Disney+’s new documentary,Music by John Williams,offers insight into the life of the famed composer and the legendary music that led him to achieve multiple records at the Oscars. John Williams is one of the most celebrated composers in history with a career spanning more than 70 years. He has the unique ability to convey a story and themes through emotional and powerful orchestration.John Williams is responsible for many acclaimed movie scores, and is considered one of the movie industry’s most influential composers.
The documentary looks into Williams' impressive career andhis decades-long friendship with director Steven Spielberg; since 1974, he has scored music for 29 of Spielberg’s movies, including theIndiana Jonesfranchise,Saving Private Ryan,andMunich. For his musical talents, Williams has been recognized multiple times at different award ceremonies, including the Oscars,where he holds one remarkable record that looks unlikely to ever be broken.
John Williams Has Received Oscar Nominations Across Seven Consecutive Decades
He Received His First Oscar Nomination In 1968
As shown in Disney’s documentary, Williams' composing career began in various television series before moving into film; he received his first Oscar nomination in 1968 forValley of the Dolls. He won his first Oscar in 1972 for his score for the musicalFiddler on the Roof.Williams has since received a further 50 nominations and four awardsfor his music inJaws,Star Wars,E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialandSchindler’s List,which have beenlisted as some of John Williams' best movie themes.
1968
Valley of the Dolls
Best Scoring of Music - Adaptation or Treatment
1970
Best Score of a Musical Picture - Original or Adaptation
1972
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Scoring: Adaption and Original Song Score
1973
1974
Best Scoring: Original Score and Adaptation or Scoring: Adaptation
1975
1976
1978
1979
1981
1982
1983
1984
Return of the Jedi
1985
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1988
Empire of the Sun
1989
1990
Born on the Fourth of July
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1991
1992
1994
1996
Best Original Musical or Comedy Score
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
2003
Catch Me If You Can
2005
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2006
Memoirs of a Geisha
2012
2013
2014
2016
2018
2020
2023
2024
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Best Original Score
Nominated
In 2020, with his nomination forStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, John Williams made history by becomingthe first and only person to have received Oscar nominations across seven consecutive decades.Between the 1960s and 2020s, Williams was nominated more than any other nominee at the Academy Awards. Williams' record surpasses an achievement held by famed composer Alfred Newman, who received 43 Oscar nominations across four consecutive decades.
Why John Williams Nomination Record Will Likely Never Be Broken
He Has Received Nominations Across Different Oscar Categories
With his 54th nomination in 2024, John Williams has becomethe most nominated composer in Oscars history. His orchestral talents display his ability to adapt to different movie genres and add believable emotion to any story and his multiple Oscar nominations are a reflection of this. During his early nominations, between 1942 and 2000,the category for Best Original Score was split into different categories, including Best Musical Scores and Best Non-Musical Score, where composers could be nominated in both musicals and non-musical movies. This was shown in 1970, where Williams was nominated in both categories forThe ReiversandGoodbye Mr. Chips;from 2000 onward, all score categories were merged into Best Original Score.
There have also been four occasions in Oscar history whereWilliams received dual nominations in the same year for Best Original Score,most notably in 1978, where he was nominated for bothClose Encounters of the Third KindandStar Wars;he ended up winning forhis iconicStar Warsscore. He also received five nominations for Best Original Song, including for “Somewhere In My Memory” (Home Alone) and “Moonlight” (Sabrina). Williams' recognition across multiple Oscar categories over the last seven decades makes it unlikely his nominations record will ever be broken.
John Williams' Other Oscars Record Explained
He Is The Second Most Nominated Person In Oscars History
Throughout the documentary, John Williams' music scores are credited for bringing different movies to life, which led to his close working partnerships with directors including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. In 2024, with his recognition forIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,Williams broke the Guinness World Recordfor most Oscar nominations for a living personwith 54 nominations across his career. He is now the second most Oscar nominated person in history,a record only surpassed by Walt Disney, who was nominated 59 times.
Williams also beat his own record as the oldest Oscar nominee of all time, receiving his latest nomination in 2024 at the age of 91.
Williams also beat his own record as the oldest Oscar nominee of all time,receiving his latest nomination in 2024 at the age of 91. InMusic by John Williams, he credits his love for music for allowing him to create as much as possible and, despite initial retirement plans, he has stated that he will continue to compose music scores for as long as he can (viaVariety). It might be possible that John Williams will receive another nomination, which will further add to his impressive range of records at the Oscars.
Sources:Deseret,Guinness World Records,Variety
Music by John Williams
John Williams' career spans jazz, film scores, and concert music, earning him 54 Oscar nominations, five wins, and a significant cultural impact. This documentary explores the life of this prolific musical icon.
