After a century of being overlooked, the Oscars are finally set to introduce a long-awaited category for 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. The announcement, shared on The Academy’s social media platforms, featured images from notable films such as 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "RRR," as well as 2011's "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol."
Regrettably, these films won't be eligible for the new award, as only movies released in 2027 will be considered for the inaugural stunt design Oscar. The 2028 Oscars will also celebrate the 100th Academy Awards, making it a historic milestone.
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang emphasized the significance of stunt design in cinema: "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 introduction of an Oscar for stunt design is a major victory following a decades-long struggle for recognition of stunt work in the film industry. The Oscars typically vote on new categories only once a year. Previously, a stunt coordination category was proposed annually from 1991 to 2012 but was never approved.
The most recent new category added to the Oscars was Achievement in Casting, approved last year, which will be awarded starting with the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025.
