Presenting the Geekiest Academy Award Winners & Noms!

The peak of awards season is upon us. For lovers of cult classics and blockbusters alike, there’s no better way to celebrate the stories we cherish than an eye-catching display. This year, some of the geeky nominees include Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse for Best Animated Feature Film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny for Best Music (Original Score), plus Godzilla Minus One and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for Best Visual Effects.

Just as there are multiple categories to win, there are multiple ways to collect your cinematic favorites. From art prints to statues and everything in between, your movie collection is about to get even more fantastic. Pass the popcorn and get ready to collect some winners.

---

Star Wars

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away … a certain film franchise began winning awards and hasn’t stopped yet. In its debut year, the Star Wars™ franchise was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, of which it won six. Every major Star Wars installment has been at least nominated for an Oscar since then. The Force is strong with this one.

---

The Terminator

At the 64th Academy Awards, Terminator 2: Judgment Day won four awards: Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Makeup, and Best Visual Effects. The sequel to The Terminator is considered a staple of sci-fi cinema in its groundbreaking portrayal of future technology creating havoc in the present day. Its terrifying villain, the T-1000, is easily one of the most iconic (and dangerous) sci-fi baddies to travel through time.

---

The Lord of the Rings

For fantasy fans, few stories can beat the epic grandeur of The Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien’s sweeping story of an unlikely Fellowship rising up against an ancient evil won the hearts of readers and then filmgoers with Peter Jackson’s trilogy adaptation. In fact, out of the trilogy’s 30 total Academy Award nominations, they won 17 Oscars. Now that’s what you call ruling them all.

---

The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather spawned multiple films as well as years of iconic quotes. The Corleone family and their ups and downs are now the stuff of American legend. The first film won three Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor). Before The Lord of the Rings, The Godfather trilogy was the only film series to have each entry nominated for Best Picture and the only time a sequel has won Best Picture (before The Return of the King). Never doubt the family.

---

Beetlejuice

Say his name three times and see what shakes loose. He’s the Ghost with the Most, the bio-exorcist you hate to call but love to hate — Betelgeuse. Tim Burton’s unique 1988 horror comedy starring Michael Keaton is undeniably a hit with the living and the dead. Beetlejuice won an Academy Award for Best Makeup and a sequel is finally in the works after many years being stuck in the Afterlife Waiting Room. Plus, Burton’s equally iconic (and gothic) films Batman and Batman Returns would set in motion a string of nominations for Caped Crusader movies.

---

E.T.

Steven Spielberg’s E.T. not only gave pop culture years of “phone home” jokes but it also sparked the imaginations of moviegoers everywhere. The heartwarming story of a boy rescuing an innocent alien took audiences out of their seats and into the stars — all with just a bike, a blanket, and a red hoodie. E.T. received nine Oscar nominations, winning for Best Original Score, Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound, and Best Visual Editing.

---

Back to the Future

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads … just Oscars! Robert Zemeckis’ fan-favorite, time-hopping adventure featuring Marty McFly and Doc Brown was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning in the Best Sound Effects Editing category. Fire up that DeLorean, Back to the Future fans!

---

Disney

From the beloved classics like Snow White to the staples of the Disney Renaissance like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, Disney has been a consistent winner at the Oscars. One of the animation powerhouse’s strengths has always been the Best Original Song category, giving us timeless tunes such as “Under the Sea,” “A Whole New World,” “Colors of the Wind,” “Remember Me,” and countless others.

---

Spider-Man

Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man helped reignite super hero films in 2002. Spider-Man gave fresh life to the genre with its high-flying origin story of Peter Parker, letting Marvel take the reins after years of DC dominance at the box office. The film was nominated for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. Its equally celebrated sequel, Spider-Man 2, would win Best Sound in 2005. To this day, Marvel movie fans still love this iteration of Spidey, so much so that this Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, along with the Amazing Spider-Man, appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home. That’s a lotta Spidey.

---

The Dark Knight Trilogy

Following the success of films like Spider-Man, super heroes were once again the centerpieces of movies. But Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins would completely redefine the genre. Though modern super hero movies opted for more realistic takes, Nolan’s Batman films set the standard for dark realism in the world of big-screen comic book films. The live-action versions of Batman, The Joker, and Catwoman would become legendary portrayals in the mythologies of these immortal characters. Heath Ledger posthumously won Best Supporting Actor, the first acting category win for a super hero film, and The Dark Knight challenged the Academy’s stance on super hero films going forward.

---

Black Panther

The Avengers set the stage for a galaxy-spanning war against Thanos and since then, MCU stories have hopped all across the Multiverse. Now, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men are poised to take the lead. But back in 2018, Marvel’s Black Panther made history as the first MCU film to be nominated at the Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Original Song, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing). T’Challa’s live-action debut won Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score. Four years later, Wakanda Forever was nominated for five Oscars, with Ruth Carter winning Best Costume Design and Angela Bassett making history as the MCU’s first acting nomination.

---

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

It takes a very special hero to bring genuine heart and thrilling action to their forefront of their cinema debut, but Miles Morales came swinging in from Brooklyn to do just that. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse got fans all over the world caught up in Miles’ web, a timeless story of finding oneself in a constantly changing world (all while surviving high school, yikes). Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won Best Animated Feature at the 91st Academy Awards. This year, its sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, is also nominated for Best Animated Feature. Cross your web-spinners!

---

With each passing year, the geeky nominations continue to grow during awards season. Who are you hoping to see win big this year at the 96th Academy Awards?

Join the conversation with other pop culture fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!