76th Academy Awards — award ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievement in filmmaking in 2003
The 76th Academy Awards saw The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King win eleven Oscars, tying the all-time record, before 44 million U.S. viewers.
Key Facts
- Ceremony date
- February 29, 2004
- Venue
- Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles
- Categories awarded
- 24
- Top winner
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- Awards won by top film
- 11
- U.S. television viewers
- Nearly 44 million
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences annually selects nominees and presents awards recognizing outstanding achievement in filmmaking. The films of 2003 competed across 24 categories, with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King generating broad critical acclaim and strong award-season momentum leading into the ceremony.
On February 29, 2004, AMPAS held the 76th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by Billy Crystal for the eighth time and produced by Joe Roth. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King swept all eleven of its nominated categories, tying the record for most wins in a single ceremony, claiming Best Picture and Best Director for Peter Jackson among others.
The Return of the King's eleven-award sweep became one of the most celebrated outcomes in Oscar history, tying Ben-Hur and Titanic. The telecast drew nearly 44 million U.S. viewers, the largest audience in four years, reflecting widespread public interest in the conclusion of Peter Jackson's trilogy.