The film **Star Wars** (1977)—later subtitled *Episode IV: A New Hope*—was a massive critical and commercial success that garnered a wide array of domestic and international accolades. At the time, it was revolutionary for a "genre" film to receive such high-level recognition, particularly in the major categories of the Academy Awards.
### **1. Academy Awards (Oscars) – 1978**
*Star Wars* received a total of **10 competitive nominations** and won **6 competitive Oscars**, plus a Special Achievement Award.
* **Wins:**
* **Best Art Direction:** John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, and Roger Christian.
* **Best Costume Design:** John Mollo.
* **Best Film Editing:** Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, and Richard Chew.
* **Best Original Score:** John Williams.
* **Best Sound:** Don MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler, and Derek Ball.
* **Best Visual Effects:** John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune, and Robert Blalack.
* **Special Achievement Award:** Given to **Ben Burtt** for the creation of the alien, creature, and robot voices.
* **Nominations:** Best Picture, Best Director (George Lucas), Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness), and Best Original Screenplay.
### **2. Golden Globe Awards – 1978**
* **Win:** **Best Original Score** (John Williams).
* **Nominations:** Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director (George Lucas), and Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness).
### **3. BAFTA Awards (British Academy) – 1979**
Because the film was released in the UK later than in the US, it was recognized at the 1979 ceremony.
* **Wins:** **Best Music** (Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music) and **Best Sound**.
* **Nominations:** Best Film, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.
### **4. Saturn Awards – 1978**
The Saturn Awards, which honor science fiction, fantasy, and horror, saw the film sweep nearly every major category.
* **Wins (12):** Best Science Fiction Film, Best Director (George Lucas), Best Writing (George Lucas), Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness), Best Music (John Williams), Best Costumes (John Mollo), Best Make-Up (Rick Baker and Stuart Freeborn), Best Special Effects (John Dykstra and John Stears), and various technical awards including Outstanding Editing and Art Direction.
### **5. Foreign and International Awards**
* **Japan Academy Film Prize (1979):** Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.
* **Hochi Film Awards (Japan):** Won **Best Foreign Language Film**.
* **Kinema Junpo Awards (Japan):** Won the **Readers' Choice Award** for Best Foreign Film Director (George Lucas).
* **César Awards (France):** Nominated for Best Foreign Film.
* **Evening Standard British Film Awards (1978):** Won **Best Film** and **Best Actor** (Alec Guinness).
* **Hugo Awards:** Won **Best Dramatic Presentation**, a top honor in the science fiction community.
### **6. Film Festival Awards and Mentions**
* **San Sebastian International Film Festival (1977):** The film had its European premiere here in September 1977. George Lucas was nominated for the **Golden Shell** (the festival's highest honor). The premiere is famously remembered for the appearance of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and R2-D2.
* **Los Angeles Film Critics Association:** Won **Best Picture** (tied with *Annie Hall*) and **Best Music Score**.
### **7. Musical Awards (Grammys)**
The score by John Williams was a phenomenon of its own, winning **three Grammy Awards** in 1978:
* **Best Pop Instrumental Performance**
* **Best Instrumental Composition** (for the "Main Title")
* **Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture**
### **Legacy Recognition**
In 1989, *Star Wars* was one of the first 25 films selected by the U.S. Library of Congress for preservation in the **National Film Registry** for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." In 1997, it received a **Saturn Special Award** for its 20th anniversary.