John Williams at the Oscars: all his 54 record-breaking Academy Award nominations

By

Published: Tuesday, 23 January 2024 at 17:17 PM

John Williams is a name that appears in the Oscars line-up every few years, and is one that’s hard to ignore. In 2023, Williams won his 54th nomination for his music to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the third film in the Indiana Jones franchise that has won the great film composer a nomination in the category of Best Original Score.

This 54th nomination means that John Williams has beat his own record of the most Oscar nominations by any living person in history. BBC Music Magazine named him as one of the top 10 film composers of all time.

Here, we name all John Williams’s Oscar nominations – and wins – in film music history. While you’re here, why not also look at who else has won big in this category? Have a read of our round-up of all the winners and nominees for the Oscar for Best Original Score in history.

John Williams Oscar nominations

1. Valley of the Dolls (1968)

Best Scoring of Music – Nominated

2. Goodbye, Mr Chips (1970)

Best Score of a Musical Picture – Nominated

3. The Reivers (1970)

Best Original Score – Nominated

4. Fiddler on the Roof (1972)

Best Scoring – Won

5. Images (1973)

Best Original Dramatic Score – Nominated

We named Images as one of the five best lesser-known film scores by John Williams.

6. The Poseidon Adventure (1973)

Best Original Dramatic Score – Nominated

7. Cinderella Liberty (1974)

Best Original Dramatic Score – Nominated

8. Cinderella Liberty (1974)

Nominated for ‘Nice to Be Around’ for Best Song

9. Tom Sawyer (1974)

Best Scoring – Nominated

Read more:

10. The Towering Inferno (1975)

Best Original Dramatic Score – Nominated

11. Jaws (1976)

Best Original Score – Won

We named Jaws as one of the 10 best John Williams film scores.

12. Star Wars (1978)

Best Original Score – Won

13. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1978)

Best Original Score – Nominated

14. Superman (1979)

Best Original Score – Nominated

15. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1981)

Best Original Score – Nominated

We voted The Empire Strikes Back as the best Star Wars score.

16. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1982)

Best Original Score – Nominated

17. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1983)

Best Original Score – Won

18. Yes, Giorgio (1983)

Nominated for ‘If We Were in Love’ for Best Original Song

19. Return of the Jedi (1984)

Best Original Score – Nominated

20. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985)

Best Original Score – Nominated

21. The River (1985)

Best Original Score – Nominated

22. Empire of the Sun (1988)

Best Original Score – Nominated

23. The Witches of Eastwick (1988)

Best Original Score – Nominated

24. The Accidental Tourist (1989)

Best Original Score – Nominated

25. Born on the Fourth of July (1990)

Best Original Score – Nominated

26. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1990)

Best Original Score – Nominated

27. Home Alone (1991)

Best Original Score – Nominated