8th Saturn Awards
Date	July 1981
Site	California, U.S.
Highlights
Most awards	The Empire Strikes Back (4)
Most nominations	The Empire Strikes Back (8)
← 7th Saturn Awards 9th →

The 8th Saturn Awards, honoring the best in science fiction, fantasy and horror film in 1980, were held in July 1981.

Winners and nominees

Below is a complete list of nominees and winners. Winners are highlighted in bold.

Mark Hamill, Best Actor winner

Angie Dickinson, Best Actress winner

Scatman Crothers, Best Supporting Actor winner

William Peter Blatty, Best Writing winner

John Barry, Best Music winner

Richard Edlund, Best Special Effects co-winner

Film awards

Best Science Fiction Film	Best Fantasy Film
The Empire Strikes Back Altered States Battle Beyond the Stars The Final Countdown Flash Gordon	Somewhere in Time The Blue Lagoon The Ninth Configuration Oh, God! Book II Popeye
Best Horror Film	Best International Film
The Howling Dressed to Kill Fade to Black The Fog The Shining	Scanners The Changeling Harlequin Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro Terror Train
Best Low-Budget Film
Scared to Death Forbidden Zone Human Experiments Maniac Ms .45
Best Actor	Best Actress
*Mark Hamill – The Empire Strikes Back* as Luke Skywalker** Alan Arkin – Simon as Simon Mendelssohn Dennis Christopher – Fade to Black as Eric Binford Kirk Douglas – The Final Countdown as Capt. Matthew Yelland Christopher Reeve – Somewhere in Time as Richard Collier	*Angie Dickinson – Dressed to Kill* as Kate Miller** Ellen Burstyn – Resurrection as Edna Mae McCauley Jamie Lee Curtis – Terror Train as Alana Maxwell Louanne – Oh, God! Book II as Tracy Richards Jane Seymour – Somewhere in Time as Elise McKenna
Best Supporting Actor	Best Supporting Actress
*Scatman Crothers – The Shining* as Dick Hallorann** Melvyn Douglas – The Changeling as Joseph Carmichael Martin Gabel – The First Deadly Sin as Christopher Langley Max von Sydow – Flash Gordon as Emperor Ming the Merciless Billy Dee Williams – The Empire Strikes Back as Lando Calrissian	*Eve Brent – Fade to Black* as Stella Binford** Linda Kerridge – Fade to Black as Marilyn O'Connor Eva Le Gallienne – Resurrection as Grandma Pearl Nancy Parsons – Motel Hell as Ida Smith Stephanie Zimbalist – The Awakening as Margaret Corbeck
Best Director	Best Writing
Irvin Kershner – The Empire Strikes Back Brian De Palma – Dressed to Kill Stanley Kubrick – The Shining Ken Russell – Altered States Vernon Zimmerman – Fade to Black	William Peter Blatty – The Ninth Configuration Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan – The Empire Strikes Back Lewis John Carlino – Resurrection Paddy Chayefsky (as Sidney Aaron) – Altered States John Sayles – Alligator
Best Music	Best Costumes
John Barry – Somewhere in Time Pino Donaggio – Dressed to Kill John Williams – The Empire Strikes Back Maurice Jarre – Resurrection Béla Bartók – The Shining	Jean-Pierre Dorleac – Somewhere in Time Durinda Wood – Battle Beyond the Stars John Mollo – The Empire Strikes Back Doris Lynn – Fade to Black Danilo Donati – Flash Gordon
Best Make-up	Best Special Effects
*Dick Smith – Altered States* / Dick Smith – Scanners (TIE)** Sue Dolph, Steve Neill, and Rick Stratton – Battle Beyond the Stars Colin Booker – Fade to Black Rob Bottin and Rick Baker – The Howling Giannetto De Rossi – Zombi 2	Brian Johnson and Richard Edlund – The Empire Strikes Back Chuck Comisky – Battle Beyond the Stars Richard Albain Jr., Tommy Lee Wallace, and James F. Liles – The Fog Dave Allen and Peter Kuran – The Howling Gary Zeller – Scanners

Special awards

Golden Scroll of Merit (Outstanding Achievement)

Sybil Danning – Battle Beyond the Stars

Outstanding Film Award

Harlequin

Best New Star Award

Sam J. Jones

Life Career Award

John Agar

Service Award

Natalie Harris

External links

Saturn Awards

Saturn Awards
Film	Best Action / Adventure Film Release Best Actor in a Film Best Actress in a Film Best Animated Film Release Best Comic-to-Motion Picture Release Best Fantasy Film Release Best Film Costume Design Best Film Director Best Film Editing Best Film Make-up Best Film Music Best Film Production Design Best Film Special / Visual Effects Best Film Writing Best Horror Film Release Best Independent Film Release Best International Film Release Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Film Best Science Fiction Film Release Best Supporting Actor in a Film Best Supporting Actress in a Film Best Thriller Film Release
Television	Best Action / Thriller Television Series Best Actor on Television Best Actress on Television Best Actor in Streaming Television Series Best Actress in Streaming Television Series Best Animated Series on Television Best Fantasy Television Series Best Film Presentation in Streaming Media Best Guest Starring Performance in a Network or Cable Television Series Best Guest Starring Performance in a Streaming Television Series Best Horror Television Series Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Newtwork or Cable Television Series Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Streaming Television Series Best Science Fiction Television Series Best Streaming Horror/Thriller Series Best Supporting Actor on Television Best Supporting Actress on Television Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Television Series Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Television Series Best Television Presentation (under 10 Episodes)
Home Entertainment	Best 4K Film Release Best DVD / BD Classic Film Release Best DVD / BD Collection Best DVD / BD Television Movie or Series Release
Special awards	Artist Showcase Award Breakthrough Performance Award Dan Curtis Legacy Award Filmmaker's Showcase Award The George Pal Memorial Award Legion M Breakout Director Award The Life Career Award The President's Memorial Award Producer's Showcase Award Special Recognition Award Stan Lee World Builder Award Visionary Award
Retired awards	Best DVD or Blu-ray Release (2001–2018/19) Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release (2001–2018/19) Best Home Video Release (1991–2000) Best International Series (2007) Best Low-Budget Film (1980–1982) Best Network Television Series (1988–2014) Best New Media Television Series (2015–2017) Best Guest Starring Role on Television (2008-2021) Best Performance by a Younger Actor in a Television Series (2013-2021) Best Retro Television Series on DVD (2004–2008) Best Streaming Science Fiction, Action & Fantasy Series (2018/19) Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series (2015-2021) Best Streaming Superhero Series (2017–2018/19) Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series (1996–2014) Best Youth-Oriented Television Series (2011–2014)
Ceremonies	1972 1973 1974/75 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989/90 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018/19 2019/20 2021/22 2022/23
Note: The years are listed as per convention, usually the year of film release; the ceremonies are usually held the next year.

Categories