After a century of being overlooked, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has finally introduced a long-awaited category for stunt design at the Oscars. The Board of Governors announced that the Academy Award for achievement in stunt design will be awarded starting from the 2028 Oscars. This exciting news was shared on The Academy's social media platforms, featuring images from acclaimed films like 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "RRR," as well as 2011's "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol."
However, fans of these films will have to wait, as only movies released in 2027 and beyond will be eligible for this new accolade. The 2028 Oscars will celebrate the 100th Academy Awards, making this a historic milestone.
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang expressed their enthusiasm: "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."
Additional details and rules for the new category will be disclosed in 2027.
The introduction of an Oscar for stunt design represents a significant triumph after a prolonged and arduous struggle for recognition within the film industry. New categories at the Oscars are considered annually, but a stunt coordination category, proposed yearly from 1991 to 2012, was never approved.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.
