It took over a century, but The Oscars are finally adding a stunt award category to their awards.
Stunts are arguably one of the most electrifying, collaborative, and physically demanding elements of moviemaking, they are finally getting their moment at the Oscars.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced it will introduce a competitive Academy Award for Achievement in Stunt Design, starting with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, honoring films released in 2027.
This didn’t happen overnight. It took people like David Leitch a former stunt performer turned director of Deadpool 2, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy, to push from inside the industry. Leitch, along with veteran stunt designer Chris O’Hara, spent years pitching the Academy and making the case. This week, it finally paid off.
“Stunts are essential to every genre of film and rooted deep in our industry’s history—from the groundbreaking work of early pioneers like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin, to the inspiring artistry of today’s stunt designers, coordinators, performers, and choreographers,” Leitch said.
“This has been a long journey for so many of us. Chris O’Hara and I have spent years working to bring this moment to life, standing on the shoulders of the stunt professionals who’ve fought tirelessly for recognition over the decades. We are incredibly grateful. Thank you, Academy.”
There’s a reason this matters. Stunts don’t happen in a vacuum. They’re designed, coordinated, tested, refined, and performed under tight timelines and real risks. They tell a story just as much as a performance, an edit, or a piece of music does.
Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick films and a former stuntman himself, captured that spirit:
“It’s humbling and we feel very honored to be honored where some of the best in the industry go. I think it’s much more of an achievement. You’re talking over 100 years of stunt performances.
The department has been around since the very inception of films. It’s very nice to see that the Academy has really heard the voices of the stunt committee, and not only did they come back with an award, I think they did a really interesting thing with giving a Stunt Design Award, as opposed to an individual performer, because our department is one of the most collaborative and intricate of all the departments.”
That “collaborative” angle is key. While other major awards have recognized stunt ensembles (like the SAG Awards since 2007), the Oscars are now elevating the design behind the chaos, highlighting the full creative structure that brings action to life.
Jeff Wolfe, president of the Stuntmen’s Association, said:
“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 passion, 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.”
Over 100 stunt professionals are already part of the Academy’s production and technology branch, and with the recent creation of a casting category (starting at next year’s ceremony), the Oscars finally seem to be slowly, but surely, embracing the full spectrum of filmmaking.
Actor Winston Duke also used the press tour for The Fall Guy to advocate for the stunt community.
“We’re allies of the stunt community, and we make this movie to try to bring you in as allies as well, as consumers and as movie goers, and people who participate in your own way in filmmaking. There could be no movies without the audience and we need you to amplify the voice of these folks as well. It takes allyship to get this to change.”
The specifics of how the new Oscar will be presented or voted on haven’t been announced yet, but they’ll arrive with the 100th Awards rules.
The people who fall, crash, jump, swing, drive, and fight for our favorite cinematic moments are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
And if you’ve ever held your breath during a chase scene or gasped at a brutal fight, you’ve already been applauding their work all along. Now, the Academy is too.
Source: Variety