Oscars Introduce Best Stunt Design Award

After a century of being overlooked, the film industry is set to celebrate the art of stunt design with a new Oscar category. 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 introduced at the 2028 Oscars. The announcement, shared across The Academy's social media platforms, was highlighted by images from acclaimed films such as 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "RRR," alongside 2011's "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." Regrettably, these films will not be eligible for the award, as only movies released in 2027 and onwards will qualify.

The 2028 Oscars will be a historic event, marking the 100th Academy Awards. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang expressed their enthusiasm in a joint statement, saying, "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 and rules regarding the new category will be released in 2027.

The introduction of the stunt design Oscar represents a significant milestone in the long and arduous campaign for recognition of stunt work within the film industry. The Oscars consider new categories annually, and despite repeated proposals for a stunt coordination category from 1991 to 2012, none were successful until now. The most recent new category added to the Oscars was Achievement in Casting, approved last year, set to debut at the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025.