1989 Academy Awards: Oscar Winners, Nominees and Highlights
The 61st Academy Awards ceremony, held on March 29, 1989, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, was a night of historic moments and cultural significance
Hosted by the incomparable Billy Crystal, the event celebrated the best in cinema from 1988
The evening's biggest winner was "Rain Man," which took home four awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Dustin Hoffman
Jodie Foster secured her first Best Actress win for "The Accused," marking a pivotal moment in her career
The ceremony also saw Geena Davis win Best Supporting Actress for "The Accidental Tourist," while Kevin Kline claimed Best Supporting Actor for "A Fish Called Wanda." Set against the backdrop of the late 1980s, with its shifting social and political landscape, the 1989 Oscars reflected the era's evolving tastes and values in filmmaking.
Major Award Categories: Winners and Nominees
In 1989, during the 61st Academy Awards Cerimony, held on 29/03/1989 the following movies, actors, actresses and directors were awarded with the Oscar in 6 categories honoring the films released in 1989:
What movie won the Best Picture Oscar in 1989?
Who won the Best Director Oscar in 1989?
Who won the Best Actor Oscar in 1989?
Who won the Best Actress Oscar in 1989?
Who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1989?
Who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1989?
Memorable Moments and Trivia
- Dustin Hoffman won Best Actor for "Rain Man" and gave an emotional speech, saying "This is the first time I've ever won an award for a film that I actually made."
- Jodie Foster won Best Actress for "The Accused," her first Oscar win, and thanked her mother in sign language during her acceptance speech.
- "Rain Man" won Best Picture, beating out "Dangerous Liaisons," "Mississippi Burning," "The Accidental Tourist," and "Working Girl."
- Rob Lowe and Snow White (played by Eileen Bowman) performed an infamously awkward and poorly-received opening musical number, which led to a lawsuit from Disney.
- Kevin Kline won Best Supporting Actor for "A Fish Called Wanda" and joked, "Thank you very much. By the way, this is marked 'Costumes.'"
- Geena Davis won Best Supporting Actress for "The Accidental Tourist," her first Oscar nomination and win.
- The ceremony had no official host, instead featuring various presenters throughout the night.
- Billy Crystal performed his first Oscar medley, singing about the Best Picture nominees, which would become a tradition in future ceremonies he hosted.
- Sigourney Weaver was nominated for two acting awards (Best Actress for "Gorillas in the Mist" and Best Supporting Actress for "Working Girl") but didn't win either, which was considered a surprise.
- The ceremony marked the last time to date that all four acting awards went to American-born performers.
FAQ
- Who was the host of the 1989 Academy Awards?
The 61st Academy Awards ceremony in 1989 did not have a host. It was the first time since 1939 that the Oscars went without a host. - What were the biggest surprises at the 1989 Oscars?
One of the biggest surprises was 'Rain Man' winning Best Picture over 'Mississippi Burning' and 'Dangerous Liaisons'. Another surprise was Jodie Foster winning Best Actress for 'The Accused', as many expected Glenn Close to win for 'Dangerous Liaisons'. - What were the most memorable speeches at the 1989 Academy Awards?
Dustin Hoffman's acceptance speech for Best Actor ('Rain Man') was particularly memorable. He spoke about the importance of movies and their ability to influence society. Another notable moment was when Geena Davis, winning Best Supporting Actress for 'The Accidental Tourist', thanked the driver who gave her a ride to her first acting job.
What happened in 1989?
Discover what the world looked like in 1989: