Oscar Speech Study Shows Steven Spielberg Bigger Than God

2 minute read

When an Oscar winner walks up to the mic to give their acceptance speech, there are few things they can say that haven’t been said before. Many people thank their family, their film’s team, and/or their spouse (if they remember). It’s also not uncommon for any given person to thank God.

However, thanks to a study by Vocativ, in which all 1,396 acceptance speeches ever given were analyzed, there are five people in Hollywood who can say they’ve trumped God—at being mentioned in more speeches, at least.

In the study, Vocativ concluded that “The Academy” is thanked in 43 percent of all speeches, with Mom and Dad getting a shout-out 28 percent of the time. However, the most thanked person in Oscar history is Steven Spielberg, who has been thanked a total of 42 times.

As for God? He’s only been thanked 19 times. Check out the top six below:

  • Steven Spielberg (thanked 42 times)
  • Harvey Weinstein (thanked 34 times)
  • James Cameron (thanked 28 times)
  • George Lucas (thanked 23 times)
  • Peter Jackson (thanked 22 times)
  • God (thanked 19 times)
  • Rounding out the Top 10—with a few ties— are: Fran Walsh, writer of the Lord of the Rings screenplays, Sheila Nevins, president of HBO documentary film, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and producers Barrie Osborne and Saul Zaentz.

    Perhaps we should all change our Martin Scorsese drinking game to a Steven Spielberg drinking game this year.

    This article originally appeared on EW.com.

    See All the Best Actors in Oscar History

    Schauspieler Emil Jannings
    1929: Emil Jannings - The Last Command and The Way of All FleshImagno/Getty Images
    Warner Baxter
    1930: Warner Baxter - In Old ArizonaHulton Archive/Getty Images
    George Arliss (1868-1946), English actor, 20th century.
    1931: George Arliss - DisraeliPrint Collector/Getty Images
    Cinema Personalities. pic: circa 1930's. American actor Lionel Barrymore. (1878-1954) a major star of films and a famed actor. He was also noted as a artist, author, composer and director, one of the famous Barrymore acting family.
    1932: Lionel Barrymore - A Free SoulPopperfoto/Getty Images
    Fredric March
    1933: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1947: Fredric March - The Best Years of Our LivesPopperfoto/Getty Images
    Wallace Beery
    1933: Wallace Beery - The ChampPopperfoto/Getty Images
    Charles Laughton
    1934: Charles Laughton - The Private Life of Henry VIIIHulton Archive/Getty Images
    Clark Gable
    1935: Clark Gable - It Happened One NightMichael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
    Victor McLaglen, British boxer and actor, 1934-1935.
    1936: Victor McLaglen - The InformerPrint Collector/Getty Images
    Paul Muni, American film actor, 1934-1935.
    1937: Paul Muni - The Story of Louis PasteurPrint Collector/Getty Images
    Spencer Tracy
    1938: Spencer Tracy - Captains Courageous 1939: Spencer Tracy - Boys TownClarence Sinclair Bull—John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images
    Robert Donat
    1940: Robert Donat - Goodbye, Mr. ChipsSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
    James Stewart
    1941: James Stewart - The Philadelphia StoryJohn Kobal Foundation/Getty Images
    Cooper Promo Shot
    1942: Gary Cooper - Sergeant York 1953: Gary Cooper - High NoonHulton Archive/Getty Images
    Cinema. Personalities. circa 1940's. American actor James Cagney portrait one of Hollywood's pre-eminent stars famous for his "tough-guy" roles.
    1943: James Cagney - Yankee Doodle DandyPopperfoto/Getty Images
    Paul Lukas
    1944: Paul Lukas - Watch on the RhinePopperfoto/Getty Images
    Bing Crosby
    1945: Bing Crosby - Going My WayHulton Archive/Getty Images
    Ray Milland
    1946: Ray Milland - The Lost WeekendSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
    Portrait of Ronald Colman
    1948: Ronald Colman - A Double LifeGetty Images
    Portrait Of Laurence Olivier
    1949: Laurence Olivier - HamletMondadori/Getty Images
    Broderick Crawford
    1950: Broderick Crawford - All the King's MenColumbia Pictures/Getty Images
    José Ferrer in Anything Can Happen
    1951: José Ferrer - Cyrano de BergeracMondadori/Getty Images
    Humphrey Bogart In 'Sabrina'
    1952: Humphrey Bogart - The African QueenArchive Photos/Getty Images
    WILLIAM HOLDEN 1953
    1954: William Holden - Stalag 17Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images
    Marlon Brando
    1955: Marlon Brando - On the Waterfront 1973: Marlon Brando - The GodfatherHulton Archive/Getty Images
    Ernest Borgnine
    1956: Ernest Borgnine - MartyGAB Archive/Redferns/Getty Images
    Yul Brynner
    1957: Yul Brynner - The King and IArchive Photos/Getty Images
    Barnacle Bill
    1958: Alec Guinness - The Bridge on the River KwaiHulton Archive/Getty Images
    David Niven
    1959: David Niven - Separate TablesSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
    Charlton Heston dressed as Ben Hur
    1960: Charlton Heston - Ben-HurMondadori/Getty Images
    Burt Lancaster
    1961: Burt Lancaster - Elmer GantryArchive Photos/Getty Images
    Maximillian Schell
    1962: Maximilian Schell - Judgment at NurembergPictorial Parade/Getty Images
    Gregory Peck
    1963: Gregory Peck - To Kill a MockingbirdSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
    Publicity Still From 'For Love Of Ivy'
    1964: Sidney Poitier - Lilies of the FieldJohn D. Kisch—Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images
    Rex Harrison In 'My Fair Lady'
    1965: Rex Harrison - My Fair LadyArchive Photos/Getty Images
    Lee Marvin
    1966: Lee Marvin - Cat BallouSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
    Paul Scofield In 'A Man For All Seasons'
    1967: Paul Scofield - A Man for All SeasonsMichael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
    In The Heat of the Night
    1968: Rod Steiger - In the Heat of the NightSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
    Cliff Robertson
    1969: Cliff Robertson - CharlyCamerique/Getty Images
    John Wayne
    1970: John Wayne - True GritPhotoshot/Getty Images
    Patton
    1971: George C. Scott - PattonSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
    Gene Hackman In 'The French Connection'
    1972: Gene Hackman - The French Connection20th Century Fox/Getty Images
    Jack Lemmon
    1974: Jack Lemmon - Save the TigerSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
    47th Annual Academy Awards, 1975
    1975: Art Carney - Harry and TontoRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    Jack Nicholson In 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'
    1976: Jack Nicholson - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 1998: Jack Nicholson - As Good as It GetsArchive Photos/Getty Images
    Peter Finch In 'Network'
    1977: Peter Finch - NetworkMichael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
    35th Annual Golden Globe Awards
    1978: Richard Dreyfuss - The Goodbye GirlRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    "The Champ" Press Party
    1979: Jon Voight - Coming HomeRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    AFI Salute to James Stewart
    1980: Dustin Hoffman - Kramer vs. Kramer 1989: Dustin Hoffman - Rain ManRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    Actor's Studio Conference
    1981: Robert De Niro - Raging BullRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    JAN 2 1980, AUG 12 1982, AUG 13 1982, MAR 18 1983; At ceremonies at the Denver Center for the Perfor
    1982: Henry Fonda - On Golden PondLyn Alweis—Denver Post/Getty Images
    Ben Kingsley
    1983: Ben Kingsley - GandhiDoug McKenzie—Getty Images
    Robert Duvall
    1984: Robert Duvall - Tender MerciesDave Allocca—DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
    57th Annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon
    1985: F. Murray Abraham - AmadeusRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    William Hurt
    1986: William Hurt - Kiss of the Spider WomanTerry O'Neill—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
    The Color Of Money
    1987: Paul Newman - The Color of MoneyMichael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
    People's Choice
    1988: Michael Douglas - Wall StreetDarlene Hammond—Archive Photos/Getty Images
    62nd Annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon
    1990: Daniel Day-Lewis - My Left Foot 2008: Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood 2013: Daniel Day-Lewis - LincolnRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    16th Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
    1991: Jeremy Irons - Reversal of FortuneRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    "Howard's End" Benefit for AmFAR
    1992: Anthony Hopkins - The Silence of the LambsRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    American Museum of the Moving Image Tribute to Al Pacino
    1993: Al Pacino - Scent of a WomanRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    Tom Hanks
    1994: Tom Hanks - Philadelphia 1995: Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump Time Life Pictures/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
    1996 National Board of Review Awards Dinner
    1996: Nicolas Cage - Leaving Las VegasRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    Presentation of Memorabilia From "Shine"
    1997: Geoffrey Rush - ShineRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    4th Broadcast Film Critics Awards
    1999: Roberto Benigni - Life Is Beautiful Ron Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    "The Big Kahuna" Premiere
    2000: Kevin Spacey - American BeautyRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
    Celebs at British Academy Film Awards
    2001: Russell Crowe - Gladiator UK Press/Newsmakers/Getty Images
    74th Annual Academy Awards - Pressroom
    2002: Denzel Washington - Training DayFrank Micelotta—ImageDirect/Getty Images
    The 75th Annual Academy Awards - Press Room
    2003: Adrien Brody - The PianistJeffrey Mayer—WireImage/Getty Images
    Sean Penn arrives for the 76th Academy A
    2004: Sean Penn - Mystic River 2009: Sean Penn - MilkJeff Haynes—AFP/Getty Images
    Onset For Jamie Foxx Music Video
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    Stars Promote 'Mission Impossible III' In Rome
    2006: Philip Seymour Hoffman - CapoteElisabetta Villa—Getty Images
    22nd Annual Santa Barbara Film Festival - American Riviera Award Presented to Forest Whitaker
    2007: Forest Whitaker - The Last King of ScotlandMason Trullinger—FilmMagic/Getty Images
    9th Annual New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend - Day 3
    2010: Jeff Bridges - Crazy HeartJemal Countess—Getty Images
    The Debt - UK Premiere - Inside Arrivals
    2011: Colin Firth - The King's SpeechDave Hogan—Getty Images
    BAFTA Los Angeles 18th Annual Awards Season Tea Party - Red Carpet
    2012: Jean Dujardin - The ArtistFrazer Harrison—Getty Images
    86th Annual Academy Awards - Press Room
    2014: Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers ClubJason Merritt—Getty Images
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    2015: Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of EverythingValerie Macon—AFP/Getty Images
    88th Annual Academy Awards - Press Room
    2016: Leonardo DiCaprio - The RevenantC Flanigan—Getty Images
    89th Annual Academy Awards -  Press Room
    2017: Casey Affleck - Manchester by the SeaJason LaVeris—Getty Images
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    2018: Gary Oldman - Darkest HourFrederic J. Brown—AFP/Getty Images
    RAMI MALEK
    2019: Remi Malek - Bohemian RhapsodyEd Herrera—ABC/Getty Images

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