The Elephant Man
TheOscarshas added many different award categories across its history, with one being added after the success of a 1980s drama,The Elephant Man.
The Academy Awards are easily the most prestigious awards in the movie industry, with the first ceremony taking place in 1929.Across the history of the Academy Awards, there have been many award categories that have been added and retired across the years; most recently the award for Best Sound Editing, which was retired in 2019.
In 2024, the Oscars announced the creation of a new awards category that will recognize a movie’s casting decision.The first Academy Award for Best Achievement In Casting will be awarded at the 98th ceremony in 2025; this is the first new award category since the creation of the Best Feature Film category in 2001.
Further new categories may be created in the futureas seen in the movie industry’s campaign for a Best Stunt Award.
In 1980, backlash and campaigning from critics led the Academy to create a new award after the success ofThe Elephant Man.
How The Elephant Man Led To The Academy Awards Adding A New Category
The Elephant Man Received 8 Oscar Nominations In 1981
The black-and-white drama movieThe Elephant Manwas released in 1980.
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore
Starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins, the movie depictsthe true story of John Merrick, a man who lived with severe physical deformities in 19th century England;his physical appearance caused him to be ostracized and ridiculed by society, and he suffered difficulties with moving and sleeping (viaBritannica).
The movie depicts Merrick’s life working as an exhibition in a freak show before he is found by surgeon Frederick Treves, and the two form a close friendship, while Treves learns more about Merrick’s condition.
The Elephant Manwas released to critical acclaim andis widely considered one of John Hurt’s best movies.It received eight Oscar nominations in 1981, including for Best Picture.
Many believed that make-up artist Christopher Tucker should have received recognition from the Academy for his work on recreating Merrick’s physical appearance for the movie.
However, at the time,there was no award category for recognizing makeup and special effects in a movie.The backlash for not recognizingThe Elephant Manfor its makeup effects was so extreme, that the Academy announced that it would create a new makeup award for future ceremonies.
Who Holds The Record For Most Best Makeup Wins Since Its Creation
The First Award For Best Makeup Was Given In 1982
