| Academy Award Nominations and Winners: |
| Best Picture |
| Best Director: Steven Spielberg |
| Best Original Screenplay: Melissa Mathison |
| Best Cinematography: Allen Daviau |
| Best Film Editing: Carol Littleton |
| ✓ | Best Original Score: John Williams |
| ✓ | Best Sound: Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don Digirolamo, and Gene S. Cantamessa |
| ✓ | Best Sound Effects: Charles L. Campbell & Ben Burtt |
| ✓ | Best Visual Effects: Carlo Rambaldi, Dennis Muren, and Kenneth Smith |
|
| Golden Globe Nominations and Winners: |
| ★ | Best Picture (Drama) |
| Best Director: Steven Spielberg |
| Best Screenplay: Melissa Mathison |
| ★ | Best Original Score: John Williams |
| Best New Star, Male: Henry Thomas |
|
| Other Awards: |
| Writers Guild of America: Best Original Screenplay (Drama) |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Picture; Best Director |
| National Society of Film Critics: Best Director |
| Boston Society of Film Critics: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Cinematography |
| British Academy Awards (BAFTAs): Best Original Score: John Williams |