Oscars Introduce New Best Stunt Design Category

After a century of being sidelined, the film industry is set to celebrate the long-awaited addition of a stunt design category to 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 introduced starting from the 2028 Oscars. This exciting news was shared through The Academy's social media channels, highlighting iconic films such as 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once," "RRR," and 2011's "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." However, these films will not be eligible for the new award, as only movies released in 2027 and beyond will qualify.

The 2028 Oscars will coincide with the 100th Academy Awards, making it a historic milestone for the Academy. 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."

Further details and rules regarding the new category will be announced in 2027. The introduction of this Oscar marks a significant victory in the long and hard-fought battle for recognition of stunt work in film. New categories for the Oscars are typically voted on annually, and while a category for stunt coordination was proposed every year from 1991 to 2012, it never gained approval.

The last new award category created for the Oscars was the Achievement in Casting, which was approved last year and will debut at the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025. This new addition for stunt design underscores the Academy's commitment to acknowledging the diverse talents that contribute to the magic of cinema.