After a century of being overlooked, the Oscars are set to introduce a new category dedicated to stunt design, marking a historic addition to the prestigious awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors has officially announced that the Academy Award for Achievement in Stunt Design will be awarded starting from the 2028 Oscars. This exciting news was shared through The Academy's social media platforms, featuring iconic images from 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "RRR," as well as 2011's "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." However, these films won't be eligible for the new award; only movies released in 2027 will qualify.
The 2028 Oscars will celebrate the 100th Academy Awards, making this new category a fitting tribute to a century of cinematic achievement. In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang emphasized the importance of stunt design in filmmaking, 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."
Further details and rules regarding the new category will be announced in 2027. The introduction of this award represents a significant milestone in the ongoing fight for recognition of stunt work in film. The Oscars have historically been slow to add new categories, with the last addition being the Achievement in Casting award, approved last year and set to debut at the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025. Despite annual proposals for a stunt coordination category from 1991 to 2012, it never gained approval until now, underscoring the hard-fought battle for this recognition.
