Oscars Introduce Best Stunt Design Award

After a century of being overlooked, the Oscars are finally set to introduce a new category dedicated to stunt design. The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially announced that an Academy Award for achievement in stunt design will be awarded starting from the 2028 Oscars. This exciting news was shared on The Academy’s social media platforms, featuring images from acclaimed films such as 2022’s "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "RRR," as well as 2011’s "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." However, these films won’t be eligible for the new award, as only movies released in 2027 and beyond will qualify.

The introduction of this category coincides with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, marking a historic milestone. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang emphasized the significance of this addition in a joint statement, saying, “Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking. We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists, and we congratulate them for their commitment and dedication in reaching this momentous occasion.” Further details and rules regarding the new category will be announced in 2027.

The inclusion of an Oscar for stunt design represents a major triumph in the long and arduous fight for recognition of stunt work in film. The Oscars traditionally vote on new categories just once a year, and previous attempts to introduce a category for stunt coordination were made annually from 1991 to 2012 but were never successful. The most recent new category added to the Oscars was Achievement in Casting, approved last year and set to be awarded starting with the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025.