The Academy Awards are the biggest night in showbiz. The world's greatest actors and filmmakers gather under one roof to celebrate the best cinema the past year had to offer. With so many colorful personalities jam-packed into the same room, there are bound to be some wild moments. Some inspiring moments, too. And moments that become an important landmark not only for the world of film but the world at large.
The Oscar acceptance speech is when most of the unexpected, incredible moments of the ceremony occur. Some winners, like the late great actor and comedian Robin Williams, use the platform to make us laugh as well as give their thanks to the people who helped them get there. Some inspire future generations, like Lupita Nyong'o, who fanned the flames in the hearts of young people grasping for dreams that may seem out of reach. And others... well, I'm not quite sure what they were going for. You'll just have to watch their speeches and decide for yourself.
As we close in on the 96th Academy Awards, which air on March 10, we must brace ourselves — as the past has shown, anything can happen up there. To prepare, let's look back at 20 of the most iconic and memorable Oscar speeches ever uttered, from the funny and bizarre to the inspiring and tear-jerking.
The Funniest Oscar Acceptance Speeches
Bong Joon-ho, Best Director, 'Parasite' (2020)
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Joon-ho's "Parasite" became the first South Korean film to receive Academy Award nominations. His shout-out to Martin Scorcese and Quentin Tarantino was an iconic moment, as was his sign-off: "Thank you, I will drink until next morning."
Watch it here.
Emma Thompson, Best Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published), 'Sense and Sensibility' (1995)
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Thompson gave a gracious nod to Jane Austen while injecting a hearty dose of wit. "Before I came I went to visit Jane Austen's grave in Winchester Cathedral to pay my respects, you know, and to tell her about the grosses," she said. "And I don't know how she would react to an evening like this but I do hope, I do hope she knows how big she is in Uruguay."
Watch it here.
Robin Williams, Best Supporting Actor, 'Good Will Hunting' (1998)
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It's no surprise that the late great Williams, a gifted standup comedian and performer, gave a knockout speech at the Oscars. He made it both touching and funny. While the line thanking Harvey Weinstein aged like milk, his zinger directed at Matt Damon and Ben Affleck did not: "Thank you, Ben and Matt, I still want to see some ID."
Watch it here.
Mel Brooks, Best Original Screenplay, 'The Producers' (1969)
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Leave it to the legendary comedy writer-director Mel Brooks to accept the most coveted award in show business with a dad joke. "I'll just say what's in my heart: ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump."
Watch it here.
Ruth Gordon, Best Supporting Actress, 'Rosemary's Baby' (1969)
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Gordon was 72 years old when she accepted her award, and had the audience howling with her clever opening remark: "I can't tell you how encouraging a thing like this is."
Watch it here.
The Most Tear-Jerking Oscar Acceptance Speeches
Heath Ledger, Best Supporting Actor, 'The Dark Knight' (2009)
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Ledger died before he could accept his award, so his family went onstage to accept on his behalf. There wasn't a dry eye in the house for the touching Oscar moment.
Watch it here.
Sandra Bullock, Best Actress, 'The Blind Side' (2010)
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Bullock used her platform to humbly thank all of the women in the industry who had made her success possible. She also delivered a powerful message of acceptance that underpins "The Blind Side." "There's no race, no religion, no color, class system, nothing, no sexual orientation that makes us better than anyone else," she said. "We are all deserving of love."
Halle Berry, Best Actress, 'Monster's Ball' (2002)
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Berry made history as the first Black woman to win the Best Actress award, and she understandably gave one of the most emotional speeches ever given. Her passion radiated through the room and across the world as spoke through tears: "This moment is so much bigger than me," she said. "It's for every faceless, nameless, woman of color who now has the chance because this door tonight has been opened."
Gwyneth Paltrow, Best Actress, 'Shakespeare In Love' (1999)
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Paltrow stifled sobs as she accepted her award, and gave a heartfelt thanks to her father, who was in the audience shortly after being diagnosed with oral cancer. He died a few years later in 2002.
Watch it here
The Most Inspirational Oscar Acceptance Speeches
Lupita Nyong'o, Best Supporting Actress, '12 Years a Slave' (2014)
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Nyong'o delivered a moving speech, first acknowledging the grim history the film comes from. But it's her message to little girls around the world that gives the speech wings: "May this remind you that no matter where you are from, your dreams are valid."
Watch it here.
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste, Best Original Score, 'Soul' (2021)
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This beautiful Pixar film about the soul of jazz music had a powerful score from the three music legends. They thanked the shoulders they stood on to make the feat possible. "You know what's deep is God gave us 12 notes, it's the same 12 notes that Duke Ellington had, that Bach had, Nina Simone," Batiste said.
Watch it here.
Frances McDormand, Best Actress, 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (2018)
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McDormand made her speech about how far women have come in the industry — and the workforce at large — but emphasized the importance of society continuing to improve. When she asked all of the women nominees in the audience to stand up and be recognized, we instantly got chills.
Watch it here.
Michelle Yeoh, Best Actress, 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2023)
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As if becoming the first Asian woman to nab a Best Actress in a Leading Role award wasn't inspiring enough, Yeoh celebrated the historic milestone with a stirring message of hope: 'Thank you for all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities."
Watch it here
Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney, Best Adapted Screenplay, 'Moonlight' (2017)
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Jenkins and McCraney empowered Black and LGBTQ+ voices with their rousing acceptance speech, encouraging other storytellers in these demographics to own their identities as well as their art. "This goes out to all those Black and brown boys and girls and non-gender conforming who don't see themselves, we're trying to show you, you and us," said McCraney. "So thank you, this is for you."
Watch it here
The Most WTF Oscar Acceptance Speeches
Joe Pesci, Best Supporting Actor, 'Goodfellas' (1991)
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Pesci gave one of the shortest speeches in Oscar history. He sauntered up to the podium and uttered one quick sentence: "It's my privilege, thank you." Still not the shortest Oscar speech of all time. That was from Patty Duke in 1962, who said only two words: "Thank you."
Watch it here.
Zbigniew Rybczynski, Best Animated Short, 'Tango' (1983)
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Rybczynski's material got some solid laughs: "I made a short film, so I will speak very short." But he was noticeably drunk during the speech and kept interrupting his translator before awkwardly kissing her. Later that night, he went out for a cigarette break and couldn't get back into the building, which led to him fighting a security guard.
Watch it here
George C. Scott, Best Actor, 'Patton' (1971)
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That's not Scott accepting the golden statue, but the producer of "Patton," Frank McCarthy. Scott had refused to accept the award, saying of the ceremony, "The whole thing is a godd**n meat parade, I don't want any part of it." Surprised he said all that and still won? So was presenter Goldie Hawn, who read his name from the card and exclaimed, "Oh my god! George C. Scott!"
Watch it here.
Marlon Brando, Best Actor, 'The Godfather' (1973)
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As an act of protest against the ongoing siege at Wounded Knee as well as the film industry's portrayal of Native Americans onscreen, Brando boycotted the ceremony. Instead, he sent a Native American woman wearing traditional Apache clothing onstage. "Hello. My name is Sacheen Littlefeather," she said. "I'm Apache and I am president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee..." Her appearance was met with a mixture of cheers and boos. It was an important statement to be made, but shocking nonetheless.
Watch it here.
Jack Palance, Best Supporting Actor, City Slickers (1992)
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In his bizarre, meandering and impressive acceptance speech, the World War Two veteran showed that he still had it. He said of his "City Slickers" costar and the night's host, "Billy Crystal... I crap bigger than him," before dropping to the ground to bust out six one-armed push-ups. Not bad for a 73-year-old.
Watch it here.
Natalie Portman, Best Actress, 'Black Swan' (2011)
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