John Williams breaks his own Oscars record, picks up 51st nomination

John Williams: Getty
John Williams: Getty

John Williams has received his 51st Oscar nomination, breaking his own record for most Oscar-nominated living person.

The composer was honoured for his Star Wars: The Last Jedi score and faces stiff competition from Hans Zimmer and Jonny Greenwood for Dunkirk and Phantom Thread, respectively.

Williams became the most-nominated living person two years ago, following a nomination for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, eventually losing to Ennio Morricone for The Hateful Eight.

The 85-year-old has previously won the award five times — for Jaws, Fiddler on the Roof, E.T., Schindler’s List, and Star Wars — his first Oscar nomination dating back to 1968 , for the film Valley of the Dolls.

However, Williams has not yet become the most-nominated person of all time: that accolades remains with Walt Disney, who managed 59 nominations throughout his lifetime, winning 22 times.

Over the next two years, Williams has been attached to score Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Star Wars: Episode IX, two films that could help Williams chase down Disney.

Although The Last Jedi picked up best score, Williams’ collaboration with Steven Spielberg — The Post — failed to win a nomination. Read the full list of nominations here.