46th Academy Awards — Award ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for achievement in filmmaking in 1973
The 46th Academy Awards saw The Sting dominate with 7 wins, and Marvin Hamlisch became the only person to win 3 Oscars in one year without a Best Picture win.
Key Facts
- Ceremony Date
- April 2, 1974
- Venue
- Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles
- Best Picture Winner
- The Sting
- Most Awards Won
- 7 (The Sting)
- Marvin Hamlisch Awards
- 3 Oscars in a single night
- Best Director
- George Roy Hill (The Sting)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences annually recognizes outstanding achievement in filmmaking. The eligible films for the 46th ceremony were those released during the 1973 calendar year, a period that included major commercial successes such as The Sting, The Exorcist, and American Graffiti.
On April 2, 1974, the 46th Academy Awards were held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, hosted by Burt Reynolds, Diana Ross, John Huston, and David Niven. The Sting led all films with 7 wins including Best Picture and Best Director, while composer Marvin Hamlisch achieved the rare distinction of winning three Oscars in a single evening.
The ceremony highlighted the commercial and critical strength of 1973 cinema, with the three highest-grossing films of that year all nominated for Best Picture — a distinction that remained unique as of 2025. Marvin Hamlisch's triple win cemented his place in Oscar history as the only person to accomplish that feat without a Best Picture victory.