Oscars Introduce Best Stunt Design Award

After a century of being overlooked, the film industry is set to celebrate stunt design with a new category at the Oscars. The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the Academy Award for achievement in stunt design will be introduced at the 2028 Oscars. This exciting news was shared through The Academy's social media platforms, featuring iconic films such as 2022's Everything Everywhere All at Once and RRR, along with 2011's Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. However, these films won't be eligible for the award; only movies released in 2027 and beyond will have the chance to compete for this prestigious honor.

The 2028 Oscars will also mark a historic milestone as the 100th Academy Awards. In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang expressed their enthusiasm, 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." More details and the rules for the new category will be announced in 2027.

The introduction of an Oscar for stunt design is a significant achievement, culminating a long and hard-fought battle for recognition of stunt work in the film industry. New categories for the Oscars are considered just once a year, and while a category for stunt coordination was proposed annually from 1991 to 2012, it never gained approval. The most recent addition to the Oscars was the Achievement in Casting category, approved last year and set to debut at the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025.