Schindler's List
Updated: 12/11/2025, 1:44:58 PM Wikipedia source
Schindler's List is a 1993 American epic historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Zaillian. It is based on the historical novel Schindler's Ark (1982) by Thomas Keneally. The film follows Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved more than a thousand mostly Polish–Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during World War II. It stars Liam Neeson as Schindler, Ralph Fiennes as SS officer Amon Göth, and Ben Kingsley as Schindler's Jewish accountant Itzhak Stern. Ideas for a film about the Schindlerjuden (Schindler Jews) were proposed as early as 1963. Poldek Pfefferberg, one of the Schindlerjuden, made it his life's mission to tell Schindler's story. Spielberg became interested when executive Sidney Sheinberg sent him a book review of Schindler's Ark. Universal Pictures bought the rights to the novel, but Spielberg, unsure if he was ready to make a film about the Holocaust, tried to pass the project to several directors before deciding to direct it himself. Principal photography took place in Kraków, Poland, over 72 days in 1993. Spielberg shot in black and white and approached the film as a documentary. Cinematographer Janusz Kamiński wanted to create a sense of timelessness. John Williams composed the score, and violinist Itzhak Perlman performed the main theme. Schindler's List premiered on November 30, 1993, in Washington, D.C., and was released on December 15, 1993, in the United States. The film received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for the performances of Neeson and Fiennes, Williams' musical score, Kaminski's cinematography, Zaillian's screenplay, and Spielberg's direction. It was a box office success, earning $322.2 million worldwide on a $22 million budget. Schindler's List earned multiple accolades, including seven Academy Awards (including Best Picture), seven BAFTAs and three Golden Globes. It is often listed as one of the greatest films ever made. The film was deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress in 2004 and selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry. In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked Schindler's List 8th on its list of the 100 greatest American films.
Infobox
Directed by
Steven Spielberg
Screenplay by
Steven Zaillian
Based on
Schindler's Arkby Thomas Keneally
Produced by
mw- Steven Spielberg Gerald R. Molen Branko Lustig
Starring
Liam Neeson Ben Kingsley Ralph Fiennes Caroline Goodall Jonathan Sagall Embeth Davidtz
Cinematography
Janusz Kamiński
Edited by
Michael Kahn
Music by
John Williams
Productioncompanies
Universal Pictures Amblin Entertainment
Distributed by
Universal Pictures
Release dates
November 30, 1993 (1993-11-30) (Washington, D.C.) December 15, 1993 (1993-12-15) (United States)
Running time
195 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$22 million
Box office
$322.2 million
Tables
Major awards · Reception › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Category
Academy Awards
Best Picture
Best Picture
Category
Best Picture
Subject
Steven Spielberg
Gerald R. Molen
Branko Lustig
Result
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Category
Best Director
Subject
Steven Spielberg
Result
Won
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Category
Best Adapted Screenplay
Subject
Steven Zaillian
Result
Won
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Category
Best Original Score
Subject
John Williams
Result
Won
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Category
Best Film Editing
Subject
Michael Kahn
Result
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Category
Best Cinematography
Subject
Janusz Kamiński
Result
Won
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Category
Best Art Direction
Subject
Ewa Braun
Allan Starski
Result
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Category
Best Actor
Subject
Liam Neeson
Result
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Subject
Ralph Fiennes
Result
Nominated
Best Makeup
Best Makeup
Category
Best Makeup
Subject
Christina Smith
Matthew Mungle
Judy Alexander Cory
Result
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Category
Best Sound
Subject
Andy Nelson
Steve Pederson
Scott Millan
Ron Judkins
Result
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Category
Best Costume Design
Subject
Anna B. Sheppard
Result
Nominated
ACE Eddie Award
ACE Eddie Award
Category
ACE Eddie Award
Best Edited Feature Film
Best Edited Feature Film
Category
Best Edited Feature Film
Subject
Michael Kahn
Result
Won
BAFTA Awards
BAFTA Awards
Category
BAFTA Awards
Best Film
Best Film
Category
Best Film
Subject
Steven Spielberg
Branko Lustig
Gerald R. Molen
Result
Won
Best Direction
Best Direction
Category
Best Direction
Subject
Steven Spielberg
Result
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Subject
Ralph Fiennes
Result
Won
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Category
Best Adapted Screenplay
Subject
Steven Zaillian
Result
Won
Best Music
Best Music
Category
Best Music
Subject
John Williams
Result
Won
Best Editing
Best Editing
Category
Best Editing
Subject
Michael Kahn
Result
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Category
Best Cinematography
Subject
Janusz Kamiński
Result
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Subject
Ben Kingsley
Result
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Category
Best Actor
Subject
Liam Neeson
Result
Nominated
Best Makeup and Hair
Best Makeup and Hair
Category
Best Makeup and Hair
Subject
Christina Smith
Matthew W. Mungle
Waldemar Pokromski
Pauline Heys
Result
Nominated
Best Production Design
Best Production Design
Category
Best Production Design
Subject
Allan Starski
Result
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Category
Best Costume Design
Subject
Anna B. Sheppard
Result
Nominated
Best Sound
Best Sound
Category
Best Sound
Subject
Charles L. Campbell
Louis L Edemann
Robert Jackson
Ronald Judkins
Andy Nelson
Steve Pederson
Scott Millan
Result
Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Best Film
Best Film
Category
Best Film
Subject
Steven Spielberg
Gerald R. Molen
Branko Lustig
Result
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Category
Best Director
Subject
Steven Spielberg
Result
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Category
Best Screenplay
Subject
Steven Zaillian
Result
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Category
Best Cinematography
Subject
Janusz Kamiński
Result
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Category
Best Actor
Subject
Liam Neeson
Result
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Subject
Ralph Fiennes
Result
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Golden Globe Awards
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Subject
Steven Spielberg
Gerald R. Molen
Branko Lustig
Result
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Category
Best Director
Subject
Steven Spielberg
Result
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Category
Best Screenplay
Subject
Steven Zaillian
Result
Won
Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Category
Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Subject
Liam Neeson
Result
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Category
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Subject
Ralph Fiennes
Result
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Category
Best Original Score
Subject
John Williams
Result
Nominated
| Category | Subject | Result |
| Academy Awards | ||
| Best Picture | Steven Spielberg Gerald R. Molen Branko Lustig | Won |
| Best Director | Steven Spielberg | Won |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Steven Zaillian | Won |
| Best Original Score | John Williams | Won |
| Best Film Editing | Michael Kahn | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Janusz Kamiński | Won |
| Best Art Direction | Ewa Braun Allan Starski | Won |
| Best Actor | Liam Neeson | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actor | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated |
| Best Makeup | Christina Smith Matthew Mungle Judy Alexander Cory | Nominated |
| Best Sound | Andy Nelson Steve Pederson Scott Millan Ron Judkins | Nominated |
| Best Costume Design | Anna B. Sheppard | Nominated |
| ACE Eddie Award | ||
| Best Edited Feature Film | Michael Kahn | Won |
| BAFTA Awards | ||
| Best Film | Steven Spielberg Branko Lustig Gerald R. Molen | Won |
| Best Direction | Steven Spielberg | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Ralph Fiennes | Won |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Steven Zaillian | Won |
| Best Music | John Williams | Won |
| Best Editing | Michael Kahn | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Janusz Kamiński | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Ben Kingsley | Nominated |
| Best Actor | Liam Neeson | Nominated |
| Best Makeup and Hair | Christina Smith Matthew W. Mungle Waldemar Pokromski Pauline Heys | Nominated |
| Best Production Design | Allan Starski | Nominated |
| Best Costume Design | Anna B. Sheppard | Nominated |
| Best Sound | Charles L. Campbell Louis L Edemann Robert Jackson Ronald Judkins Andy Nelson Steve Pederson Scott Millan | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | ||
| Best Film | Steven Spielberg Gerald R. Molen Branko Lustig | Won |
| Best Director | Steven Spielberg | Won |
| Best Screenplay | Steven Zaillian | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Janusz Kamiński | Won |
| Best Actor | Liam Neeson | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Ralph Fiennes | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | ||
| Best Motion Picture – Drama | Steven Spielberg Gerald R. Molen Branko Lustig | Won |
| Best Director | Steven Spielberg | Won |
| Best Screenplay | Steven Zaillian | Won |
| Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Liam Neeson | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated |
| Best Original Score | John Williams | Nominated |
American Film Institute recognition · Reception › Accolades
1998
1998
Year
1998
List
AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies
Result
#9
2003
2003
Year
2003
List
AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Heroes and Villains
Result
Oskar Schindler – #13 hero; Amon Göth – #15 villain
2006
2006
Year
2006
List
AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Cheers
Result
#3
2007
2007
Year
2007
List
AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)
Result
#8
2008
2008
Year
2008
List
AFI's 10 Top 10
Result
#3 epic film
| Year | List | Result |
| 1998 | AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies | |
| 2003 | AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Heroes and Villains | Oskar Schindler – hero; Amon Göth – villain |
| 2006 | AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Cheers | |
| 2007 | AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) | |
| 2008 | AFI's 10 Top 10 | epic film |
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