Oscars Adds Best Stunt Design Award

A century after being overlooked, the coveted stunt design category is finally making its debut at 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 presented starting from the 2028 Oscars. This groundbreaking announcement was shared via the Academy’s social media channels, accompanied by visuals from 2022’s Everything Everywhere All at Once, RRR, and 2011’s Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

However, despite their impressive stunts, these films won’t be eligible for the inaugural award. Only movies released in 2027 will qualify for consideration in 2028.

The 2028 Oscars will celebrate the centenary of the Academy Awards. In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed their excitement, 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.”

Details regarding the new category’s rules and specific criteria will be unveiled in 2027.

This milestone marks a historic triumph in the longstanding struggle for stunt professionals to gain recognition. Historically, a category for stunt coordination was proposed annually from 1991 to 2012 but failed to gain traction. The most recent addition to the Oscars was the Achievement in Casting award, which was approved last year and will debut at the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025.