All About Eve received 14 Academy Award nominations. The 1950 film set a record at the 23rd Academy Awards, surpassing the previous record of 13 nominations held by Gone with the Wind.
Directed and written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the film follows aging Broadway star Margo Channing, played by Bette Davis, and the ambitious young actress Eve Harrington, played by Anne Baxter. Its backstage story examines fame, rivalry, manipulation, and the fear of being replaced.
All About Eve won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Mankiewicz became the only filmmaker to win both awards in consecutive years, following his wins for A Letter to Three Wives at the 1949 ceremony.
The film’s nominations were especially notable for its acting recognition. It became the second film to receive five acting nominations and remains the only film nominated for four female acting performances: Davis and Baxter for Best Actress, plus Celeste Holm and Thelma Ritter for Best Supporting Actress. Marilyn Monroe also appears in a small early role.