“Star Wars” is one of the biggest franchises of all time and has welcomed multiple generations to a galaxy far, far away for 45 years. George Lucas’ groundbreaking vision, which began all the way back in 1977 with “A New Hope,” changed the movie industry forever and, with that, made a mark on the Academy Awards that year with a Best Picture nomination. However, the relationship between “Star Wars” and the Oscars hasn’t always been as lovable as Han Solo and Chewie. In fact, there’s often been a touch of Vader-Luke in the conflicted dynamic between the two institutions. Here’s a breakdown of the history of every “Star Wars” movie at the Academy Awards, ranked in terms of Oscars success.
“A New Hope” (1977)
Dir: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...
“A New Hope” (1977)
Dir: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
After creating the effects for over 40 iconic films, Bloody Disgusting has learned that Schaffer Studios is now crowd-funding a retro-style monster movie entirely of their own.
Clark Schaffer and Aaron Keck have spent decades creating effects for their company Schaffer Studios, working on films including Iron Man 2, Speed, Daylight, and Black Adam, and up next they’re looking to bring their dream project The What! to life, an homage to the giant monster movies of the 1950s that they’re hoping to film this coming summer.
The film is said to be “told through the hardships, drama, and laughter of one farmer, his family, and their town,” and Bloody Disgusting has been exclusively provided with concept artwork that previews not only the film’s human characters but also its giant monster. The creature looks to be a praying mantis/crab/scorpion hybrid, nailing those throwback vibes.
Check out the exclusive sneak peek imagery below!
Clark Schaffer and Aaron Keck have spent decades creating effects for their company Schaffer Studios, working on films including Iron Man 2, Speed, Daylight, and Black Adam, and up next they’re looking to bring their dream project The What! to life, an homage to the giant monster movies of the 1950s that they’re hoping to film this coming summer.
The film is said to be “told through the hardships, drama, and laughter of one farmer, his family, and their town,” and Bloody Disgusting has been exclusively provided with concept artwork that previews not only the film’s human characters but also its giant monster. The creature looks to be a praying mantis/crab/scorpion hybrid, nailing those throwback vibes.
Check out the exclusive sneak peek imagery below!
- 3/15/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Robert Blalack, a towering figure in the world of visual effects, died on Wednesday. His wife Caroline Charron-Blalack confirmed the news to Deadline. He was 73.
Blalack said he specialized in “solving the Visual Effects requirements of ‘can’t be done’ Motion Picture productions.” He proved the truth of that statement on his second film project, a 1977 space opera by the name of Star Wars.
At the age of 29, he designed and supervised the Star Wars VistaVision Composite Optical production pipeline, which allowed all the groundbreaking 365 VistaVision VFX shots in Star Wars. Much of what he created for the film was built on a (relative) shoestring. With a VFX budget of just $1.6 million for the film, Blalack made use of obsolete VistaVision optical composite equipment from Hollywood’s Golden Years that could be had for a song.
“My task was to scavenge the Hollywood junkyards for any VistaVision Composite Optical mechanics,...
Blalack said he specialized in “solving the Visual Effects requirements of ‘can’t be done’ Motion Picture productions.” He proved the truth of that statement on his second film project, a 1977 space opera by the name of Star Wars.
At the age of 29, he designed and supervised the Star Wars VistaVision Composite Optical production pipeline, which allowed all the groundbreaking 365 VistaVision VFX shots in Star Wars. Much of what he created for the film was built on a (relative) shoestring. With a VFX budget of just $1.6 million for the film, Blalack made use of obsolete VistaVision optical composite equipment from Hollywood’s Golden Years that could be had for a song.
“My task was to scavenge the Hollywood junkyards for any VistaVision Composite Optical mechanics,...
- 2/8/2022
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Will the highest grossing film of the year “Black Panther” score a Best Picture nomination? It’s a fair question as no Marvel film has ever even been in the conversation. And the question has produced so much turmoil the academy temporarily thought of adding a Best Popular Film category. We should look towards another popular origin story that was not your typical Oscar fare — 1977’s “Star Wars: IV A New Hope” — as our guide towards “Black Panther’s” potential Oscar nomination haul.
George Lucas’s original “Star Wars” spawned a franchise that includes seven prequels and sequels and two spinoffs to date. Luke Skywalker’s origin story maybe outside the Oscars comfort zone but that didn’t stop the film from picking up 10 nominations including Best Picture; Best Director (Lucas); Best Original Screenplay (Lucas); and Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness).
It won six below-the line races: Best Film Editing...
George Lucas’s original “Star Wars” spawned a franchise that includes seven prequels and sequels and two spinoffs to date. Luke Skywalker’s origin story maybe outside the Oscars comfort zone but that didn’t stop the film from picking up 10 nominations including Best Picture; Best Director (Lucas); Best Original Screenplay (Lucas); and Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness).
It won six below-the line races: Best Film Editing...
- 1/19/2019
- by Amanda Spears
- Gold Derby
A couple props from Mel Brooks' classic Star Wars spoof film Spaceballs are currently up for auction, and if your pockets are full of cash and you can afford to buy a $675 Jurassic Park hoodie, you might want to consider placing a bid on one of these items.
The first item is the giant helmet that Rick Moranis wore as Dark Helmet in the film. The price is currently at $8,000 and this is the description from the auction site:
This articulating oversized signature helmet was worn by Moranis as Dark Helmet throughout the Mel Brooks classic Sci-Fi spoof. Consisting of 20 in. round by 14 in. tall cartoonish “Darth Vader”-stylized helmet constructed of heavy vacuum formed plastic component shell affixed to internal construction worker’s hard-hat liner to fit the actor. With screw-hinged movable faceplate section featuring vents, metalized shower drain mouth piece and triangular embedded tinted see-through lenses. Exhibiting...
The first item is the giant helmet that Rick Moranis wore as Dark Helmet in the film. The price is currently at $8,000 and this is the description from the auction site:
This articulating oversized signature helmet was worn by Moranis as Dark Helmet throughout the Mel Brooks classic Sci-Fi spoof. Consisting of 20 in. round by 14 in. tall cartoonish “Darth Vader”-stylized helmet constructed of heavy vacuum formed plastic component shell affixed to internal construction worker’s hard-hat liner to fit the actor. With screw-hinged movable faceplate section featuring vents, metalized shower drain mouth piece and triangular embedded tinted see-through lenses. Exhibiting...
- 6/9/2017
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
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The opening of Star Wars perfectly illustrated the might of the Empire. Ryan looks at the making of the film’s classic shot...
We’re bathed in the inky blackness of space. The stars seem to sparkle as the camera tilts down, slowly, slowly, to the blue haze of a planet, its surface spanning off as far as the eye can see. John Williams’ music quietens to a murmur, allowing us just a moment to admire the serenity of the view before a ship - skinny and jagged - hurtles over the head, pursued by the sound of laser fire.
As Williams’ orchestra builds to a crescendo, another, unexpectedly huge shape looms into view. It’s our first ever glimpse of an Imperial Star Destroyer - a vast, skull-white battleship. The speed of its movement is vaguely reminiscent of a Great White shark on the hunt. Its...
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The opening of Star Wars perfectly illustrated the might of the Empire. Ryan looks at the making of the film’s classic shot...
We’re bathed in the inky blackness of space. The stars seem to sparkle as the camera tilts down, slowly, slowly, to the blue haze of a planet, its surface spanning off as far as the eye can see. John Williams’ music quietens to a murmur, allowing us just a moment to admire the serenity of the view before a ship - skinny and jagged - hurtles over the head, pursued by the sound of laser fire.
As Williams’ orchestra builds to a crescendo, another, unexpectedly huge shape looms into view. It’s our first ever glimpse of an Imperial Star Destroyer - a vast, skull-white battleship. The speed of its movement is vaguely reminiscent of a Great White shark on the hunt. Its...
- 4/8/2016
- Den of Geek
Editor’s Note: I met Sean Williams at Comic-Con’s Hall H between panels on the first day of the Con this past July, chatting as people do. It turns out that Sean is a filmmaker, and he’s working on a sci-fi project – travel to another planet! strong women! – that sounds really great.
Last week Sean let me know that he was ready to start “officially” talking about the project, and wanted to know what I’d like to know. I told him I wanted to know, basically, everything. How the project got started, who’s involved, where he is in the process, etc. What follows is the narrative he wrote up on the spot on his phone and sent to me via Facebook Messenger in response. One long narrative that was completely engaging. He even copied and inserted biographies as he went along. It’s no wonder the man has won writing awards.
Last week Sean let me know that he was ready to start “officially” talking about the project, and wanted to know what I’d like to know. I told him I wanted to know, basically, everything. How the project got started, who’s involved, where he is in the process, etc. What follows is the narrative he wrote up on the spot on his phone and sent to me via Facebook Messenger in response. One long narrative that was completely engaging. He even copied and inserted biographies as he went along. It’s no wonder the man has won writing awards.
- 10/23/2013
- by Erin Willard
- ScifiMafia
Tremors? Nightbreed? Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat? 976-evil? Are all on the list this year. And though there were not huge horror wins in sound editing through screenplays, the Technical Awards never cease to bring out the horror veterans. Notably Tim Drnec who contributed to such VHS classics as Alien Seed, Destroyer, and Prison won for his work on “Spydercam 3D volumetric suspended cable camera technologies.” An award also shared with Ben Britten Smith and Matt Davis who both also worked on Constantine.
But among all the winners, the Academy also honored some great loses in 2010. And though they mentioned some of our heroes, Dennis Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) and Dino de Laurentiis (King Kong), they did not mention Zelda Rubinstein or Corey Haim. But we will in this last section and the others lost to us last year.
So farewell fight fans and remember,...
But among all the winners, the Academy also honored some great loses in 2010. And though they mentioned some of our heroes, Dennis Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) and Dino de Laurentiis (King Kong), they did not mention Zelda Rubinstein or Corey Haim. But we will in this last section and the others lost to us last year.
So farewell fight fans and remember,...
- 3/13/2011
- by Heather Buckley
- DreadCentral.com
Another one bites the dust! See you next year… maybe.
So, what did you all think? I live-tweeted the entire broadcast. Good times, as I’m sure those who were following me will agree
Not too many major surprises. I fully expected The Social Network to win, since it did so well in all the pre-Oscar awards ceremonies. In fact, I think the only major award it won was in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for Aaron Sorkin.
It was a night fit for a king… The King’s Speech cleaned up nicely in the major categories… Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Picture. As I said on Twitter last night, rumors of Harvey Weinstein’s strong-arm tactics are apparently true!
Inception did well… but in the technical categories, inspiring the ire of many fanboys and girls, many who felt that the film was robbed in the...
So, what did you all think? I live-tweeted the entire broadcast. Good times, as I’m sure those who were following me will agree
Not too many major surprises. I fully expected The Social Network to win, since it did so well in all the pre-Oscar awards ceremonies. In fact, I think the only major award it won was in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for Aaron Sorkin.
It was a night fit for a king… The King’s Speech cleaned up nicely in the major categories… Best Original Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Picture. As I said on Twitter last night, rumors of Harvey Weinstein’s strong-arm tactics are apparently true!
Inception did well… but in the technical categories, inspiring the ire of many fanboys and girls, many who felt that the film was robbed in the...
- 2/28/2011
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Thank you for visiting ScottFeinberg.com for live coverage of the 83rd Academy Awards! Keep refreshing your browser for all the latest stats/developments — new updates will push down older updates so that you won’t have to scroll down.
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The show ends movingly — if somewhat randomly — with the Ps-22 Staten Island Chorus performing “Over the Rainbow” as all of the evening’s winners join them on-stage, with many singing along. Franco and Hathaway wind up bringing in the show only 10 minutes late (most years run way over), and although it was far from the funniest or most dramatic production, it wasn’t as bad as some are making it out to be (Roger Ebert just Tweeted that it was “the worst Oscarcast I’ve ever seen!”). Franco seemed like he didn’t want to be there (it must have been brutal trying to prepare for this only on the...
* * *
The show ends movingly — if somewhat randomly — with the Ps-22 Staten Island Chorus performing “Over the Rainbow” as all of the evening’s winners join them on-stage, with many singing along. Franco and Hathaway wind up bringing in the show only 10 minutes late (most years run way over), and although it was far from the funniest or most dramatic production, it wasn’t as bad as some are making it out to be (Roger Ebert just Tweeted that it was “the worst Oscarcast I’ve ever seen!”). Franco seemed like he didn’t want to be there (it must have been brutal trying to prepare for this only on the...
- 2/27/2011
- by Scott Feinberg
- Scott Feinberg
Effects artist who won an Oscar for Star Wars
The visual effects artist Grant McCune, who has died of pancreatic cancer aged 67, won an Oscar for giving life to the droid R2-D2 in the first Star Wars movie, now known as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). He created the models for many of the film's spacecraft, including the X-wing starfighters, the Millennium Falcon and the Tie starfighters, one of which sold at a Hollywood auction in 2008 for $350,000. He also took an acting role as a Death Star gunner. McCune went on to design the helmet worn by the bounty hunter Boba Fett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
Although he did not create R2-D2 – the robot was credited mostly to John Stears, who shared the visual effects Oscar with McCune and others – McCune became the artist most associated with the character. He finetuned...
The visual effects artist Grant McCune, who has died of pancreatic cancer aged 67, won an Oscar for giving life to the droid R2-D2 in the first Star Wars movie, now known as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). He created the models for many of the film's spacecraft, including the X-wing starfighters, the Millennium Falcon and the Tie starfighters, one of which sold at a Hollywood auction in 2008 for $350,000. He also took an acting role as a Death Star gunner. McCune went on to design the helmet worn by the bounty hunter Boba Fett in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
Although he did not create R2-D2 – the robot was credited mostly to John Stears, who shared the visual effects Oscar with McCune and others – McCune became the artist most associated with the character. He finetuned...
- 2/4/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
Grant McCune rarely stepped in front of the camera. He hardly even gave an interview. But his iconic work has been seen by millions, as he was one of the five Oscar winners for Best Visual Effects for the original Star Wars movie. He first started as a prop maker for Jaws with Steven Spielberg before his work on Star Wars, up to his final project on the 2008 Rambo movie.
He specialized in models and miniatures, and even started his own company called Grant McCune Design. which did work on films like Batman Forever, Speed, and Sphere. In a rare interview with Popular Mechanics back in 2009, he had this to say:...
He specialized in models and miniatures, and even started his own company called Grant McCune Design. which did work on films like Batman Forever, Speed, and Sphere. In a rare interview with Popular Mechanics back in 2009, he had this to say:...
- 1/2/2011
- by Josh Baldwin
- GetTheBigPicture.net
Grant McCune, the artist who brought such iconic characters as R2-D2 to life for 1977's "Star Wars" has died from pancreatic cancer. He was 67. McCune, who also appeared in the film as a Death Star gunner, won an Oscar for his work as part of George Lucas' visual effects team, an achievement that sparked a decades-long career as one of Hollywood's top visual effects designers. He earned a second Academy Award nomination for his work on 1980's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and went on to handle the visuals for blockbusters like "Speed," "Batman Forever," "U-571," "Rambo," "Ghostbusters 2," and "Spider-Man." McCune started his career by making props for Steven Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster "Jaws."...
- 1/1/2011
- WorstPreviews.com
Grant McCune, one of the five Oscar winners for Best Visual Effects for the original Star Wars, passed away this week at the age of 67. The father of two, who specialized in models and miniatures, got his start working for Steven Spielberg on Jaws before working on Star Wars all the way up through Sylvester Stallone's Rambo in 2008. Read more after the jump. McCune was the chief model maker [1] on the miniature and optical effects unit for Star Wars: A New Hope, for which he won his Oscar. He was also nominated for an Oscar for his work on Star Trek: The Motion Picture and contributed to the original Battlestar Galactica before becoming a partner at Apogee Productions. There, he did work in animation on Caddyshack, Big, Spaceballs and Die Hard before starting his own company called Grant McCune Design. For that company, McCune supervised model and miniature...
- 1/1/2011
- by Germain Lussier
- Slash Film
Academy Award-winning special effects artist Grant McCune has died, losing his battle with cancer at age 67.
Long known as a visual effects leader, McCune was chief model maker for George Lucas' sci-fi touchstone Star Wars and took home an Oscar in 1978 for Best Visual Effects for his efforts. As a specialist in miniatures and models, he worked on more than 200 projects, among them genre favorites such as Jaws, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Speed, Child’s Play and Batman Forever. Through his company Grant McCune Design, he was involved with many classic flicks, including X-Men 2, Long Kiss Goodnight, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 and Serenity.
McCune is survived by his wife, his two children and his sister. In a contemporary Hollywood sorely lacking in innovation and originality, he will be greatly missed. Rest in peace, sir.
Long known as a visual effects leader, McCune was chief model maker for George Lucas' sci-fi touchstone Star Wars and took home an Oscar in 1978 for Best Visual Effects for his efforts. As a specialist in miniatures and models, he worked on more than 200 projects, among them genre favorites such as Jaws, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Speed, Child’s Play and Batman Forever. Through his company Grant McCune Design, he was involved with many classic flicks, including X-Men 2, Long Kiss Goodnight, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 and Serenity.
McCune is survived by his wife, his two children and his sister. In a contemporary Hollywood sorely lacking in innovation and originality, he will be greatly missed. Rest in peace, sir.
- 12/31/2010
- by Theron
- Planet Fury
It's a sad day for the Rebel Alliance. Grant McCune, the artist who brought such iconic characters as R2-D2 to life for 1977's Star Wars has died from pancreatic cancer. He was 67. McCune, who also appeared in the film as a Death Star gunner, won an Oscar for his work as part of George Lucas' visual effects team, an acheivement that sparked a decades-long career as one of Hollywood's top visual effects designers. He earned a second Academy Award nomination for his work on 1980's Star Trek: The Motion Picture and went on to handle the visuals for blockbusters like Speed, Batman Forever and Spider-Man. Check out the video above for a sampling of McCune's...
- 12/30/2010
- E! Online
Visual Effects Artist Grant McCune, who is best known for the models and miniatures he made for Star Wars (1977), passed away on Monday, December 27th. McCune died at his home in Hidden Hills, California from pancreatic cancer at the age of 67.
McCune won an Academy Award for his work on Star Wars, the first of George Lucas’ six-film franchise, later nominated for a second Oscar in 1980 for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Source: Hollywood Reporter...
McCune won an Academy Award for his work on Star Wars, the first of George Lucas’ six-film franchise, later nominated for a second Oscar in 1980 for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Source: Hollywood Reporter...
- 12/30/2010
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Visual-effects artist Grant McCune (above, with R2-D2), whose most notable effort was probably George Lucas's Star Wars (1977), died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Hidden Hills, 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. McCune was 67. McCune won an Oscar for Star Wars, which he shared with visual-effects specialists John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund and Robert Blalack. Two years later, McCune was nominated for another Oscar for Robert Wise's Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Along with Bill Shourt, McCune also designed a giant white shark model for Jaws, though neither man was credited on the Spielberg film. Other efforts include Die Hard, Speed, Batman Forever, and Spider-Man. About his work with miniatures, McCune told Popular Mechanics in 2008: "I’ve always told people to get a good background in photography first. The most important thing is what you see with your eye. … All the best people who ever...
- 12/30/2010
- by Anna Robinson
- Alt Film Guide
Renowned special effects artist Grant McCune has died from cancer, aged 67. The artist passed away at his home in California on Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, reports WENN. McCune was one of the men behind the shark model created for Jaws in 1975 before working on the original 1977 Star Wars movie, which won him the Academy Award for 'Best Effects, Visual Effects'. He would gain another Oscar (more)...
- 12/30/2010
- by By Paul Delamore
- Digital Spy
Oscar-winning special effects artist Grant McCune, one of the original members of George Lucas' F/X team, has passed away at 67 from complications from cancer. Chances are that McCune played a major role in your childhood and adult life with his work on Star Wars, Star Trek: The Motion Picture or maybe Spaceballs. In remembrance of McCune and the model-work he helped pioneer, here's a making of video of some more recent miniatures work his special effects company did on Spider-Man. After that, take a look at clip from Star Wars: A New Hope which showcases the work which won McCune an Oscar. Rest in peace.
- 12/30/2010
- Movieline
Oscar-winning special effects artist Grant McCune has died, aged 67.
The filmmaker passed away at his California home on Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
McCune was behind the shark model created for Steven Spielberg's 1975 thriller Jaws and went onto work on 1977's Star Wars, which won him the visual effects Academy Award.
He continued his career behind the scenes on films including Die Hard, Never Say Never Again, Big, Space Balls and Caddyshack and launched his own company, Grant McCune Design, working on movies such as Speed, Batman Forever, Red Planet and Spider-Man.
He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and two children, Cole and Lily.
The filmmaker passed away at his California home on Monday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
McCune was behind the shark model created for Steven Spielberg's 1975 thriller Jaws and went onto work on 1977's Star Wars, which won him the visual effects Academy Award.
He continued his career behind the scenes on films including Die Hard, Never Say Never Again, Big, Space Balls and Caddyshack and launched his own company, Grant McCune Design, working on movies such as Speed, Batman Forever, Red Planet and Spider-Man.
He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and two children, Cole and Lily.
- 12/30/2010
- WENN
He was one of George Lucas’s original team of F/X wizards who in 1978 took home an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (which he shared with John Dykstra) for his work on R2-D2 and all those wonderful creatures from the 1977 Star Wars. (In addition to his work as chief modelmaker for the groundbreaking film, he also appeared as a Death Star Gunner.) Grant McCune died of complications from cancer on Monday. He was 67. Described as a "quiet but crucial" innovator who specialized in models and miniatures, Grant McCune was one of Hollywood's best known special and visual effects artists pumping out designs for over 100 films, spanning decades of sci-fi and action classics, from Star Trek: The Motion Picture to Ghostbusters II to Speed to Batman Forever to Spider-Man 2. McCune worked as miniature supervisor for Apogee Inc. on Star Trek: The Motion Picture and received an Academy...
- 12/30/2010
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
Academy Award-winning special effects artist Grant McCune died on Monday from pancreatic cancer at the age of 67. McCune won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects for his work on George Lucas' 1977 classic "Star Wars." He was also nominated by the Academy in 1980 for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," and served as the chief model maker on the 1978 pilot of "Battlestar Galactica." McCune got his start in special effects when director Steven Spielberg hired him and Bill Shourt to create a realistic model of the deadly white shark in...
- 12/30/2010
- The Wrap
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