After a century of being overlooked, the Oscars are finally set to introduce a long-awaited stunt design category. The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially confirmed 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 iconic images from films like 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "RRR," as well as 2011's "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." Unfortunately, these films won't be eligible for the new award, as only movies released in 2027 will be considered.
The 2028 Oscars will be a historic event, marking the 100th Academy Awards. In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang emphasized the significance of this new category, stating, “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 for the new category will be announced in 2027.
The introduction of an Oscar for stunt design represents a major milestone in the ongoing struggle for recognition of stunt work in film. The Oscars consider new categories only once a year, and previous attempts to establish a stunt coordination category from 1991 to 2012 were unsuccessful. The most recent new award category introduced was Achievement in Casting, approved last year and set to debut at the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025.
