*** indicates winner
| Film | Nominee/Recipient |
|---|---|
| The Big Chill | Michael Shamberg |
| The Dresser | Peter Yates |
| The Right Stuff | Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff |
| Tender Mercies | Philip S. Hobel |
| ***Terms of Endearment | James L. Brooks |
| Film | Nominee/Recipient |
|---|---|
| The Dresser | Peter Yates |
| Fanny & Alexander | Ingmar Bergman |
| Silkwood | Mike Nichols |
| Tender Mercies | Bruce Beresford |
| ***Terms of Endearment | James L. Brooks |
| Nominee/Recipient | Film |
|---|---|
| Tom Courtenay | The Dresser |
| Albert Finney | The Dresser |
| Michael Caine | Educating Rita |
| Tom Conti | Reuben, Reuben |
| ***Robert Duvall | Tender Mercies |
| Nominee/Recipient | Film |
|---|---|
| Jane Alexander | Testament |
| ***Shirley MacLaine | Terms of Endearment |
| Meryl Streep | Silkwood |
| Julie Walters | Educating Rita |
| Debra Winger | Terms of Endearment |
| Nominee/Recipient | Film |
|---|---|
| Charles Durning | To Be or Not To Be (1983) |
| John Lithgow | Terms of Endearment |
| ***Jack Nicholson | Terms of Endearment |
| Sam Shepard | The Right Stuff |
| Rip Torn | Cross Creek |
| Nominee/Recipient | Film |
|---|---|
| Cher | Silkwood |
| Glenn Close | The Big Chill |
| ***Linda Hunt | The Year of Living Dangerously |
| Amy Irving | Yentl |
| Alfre Woodard | Cross Creek |
For more information, visit The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' official site.