Hollywood’s biggest night is almost upon us yet again, which means there are new opportunities for records to be broken and groundbreaking firsts to be had. Who might earn not just a prestigious life-long accolade, but also a place in the history books, should their name be called on Sunday night? Below you’ll find a few of the biggest Oscar milestones that could come to pass.
Alejandro González Iñárritu, first person in 65 years to win back-to-back Best Director Oscars
If he takes home the prize for The Revenant—and he’s heavily favored to do so—he’ll join the elite club of consecutive Best Director winners, of which only John Ford (who won for The Grapes of Wrath in 1941 and How Green Was My Valley in 1942) and Joseph L. Mankiewicz (A Letter To Three Wives in 1950 and All About Eve in 1951) are a part.
Ennio Morricone, oldest Best Original Score winner
At 87, the veteran composer—who has been nominated five other times prior to The Hateful Eight—became the oldest nominee in this category, and has a very good chance of becoming the oldest winner, as well.
Jennifer Lawrence, youngest actor to win two Oscars
Should she win for Joy, 25-year-old Lawrence—who already has an Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook—would surpass current, long-time record-holder Luise Rainer, who won Best Actress in 1937 and 1938 at 27 and 28.
Jordan or Colombia, first win for either country in the Best Foreign Film category
If either Theeb or Embrace of the Serpent is able to beat out heavy favorite Son of Saul (Hungary), it’ll be the first win for Jordan or Colombia, respectively.
Saoirse Ronan, first Irish citizen to win Best Actress
The Brooklyn star (who also holds citizenship in the U.S.) could become the first Irish citizen to win in this category.
Emmanuel Lubezki, most consecutive wins for Best Cinematography
Along with three other cinematographers (Leon Shamroy, Winton Hoch, and John Toll), Lubezki holds the record for most consecutive awards—two—in this category. A win for The Revenant would put him in a pantheon all his own, coming on the heels of his wins for last year’s Birdman and Gravity the year before that.
New Regency Pictures, first company to produce three consecutive Best Picture winners
Among the production company’s filmography are Birdman and 12 Years a Slave, the last two Best Picture winners. As the Hollywood Reporter points out, if The Revenant scores big on Sunday night, it’ll mark “an unprecedented three-peat.”
