition Scott Hecker
2003
(76th)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Richard King
Finding Nemo Gary Rydstrom and Michael Silvers
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Christopher Boyes and George Watters II
2004
(77th)
The Incredibles Michael Silvers and Randy Thom
The Polar Express Randy Thom and Dennis Leonard
Spider-Man 2 Paul N. J. Ottosson
2005
(78th)
King Kong Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn
Memoirs of a Geisha Wylie Stateman
War of the Worlds Richard King
2006
(79th)
Letters from Iwo Jima Bub Asman and Alan Robert Murray
Apocalypto Kami Asgar and Sean McCormack
Blood Diamond Lon Bender
Flags of Our Fathers Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Christopher Boyes and George Watters II
2007
(80th)
The Bourne Ultimatum Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
No Country for Old Men Skip Lievsay
Ratatouille Randy Thom and Michael Silvers
There Will Be Blood Christopher Scarabosio and Matthew Wood
Transformers Ethan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins
2008
(81st)
The Dark Knight Richard King
Iron Man Frank E. Eulner and Christopher Boyes
Slumdog Millionaire Tom Sayers and Glenn Freemantle
WALL-E Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
Wanted Wylie Stateman
2009
(82nd)
The Hurt Locker Paul N. J. Ottosson
Avatar Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Inglourious Basterds Wylie Stateman
Star Trek Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
Up Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

2010s[]

Year Film Nominees
2010
(83rd)
Inception Richard King
Toy Story 3 Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
Tron: Legacy Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
True Grit Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
Unstoppable Mark P. Stoeckinger
2011
(84th)
Hugo Eugene Gearty and Philip Stockton
Drive Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Ren Klyce
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
War Horse Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
2012
(85th)
[note 2]
Skyfall (TIE) Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers
Zero Dark Thirty (TIE) Paul N. J. Ottosson
Argo Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
Django Unchained Wylie Stateman
Life of Pi Eugene Gearty and Philip Stockton
2013
(86th)
Gravity Glenn Freemantle
All Is Lost Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns
Captain Phillips Oliver Tarney
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Brent Burge and Chris Ward
Lone Survivor Wylie Stateman
2014
(87th)
American Sniper Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Martin Hernández and Aaron Glascock
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Brent Burge and Jason Canovas
Interstellar Richard King
Unbroken Becky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro
2015
(88th)
Mad Max: Fury Road Mark Mangini and David White
The Martian Oliver Tarney
The Revenant Martin Hernandez and Lon Bender
Sicario Alan Robert Murray
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Matthew Wood and David Acord
2016
(89th)
[2]
Arrival Sylvain Bellemare
Deepwater Horizon Wylie Stateman and Renée Tondelli
Hacksaw Ridge Robert Mackenzie and Andy Wright
La La Land Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou Morgan
Sully Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
2017
(90th)
Dunkirk Richard King and Alex Gibson
Baby Driver Julian Slater
Blade Runner 2049 Mark Mangini and Theo Green
The Shape of Water Nathan Robitaille and Nelson Ferreira
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Matthew Wood and Ren Klyce

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 This was presented as a Special Achievement Award, not competitively.
  2. A tie in voting resulted in two winners.

Superlatives[]

  • Richard King have received the most wins (4)
  • Ben Burtt, Charles L. Campbell, Per Hallberg, Richard Hymns, and Gary Rydstrom have received the most wins (3), including Special Achievement Awards.
  • Wylie Stateman has the most nominations without a single win. He has been nominated eight times as of 2017.
  • Richard Hymns and Alan Robert Murray have the most nominations (9).

Multiple wins and nominations[]

Note: Ben Burtt and Stephen Hunter Flick both have Special Achievement wins in addition to their competitive wins. These have been included with their win and nomination count. The only sound editor to date who has a Special Achievement win and has an Oscar nomination but not a competitive win is Richard L. Anderson.

Multiple wins[]

Multiple nominations[]

† = includes special achievement wins.

See also[]

References[]

  1. "79th Oscar Rules, Approved by Academy" (Press release). AMPAS. 2006-06-30. Archived from the original on 2008-02-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20080220131218/http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2006/06.06.30.html. 
  2. "Academy Awards 2017: Complete list of Oscar winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. February 26, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2018. Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Template:Academy Awards Template:Academy Award Best Sound Editing

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