Saturn Awards


The Saturn Awards are American awards presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The awards were created to honor science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, but have since grown to reward other films belonging to genre fiction, as well as television and home media releases. The Saturn Awards were created in 1973 and were originally referred to as Golden Scrolls.

History

The Saturn Awards were devised by Donald A. Reed in 1973, who felt that work in films in the genre of science fiction at that time lacked recognition within the established Hollywood film industry's award system. Initially, the award given was a Golden Scroll certificate. In the late 1970s, the award was revamped to a representation of the planet Saturn, with its ring composed of a film reel.
The Saturn Awards are voted upon by members of the presenting Academy. The Academy is a non-profit organization with membership open to the public. Its president and executive producer is Robert Holguin, and producer/writers Bradley Marcus and Kevin Marcus. Its members include filmmakers J. J. Abrams, Bryan Singer, Steven Spielberg, Bryan Fuller, Mark A. Altman, Vince Gilligan and James Cameron, among others.
Although the Awards still primarily focus on films and television in the science fiction, fantasy and horror categories, the Saturns have also recognized productions in other dramatic genres. There are also special awards for lifetime achievement in film production.
Following the 46th ceremony held in 2021, the decision to rebrand what would have been the 47th as the "50th Saturn Awards" was made in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Saturn Awards, which were founded in 1973. Subsequent ceremonies have continued with the new numbering. The television categories were majorly overhauled at the 50th ceremony, with several categories being split to recognise both network/cable and streaming series. These changes were reverted at the following ceremony, however. In 2023, the nominations announcement and awards process for the 51st Saturn Awards was postponed by several months in solidarity with the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.

Award categories

Film

Television

Home media

SuperlativeRecord-holderRecord setYearNotes
Most awards for a personJames Cameron10 awards2022/23Awards resulted from 15 nominations
Most awards for a personJohn Williams10 awards2022/23Awards resulted from 23 nominations
Most nominations for a personJohn Williams23 nominations2022/23Nominations resulted in 10 wins
Most awards for a filmAvatar10 awards2009Awards resulted from 10 nominations
Most nominations for a filmStar Wars: The Force Awakens15 nominations2015Nominations resulted in 8 wins
Most awards for a TV seriesThe Walking Dead24 awards2021/22Awards resulted from 62 nominations
Most nominations for a TV seriesThe Walking Dead62 nominations2021/22Nominations resulted in 24 wins
Most awards for actingAnna Torv4 awards2012Awards resulted from 5 nominations
Most awards for actingRobert Downey Jr.4 awards2018/19Awards resulted from 8 nominations
Most awards for actingCaitríona Balfe4 awards2022/23Awards resulted from 8 nominations
Most awards for actingPatrick Stewart4 awards2022/23Awards resulted from 7 nominations
Most awards for actingMark Hamill4 awards2023/24Awards resulted from 6 nominations
Most nominations for actingTom Cruise12 nominations2021/22Nominations resulted in 2 wins
Most awards for directingJames Cameron6 awards2022/23Awards resulted from 7 nominations
Most nominations for directingSteven Spielberg14 nominations2021/22Nominations resulted in 4 wins
Most awards for writingChristopher Nolan4 awards2014Awards resulted from 6 nominations
Most awards for writingJames Cameron4 awards2022/23Awards resulted from 7 nominations
Most nominations for writingPeter Jackson7 nominations2014Nominations resulted in 1 win
Most nominations for writingFran Walsh7 nominations2014Nominations resulted in 1 win
Most nominations for writingQuentin Tarantino7 nominations2019/20Nominations resulted in 2 wins
Most nominations for writingGuillermo del Toro7 nominations2021/22Nominations resulted in 1 win
Most nominations for writingJames Cameron7 nominations2022/23Nominations resulted in 4 wins
Most awards for a film seriesStar Wars49 awards2019/20Awards resulted from 114 nominations
Most nominations for a film seriesMarvel Cinematic Universe180 nominations2023/24Nominations resulted in 43 wins
Most nominations for a television franchise at a single ceremonyStar Trek14 nominations2022/23Nominations resulted in 5 wins

Criticism

The Saturn Awards has been criticized for having broadened its scope, nominating and awarding prestige movies genre awards and thereby stretching the meanings of the genres too far.

Year-by-year results

The year indicates the year of release of the films eligible.