Academy Award for Best Sound Editing


The Academy Award for Best Sound Editing was an Academy Award granted yearly to a film exhibiting the finest or most aesthetic sound design or sound editing. Sound editing is the creation of sound effects. The award was usually received by the Supervising Sound Editors of the film, sometimes accompanied by the Sound Designers. Beginning with the 93rd Academy Awards, Best Sound Editing will be combined with Best Sound Mixing as a single award for Best Sound.
The nominations process previously took place in two phases. The sound branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences shortlisted seven films during the early 1980s until 2006. Clips were screened at a "bake-off" and branch members voted using a weighted ballot to select up to three nominees. In a rule change on June 30, 2006, the bake-off for the Sound Branch was eliminated. The usual process of a "preferential ballot" submission was instituted resulting in five nominees each year.
This is a list of films that have won or been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Effects, Sound Effects Editing, or Sound Editing. See Academy Award for Best Sound for a combined list of winners and nominees for Sound Mixing and Sound Editing.

Winners and nominees

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

YearFilmNominees
1990
--
1990
The Hunt for Red OctoberCecelia Hall and George Watters II
1990
FlatlinersCharles L. Campbell and Richard C. Franklin
1990
Total RecallStephen Hunter Flick
1991
--
1991
Gary Rydstrom and Gloria Borders
1991
BackdraftGary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns
1991
'George Watters II and F. Hudson Miller
1992
--
1992
Bram Stoker's DraculaTom McCarthy and David Stone
1992
AladdinMark Mangini
1992
Under SiegeJohn Leveque and Bruce Stambler
1993
--
1993
Jurassic ParkGary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns
1993
CliffhangerWylie Stateman and Gregg Baxter
1993
The FugitiveJohn Leveque and Bruce Stambler
1994
--
1994
SpeedStephen Hunter Flick
1994
Clear and Present DangerBruce Stambler and John Leveque
1994
Forrest GumpGloria Borders and Randy Thom
1995
--
1995
BraveheartLon Bender and Per Hallberg
1995
Batman ForeverJohn Leveque and Bruce Stambler
1995
Crimson TideGeorge Watters II
1996
--
1996
The Ghost and the DarknessBruce Stambler
1996
DaylightRichard Anderson and David A. Whittaker
1996
EraserAlan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
1997
--
1997
TitanicTom Bellfort and Christopher Boyes
1997
Face/OffMark Stoeckinger and Per Hallberg
1997
The Fifth ElementMark Mangini
1998
--
1998
Saving Private RyanGary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns
1998
ArmageddonGeorge Watters II
1998
The Mask of ZorroDavid McMoyler
1999
--
1999
The MatrixDane Davis
1999
Fight ClubRen Klyce and Richard Hymns
1999
'Ben Burtt and Tom Bellfort

2000s

YearFilmNominees
2000
--
2000
U-571Jon Johnson
2000
Space CowboysBub Asman and Alan Robert Murray
2001
--
2001
Pearl HarborGeorge Watters II and Christopher Boyes
2001
Monsters, Inc.Gary Rydstrom and Michael Silvers
2002
--
2002
Mike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn
2002
Minority ReportRichard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
2002
Road to PerditionScott Hecker
2003
--
2003
Richard King
2003
Finding NemoGary Rydstrom and Michael Silvers
2003
'Christopher Boyes and George Watters II
2004
--
2004
The IncrediblesMichael Silvers and Randy Thom
2004
The Polar ExpressRandy Thom and Dennis Leonard
2004
Spider-Man 2Paul N. J. Ottosson
2005
--
2005
King KongMike Hopkins and Ethan Van der Ryn
2005
Memoirs of a GeishaWylie Stateman
2005
War of the WorldsRichard King
2006
--
2006
Letters from Iwo JimaBub Asman and Alan Robert Murray
2006
ApocalyptoKami Asgar and Sean McCormack
2006
Blood DiamondLon Bender
2006
Flags of Our FathersAlan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
2006
'Christopher Boyes and George Watters II
2007
--
2007
The Bourne UltimatumKaren Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
2007
No Country for Old MenSkip Lievsay
2007
RatatouilleRandy Thom and Michael Silvers
2007
There Will Be BloodChristopher Scarabosio and Matthew Wood
2007
TransformersEthan Van der Ryn and Mike Hopkins
2008
--
2008
The Dark KnightRichard King
2008
Iron ManFrank E. Eulner and Christopher Boyes
2008
Slumdog MillionaireTom Sayers and Glenn Freemantle
2008
WALL-EBen Burtt and Matthew Wood
2008
WantedWylie Stateman
2009
--
2009
The Hurt LockerPaul N. J. Ottosson
2009
AvatarChristopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
2009
Inglourious BasterdsWylie Stateman
2009
Star TrekMark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
2009
UpMichael Silvers and Tom Myers

2010s

YearFilmNominees
2010
--
2010
InceptionRichard King
2010
Toy Story 3Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
2010
'Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
2010
True GritSkip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
2010
UnstoppableMark P. Stoeckinger
2011
--
2011
HugoEugene Gearty and Philip Stockton
2011
DriveLon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
2011
The Girl with the Dragon TattooRen Klyce
2011
'Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
2011
War HorseRichard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
2012

--
2012

Skyfall Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers
2012

Zero Dark Thirty Paul N. J. Ottosson
2012

ArgoErik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
2012

Django UnchainedWylie Stateman
2012

Life of PiEugene Gearty and Philip Stockton
2013
--
2013
GravityGlenn Freemantle
2013
All Is LostSteve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns
2013
Captain PhillipsOliver Tarney
2013
'Brent Burge and Chris Ward
2013
Lone SurvivorWylie Stateman
2014
--
2014
American SniperAlan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
2014
Birdman or Martin Hernández and Aaron Glascock
2014
'Brent Burge and Jason Canovas
2014
InterstellarRichard King
2014
UnbrokenBecky Sullivan and Andrew DeCristofaro
2015
--
2015
Mark Mangini and David White
2015
The MartianOliver Tarney
2015
The RevenantMartin Hernández and Lon Bender
2015
SicarioAlan Robert Murray
2015
'Matthew Wood and David Acord
2016

--
2016

ArrivalSylvain Bellemare
2016

Deepwater HorizonWylie Stateman and Renée Tondelli
2016

Hacksaw RidgeRobert Mackenzie and Andy Wright
2016

La La LandAi-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou Morgan
2016

SullyAlan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
2017
--
2017
DunkirkRichard King and Alex Gibson
2017
Baby DriverJulian Slater
2017
Blade Runner 2049Mark Mangini and Theo Green
2017
The Shape of WaterNathan Robitaille and Nelson Ferreira
2017
'Matthew Wood and Ren Klyce
2018
--
2018
Bohemian RhapsodyJohn Warhurst and Nina Hartstone
2018
Black PantherBenjamin A. Burtt and Steve Boeddeker
2018
First ManAi-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou Morgan
2018
A Quiet PlaceEthan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
2018
RomaSergio Díaz and Skip Lievsay
2019
--
2019
Ford v FerrariDonald Sylvester
2019
JokerAlan Robert Murray
2019
1917Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate
2019
Once Upon a Time in HollywoodWylie Stateman
2019
Matthew Wood and David Acord

Shortlisted finalists

Finalists for Best Sound Editing were selected by the Sound Branch from 1981 to 2005. The full membership of the Sound Branch was invited to view excerpts and was provided with supporting information at a "bake-off" where balloting determined the three nominees. These are the additional films that presented at the bake-off.
YearFinalists
1981Dragonslayer, Heaven's Gate, Reds, Sharky's Machine, Sphinx, Stripes, Superman II, Time Bandits, Wolfen
1982Conan the Barbarian, The Dark Crystal, Gandhi, Tron
1983Blue Thunder, The Golden Seal, Never Cry Wolf, Sudden Impact, WarGames
1984Dune, Gremlins, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, '
1985American Flyers, The Emerald Forest, Runaway Train, Year of the Dragon
1986The Color of Money, Platoon, Tai-Pan
1987Batteries Not Included, Cry Freedom, Full Metal Jacket, Lethal Weapon, Predator, The Witches of Eastwick
1988Beetlejuice, Mississippi Burning
1989Born on the Fourth of July, Glory, The Winter War
1990Dances with Wolves, Goodfellas
1991Beauty and the Beast, For the Boys, Hook, The Last Boy Scout
1992The Last of the Mohicans, Lethal Weapon 3, Patriot Games, Unforgiven
1993'
1994The Shawshank Redemption, True Lies
1995Apollo 13, Heat, ', Waterworld
1996Independence Day, The Rock, ', Twister
1997Con Air, L.A. Confidential, ', Men in Black
1998Godzilla, Lethal Weapon 4, Ronin, The Thin Red Line
1999Any Given Sunday, The Green Mile, The Mummy, Three Kings
2000Cast Away, Gladiator, ', The Perfect Storm, Unbreakable
2001A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Amélie, Black Hawk Down, The Fast and the Furious, '
2002Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Spider-Man, We Were Soldiers, xXx
2003', The Last Samurai, ', Seabiscuit
2004The Aviator, Collateral, The Day After Tomorrow, Ray
2005', Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, , Walk the Line

Superlatives

Note: Ben Burtt and Stephen Hunter Flick both have Special Achievement wins in addition to their competitive wins. These have been included with their win and nomination count. The only sound editor to date who has a Special Achievement win and has an Oscar nomination but not a competitive win is Richard L. Anderson.

Multiple wins

;4 wins
;3 wins
;2 wins
;10 nominations
;9 nominations
;8 nominations
;7 nominations
;6 nominations
;5 nominations
;4 nominations
;3 nominations
;2 nominations
† = includes special achievement wins.