Though Leonardo DiCaprio is regarded as one of the world’s most esteemed actors, he had never received the film industry’s most coveted award — the Oscar — until now. The 88th Academy Awards aired on February 28, 2016. This was Dicaprio’s year. Dicaprio was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in The Revenant along with Eddie Redmayne, Michael Fassbender, Bryan Cranstron and Matt Damon. Leo’s performance in The Revenant stirred up anticipation of him winning the category, and America cheered as he walked onstage  to deliver his acceptance speech.

DiCaprio has had many nominations that turned into close calls in the past; so many that his previous inability to win an Oscar became a joke nationwide. DiCaprio got his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor at age 19, for his 1993 performance in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He was only 14 during the movie’s filming period, yet his talent was evident. Though young, talented and hopeful, Dicaprio fell short of the win.

His succeeding Oscar nominations were for the 2005 film The Aviator, for which he was nominated for Best Actor, 2007’s Blood Diamond, again as Best Actor, and lastly 2014’s Wolf of Wall Street, which he produced and starred in. He was nominated for Best Picture as the producer of this film.

As talk of The Revenant and DiCaprio’s outstanding performance in the film swept the nation, so did the possibility of Leonardo Dicaprio winning his first Oscar. The most remarkable scene among critics was the scene in which DiCaprio wrestles with a bear. In reality, DiCaprio was just being tossed around by carefully placed strings. Production designer Jack Fisk describes the scene as “intense, violent, and…completely done through stunt men and CGI.” This seemingly violent and gory scene was executed with rubber trees, a digital bear, and fake blood, according to Fisk.
The Revenant itself and crew was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects.