Martin Scorsese Breaks Records with 10th Oscar Nomination for Best Director

On Tuesday, the venerable 81-year-old director achieved a historic feat by becoming the most-nominated living director in the annals of the Oscars. Scorsese’s tally now stands at 10 nominations, surpassing Hollywood luminary Steven Spielberg in this prestigious category. Only William Wyler, with 12 nominations, holds a higher record, but Wyler’s achievements ceased with his passing in 1981 at the age of 79.

Expressing his gratitude, Scorsese said, “Receiving this recognition from the Academy, both for myself and my collaborators on Killers of the Flower Moon, is deeply gratifying. Crafting this film was a remarkable experience, working alongside the Osage community to unveil a genuine American tragedy hidden in the shadows of official culture for far too long.”

Reflecting on the film’s composer, Robbie Robertson, who passed away two months before its release, Scorsese added, “I only wish that Robbie Robertson had lived to see his work recognized — our many years of friendship and Robbie’s growing consciousness of his own Native heritage played a crucial role in my desire to get this film onscreen.”

With his latest nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon, a film that boasts 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Scorsese stands a chance to secure his second Oscar. His previous win was for Best Director in 2006 for The Departed.

Competing against directors such as Justine Triet, Christopher Nolan, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Jonathan Glazer, Scorsese’s nomination adds to the extensive recognition for Killers of the Flower Moon. The film has garnered acting nods, including Lily Gladstone for Best Actress and Robert De Niro for Best Supporting Actor.

Gladstone, 37, makes history as the first Native American actress to receive an Oscar nomination. The film, based on true events, chronicles the relationship of Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Molly Burkhart amidst a backdrop of orchestrated plots to murder members of the Osage Nation in the 1920s.

Recently honored at the National Board of Review Awards Gala, where Daniel Day-Lewis presented him with the Best Director award, Scorsese’s impact on the film industry was praised. Day-Lewis, who collaborated with Scorsese on films like The Age of Innocence and Gangs of New York, lauded the director’s ability to illuminate unknown worlds in an enthralling manner.

The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, is scheduled to air live on Sunday, March 10, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.