The Aviator premiered in New York City on 14 December 2004, before limited release 3 days later (and wider release on Christmas Day).
A biopic about Howard Hughes had been in one form of development or another since the early 1970s, when Warren Beatty co-write a script with Bo Goldman (Goldman would write the Hughes-inspired Melvin and Howard, directed by Jonathan Demme and released in 1980, and the Beatty-Goldman script would appear in altered form in 2016's Rules Don't Apply, produced, directed, and starring Beatty). The Disney Corporation had a development deal with Brian De Palma in the late 1980s (with Nicolas Cage to play Hughes), and the Hughes brothers had a version (with Johnny Depp) in development, then Miloš Forman (with Edward Nortan attached), and then Christopher Nolan in the early 2000s before Martin Scorsese's production won out.
John Logan's script was based on Charles Higham's 1993 Howard Hughes: The Secret Life.
The Aviator was a moderate box office success, but received extensive critical praise. It was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Sound Mixing.
The film received 5 Oscars: Best Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett), Best Cinematography (Robert Richardson), Best Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker), Best Costume Design (Sandy Powell), and Best Art Direction.
