Oscars Introduce Best Stunt Design Award

After a century of being overlooked, a much-anticipated stunt design category is finally being introduced to the Oscars.

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 was shared on The Academy's social media platforms, featuring images from the 2022 films "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "RRR," as well as "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" from 2011.

Sadly, these films won't be eligible for the new award, as only movies released in 2027 and beyond will qualify.

The 2028 Oscars will celebrate the 100th Academy Awards.

"Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking," stated Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement. "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 the rules for the new category will be announced in 2027.

The introduction of an Oscar for stunt design represents a significant triumph in the long and arduous struggle for recognition of stunt work in film. New categories for the Oscars are considered only once a year. Previously, a category for stunt coordination 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 debut at the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025.