Walt Disney and the Oscars go together like popcorn and movies, except his Oscar collection is something no one else has ever matched. You might think big Hollywood stars or legendary directors hold the record for the most Academy Awards, but nope, it’s the man behind Mickey Mouse who still reigns supreme. And trust me, the number of Oscars he won will blow your mind!
Walt Disney changed the game in animation and filmmaking. Back in 1923, when he founded The Walt Disney Company, no one could have guessed how massive it would become. From Mickey’s first appearance in Steamboat Willie to the groundbreaking Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney wasn’t just making cartoons, he was making history. His creativity, storytelling, and innovation set new standards, and the Academy Awards took notice.
But here’s the real kicker, Walt Disney didn’t just win an Oscar or two, he won so many that no filmmaker has come close to his record. Even decades after his last nomination, his achievements remain unbeaten. Want to know just how many golden statuettes he took home? Keep reading, because the answer is nothing short of legendary.
Walt Disney’s legendary 26 Oscar wins
Walt Disney holds the record for the most Oscars, with 26 Academy Awards, including four honorary Oscars. He won 22 competitive Oscars from 59 nominations, a feat no other filmmaker has matched. Disney’s groundbreaking work in animation and storytelling earned him these awards, solidifying his legacy in film history.
His first 10 wins? All in the Best Short Subject (Cartoon) category, starting with Flowers and Trees in 1932, followed by classics like The Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling. Then he dominated the documentary world, winning for The Living Desert and The Alaskan Eskimo. And let’s not forget the Oscar with seven miniature statues he received for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, because, of course, Disney couldn’t just win a regular award like everyone else.
Oddly enough, despite his massive success, Disney never won Best Picture. His only nomination in that category was for Mary Poppins in 1964. But hey, when you have more Oscars than anyone in history, missing out on one category doesn’t sting too much. Decades later, his record still stands tall, because let’s be real, there’s only one Walt Disney.
Walt Disney’s memorable Oscar moments
Walt Disney’s Oscar journey is sprinkled with moments that feel straight out of a fairy tale. Take February 26, 1942, when he snagged the prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for lifetime achievement, though he was far from done. With 17 more Oscars coming his way afterward, Walt proved that even a “lifetime” wasn’t long enough to contain his genius.
Then there’s the iconic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs award in 1939. Picture this, one big Oscar flanked by seven tiny ones, handed to Walt by none other than Shirley Temple. Critics had called the film “Disney’s Folly,” but an $8.5 million box-office triumph (in an era of 25-cent tickets) shut them right up.
Fast-forward to 1965, when Julie Andrews practically twirled onto the stage to thank Walt for her Best Actress win in Mary Poppins. Snubbed for My Fair Lady, Andrews showed Hollywood who was boss, giving Disney the biggest “thank you” of all.
And let’s not forget Beauty and the Beast, the first animated film to land a Best Picture nomination. Though it didn’t win, the film waltzed away with Best Song and Best Score, laying the groundwork for animation’s big league ambitions.
Walt’s Oscars weren’t just wins; they were showstoppers, proving that magic isn’t just for the screen, it’s for the stage too.
Sean Baker matches Walt Disney’s Oscar record with four wins
Walt Disney’s Oscar record stood unchallenged for over 70 years, until Anora director Sean Baker waltzed (pun intended) into the 2025 Academy Awards and snatched four golden statuettes in one night. And here’s the kicker, while Disney won his four trophies in 1954 for four different films, Baker pulled off his historic sweep with a single movie. Talk about making history in style.
Baker, the indie filmmaker known for his raw storytelling, took home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing. And he had fun with it, too. While accepting the editing award, he joked that he “saved the film in the edit” and that the director (a.k.a. himself) should probably never work again. Hollywood, take notes, this is how you own the moment.
His leading lady, Mikey Madison, also made headlines by pulling off a shocking win over Demi Moore in the Best Actress race. Meanwhile, Baker used his speech time to thank his mom (who introduced him to cinema at five), his dog (who apparently gives great editing notes), and Quentin Tarantino (for casting Madison in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood).
In a world dominated by massive studio productions, Baker’s indie triumph feels like a Cinderella story, except instead of a glass slipper, he left the Oscars holding four golden statues.
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