John Carpenter, Colman Domingo, Charlize Theron to Be Honored by Academy Museum

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will honor John Carpenter, Colman Domingo, and Charlize Theron at its gala on October 17, 2026. The museum announced the honorees on Thursday. Carpenter, a legendary filmmaker and composer known for his 1978 horror classic "Halloween," will receive the prestigious Luminary Award. This award recognizes an artist who has expanded the creative possibilities of filmmaking.

Emmy winner and two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo will receive the Vantage Award. This award honors an artist who challenges dominant narratives around cinema. Charlize Theron, who won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in "Monster" in 2003, will receive the Icon Award. This award celebrates an artist whose career has had a significant global impact.

Academy Museum Director and President Amy Homma expressed her honor in a statement, saying the gala celebrates artists and storytellers who shape the cultural impact of cinema worldwide. For its sixth annual gala, the museum is recognizing Carpenter, Domingo, and Theron for their extraordinary careers that exemplify creativity, innovation, and excellence in the industry.

Theron will also have a conversation with the museum's Teen Council on August 22, prior to a screening of "Mad Max: Fury Road". Additionally, the museum will launch the Horror Show exhibition on September 26, featuring a Carpenter retrospective with three nights of screenings, all hosted by Carpenter himself. The gala, presented in partnership with Academy Museum founding partner Rolex, will be co-chaired by Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg, and Kate Capshaw.