The Academy Awards to Recognize Stunts With New Category in 2028

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has declared its intention to introduce a competitive Achievement in Stunt Design category. Set to make its debut at the 100th Academy Awards ceremony in 2028, the category will honor films released in 2027 that feature outstanding contributions in stunt design.

The announcement was made by Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint press release dated Apr. 10, 2025,

“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.”

While the official rules and eligibility criteria will be announced in 2027, this  new development has sparked enthusiasm across Hollywood. American filmmaker and stunt performer David Leitch (“Atomic Blonde,” “Bullet Train,” “The Fall Guy”) has been a vocal advocate for the addition of a stunt category to the Academy lineup. Now that it has come to fruition, Leitch thanked the Academy via an Instagram post for honoring the work of present and past stunt performers.

In a similar vein, veteran stunt coordinator and fellow advocate Chris O’Hara welcomed the development with a series of appreciation posts on his Instagram Stories.

More than 100 stunt professionals are members of the Academy’s Production and Technology Branch.

For years, the complex and dangerous work of stunt professionals—spanning from intricate fight choreography to gravity-defying car chases—has powered some of cinema’s most iconic moments without receiving a dedicated accolade at the Oscars. With this new category, the Academy finally acknowledges that these creative and technical feats are not only critical to storytelling but also deserve the same prestige as other acting and behind-the-scenes crafts.

This initiative comes on the heels of another recent innovation: the introduction of Achievement in Casting in 2024, marking the first major category addition in nearly two decades. This category will make its official debut at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.

These moves signal an expanding vision for the Oscars. The Academy now boasts a membership that includes an increasing number of professionals from specialized fields, such as stunt design, ensuring that the full spectrum of cinematic creativity is celebrated.