Most Oscar nominations for Best Sound

Sound engineer Andy Nelson (UK) has amassed 22 Oscar nominations for Best Sound. Gorillas in the Mist (1988) kick-started his love affair with the category, while his most recent nomination was for West Side Story (USA, 2021), alongside fellow soundmen Brian Chumney, Tod A Maitland, Shawn Murphy and Gary Rydstrom.

Nelson has won two Oscars for Best Sound (formerly Best Sound Mixing) from his 22 nominations, for Saving Private Ryan (USA, 1998) and Les Misérables (UK/USA, 2012). His other nominated work includes Schindler’s List, Evita, Moulin Rouge!, War of the Worlds, Avatar, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and La La Land.

He was previously tied on 21 nominations with Kevin O’Connell (USA), who finally won an award, at the 21st attempt, for his most recent nomination Hacksaw Ridge (USA/Australia, 2016).

Nelson’s 22nd nomination ties singer/songwriter Randy Newman for the third-highest number of Oscar nods among living individuals. They trail director/actor Woody Allen, with 24 nominations, and the US composer John Williams, who has won five Oscars from a haul of 52 nominations (1968-2020).