[1] All Quiet on the Western Front became the first film to win both Best Picture and Best Director, which would become common in later years.

Lewis Milestone became the first person to win two Oscars, having won Best Director – Comedy at the 1st Academy Awards.

The Love Parade received six nominations, the greatest number of any film to that point, but did not win in any category.

Ruth Chatterton's performance in Sarah and Son, directed by Dorothy Arzner, was the first nominee from a female-directed film.

A portion of the awards were filmed for the first time:[2] Universal Pictures co-founder and president Carl Laemmle receiving a special Academy Award for All Quiet on the Western Front, given to him by Louis B. Mayer, vice president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Norma Shearer winning Best Actress for The Divorcee, and screenwriter Frances Marion winning Best Writing for The Big House.