The Academy Awards will finally recognize Best Stunt Design during its ceremony beginning in 2028. The most prestigious awards in cinema, stunts have long been overlooked for Oscar contention. Despite being an integral part of countless movies since the early days of film, stunts have been neglected for major awards. There has been an increased push in recent years for the Oscars to include additional categories that reflect the ever-changing landscape of movies, and now, Best Stunt Design will be included.

Now, per Variety, Best Stunt Design will be added to the Oscars Ceremony beginning in 2028. The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that movies released in 2027 will be eligible for the new award in the 100th installment of the ceremony in 2028. Jeff Wolfe, the president of the Stuntmen’s Association, released a statement that is included below:

I can’t express enough how thrilled and proud we are to see the Academy recognize the art and craft of stunt action design with its own Oscar category. This is a historic moment for our community. For decades, stunt performers, coordinators, and action designers have played a crucial role in shaping the cinematic experience, often putting their bodies on the line to bring unforgettable moments to the screen. This recognition validates the ion, innovation, creativity and hard work that go into every fall, fight, and fireball. It’s not just a win for our industry — it’s a win for storytelling.

What The Best Stunt Category Means For The Academy Awards

Stunts Will Finally Be Recognized At The Oscars

Since the dawn of cinema, stunts have played a crucial role in the art of filmmaking and are responsible for creating some of the most breathtaking moments in movie history. However, for the first century in the history of the Oscars, stunt work hasn't been recognized by Hollywood's most prestigious awards ceremony. Now, that will finally change, as recent developments have led to the creation of a Best Stunt Design category at the Oscars, beginning with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028.

David Leitch is responsible for spearheading the push for an official Oscar category honoring stunt work. He started his career as a stunt performer and coordinator before transitioning into directing the stunt-heavy films John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy. Leitch has been pushing for a stunt category for years and delivered multiple presentations to the Academy, efforts that ultimately led to the Board of Governors approving the addition of the new awards category.

Our Take On The Oscars Stunt Category

What Could Be Nominated?

The first Oscar for Best Stunt Design will be presented at the 100th Academy Awards in 2028 for films released in 2027. In turn, it's still too early to know what movies might be released by then, or even nominated. However, David Leitch's movies should always be a strong contender, especially with The Fall Guy winning the SAG award for a similar category – outstanding performance by a stunt ensemble.

The John Wick franchise should also be a strong contender and, of course, Tom Cruise, though it's unclear if he will still be starring in Mission: Impossible movies or other stunt-heavy titles by then. The rules for eligibility have yet to be announced, so it will be interesting to see what qualifies for the new category at the Academy Awards.

The next Academy Awards are scheduled for March 15, 2026.

Source: Variety, Academy Awards