Released Nov. 24, 1956, the movie Giant was a blockbuster hit. It earned $35 million in ticket sales during its original studio release as well as $12 million in rentals in the United States and Canada alone. It won several Academy Awards including best motion picture, best director, and best actor. James Dean, the star, who died at age 24 in a car crash before the filming was completed, won the best actor award posthumously.