The Academy Awards are the cornerstone of film history, filled with major milestones and unexpected blunders. This quiz covers the evolution of the ceremony from its modest 1929 beginnings to modern blunders.
You will encounter questions about historic wins, famous stage antics, and those rare moments where things went completely wrong on live television. We also look at the actors and directors who chose to skip the party altogether.
Think you have seen it all? Check out our full Oscar history, browse Golden Age stories, or explore our award records database.
In what year was the very first Academy Awards ceremony held?
1940
1940
1929
1929
1945
1945
1935
1935
Where did the inaugural Academy Awards presentation take place?
The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
The Dolby Theatre
The Dolby Theatre
The Cocoanut Grove nightclub
The Cocoanut Grove nightclub
Approximately how long did the first Academy Awards ceremony last?
15 minutes
15 minutes
30 minutes
30 minutes
2 hours
2 hours
1 hour
1 hour
How many tickets were sold for the first Academy Awards ceremony?
750 tickets
750 tickets
500 tickets
500 tickets
250 tickets
250 tickets
1,000 tickets
1,000 tickets
Which film won the inaugural Academy Award for Outstanding Picture?
The Jazz Singer
The Jazz Singer
City Lights
City Lights
Wings
Wings
Sunrise
Sunrise
Who famously ran across the stage while naked during the 1974 Academy Awards?
Robert Opel
Robert Opel
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
David Niven
David Niven
During which Academy Awards ceremony did the famous on-stage streaking incident occur?
46th Academy Awards
46th Academy Awards
49th Academy Awards
49th Academy Awards
48th Academy Awards
48th Academy Awards
47th Academy Awards
47th Academy Awards
What was the profession of the person who streaked the 1974 Oscars stage?
The streaker was a known film critic.
The streaker was a known film critic.
The streaker was a stunt double hired by the show organizers.
The streaker was a stunt double hired by the show organizers.
The streaker was a photographer and gallery owner.
The streaker was a photographer and gallery owner.
The streaker was an undercover police officer.
The streaker was an undercover police officer.
What was the nature of David Niven’s famous quip regarding the streaker?
The “lack of preparation” of the security team.
The “lack of preparation” of the security team.
The “shortcoming” of the man.
The “shortcoming” of the man.
The “improvisation” of the act.
The “improvisation” of the act.
The “audacity” of the act.
The “audacity” of the act.
Which role earned Marlon Brando his second Academy Award for Best Actor, which he controversially declined?
On the Waterfront
On the Waterfront
The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now
Who accepted the Academy Award for Best Actor on Marlon Brando’s behalf to protest Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans?
Sacheen Littlefeather
Sacheen Littlefeather
Doris Day
Doris Day
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda
Raquel Welch
Raquel Welch
When did Marlon Brando send a representative to decline his Oscar?
At the 1973 ceremony.
At the 1973 ceremony.
At the 1970 ceremony.
At the 1970 ceremony.
At the 1975 ceremony.
At the 1975 ceremony.
At the 1977 ceremony.
At the 1977 ceremony.
Which legendary actress, known for winning four Best Actress Oscars, famously did not attend any of the ceremonies to receive her awards?
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Which director has won multiple Academy Awards but has famously avoided attending the ceremonies to collect them?
Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Which duo accidentally announced the wrong Best Picture winner during the 2017 Oscars?
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway
Which film was mistakenly announced as the Best Picture winner at the 89th Academy Awards?
Moonlight
Moonlight
Manchester by the Sea
Manchester by the Sea
La La Land
La La Land
Arrival
Arrival
Which film officially won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 89th Oscars following the envelope mix-up?
Lion
Lion
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures
La La Land
La La Land
Moonlight
Moonlight
What was the primary cause of the mix-up during the Best Picture announcement at the 2017 Oscars?
The presenters were given the envelope for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
The presenters were given the envelope for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
The teleprompter read the wrong film title.
The teleprompter read the wrong film title.
The accounting firm employee was distracted by a phone call.
The accounting firm employee was distracted by a phone call.
The wrong list of nominees was on the envelope.
The wrong list of nominees was on the envelope.
Which accounting firm is responsible for tabulating Oscar votes and handling the envelopes?
Deloitte
Deloitte
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
KPMG
KPMG
Who was the first actor to officially refuse an Academy Award for acting, doing so in 1971?
George C. Scott
George C. Scott
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Peter O’Toole
Peter O’Toole
For which film did George C. Scott refuse the Best Actor Academy Award?
The Hustler
The Hustler
Anatomy of a Murder
Anatomy of a Murder
Patton
Patton
Dr. Strangelove
Dr. Strangelove
What was George C. Scott’s primary reason for refusing the Oscar?
He was protesting the Vietnam War.
He was protesting the Vietnam War.
He felt the voting process was inherently unfair.
He felt the voting process was inherently unfair.
The Academy required all winners to be American citizens.
The Academy required all winners to be American citizens.
He publicly criticized the “meat market” nature of the awards.
He publicly criticized the “meat market” nature of the awards.
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