Academy Introduces Achievement in Stunt Design Award for 2028 Oscars

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on April 10, 2025, the creation of a new competitive category for the Academy Awards: Achievement in Stunt Design. The inaugural award will be presented during the 100th Academy Awards, set for 2028, recognizing films released in 2027.

This significant decision comes after years of advocacy from the stunt community, led by director David Leitch, known for films such as “The Fall Guy,” “Bullet Train,” and “Deadpool 2.” Leitch, who began his career as a stunt performer, collaborated closely with fellow stunt professionals to make the case for a dedicated award category.

“Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang stated. “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.”

In his remarks, Leitch emphasized the historical significance of recognizing stunt work, noting, “Stunts are essential to every genre of film, 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 and choreographers.”

Stunt coordinator Chris O’Hara, along with other members of the stunt community, played a critical role in advocating for this change, making multiple presentations to the Academy prior to the official announcement. “This has been a long journey for so many of us,” Leitch added. “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.”

Chad Stahelski, director of the “John Wick” franchise and a former stunt double himself, praised the Academy, saying, “None of us in the industry would be here if it wasn’t for the last 100 years of stunt people. It’s a shame that a lot of them won’t get to see where it all went.” He noted the collaborative nature of stunt work, appreciating the Academy’s decision to recognize the design aspect rather than individual performances.

Jeff Wolfe, president of the Stuntmen’s Association, expressed elation at the announcement. “I can’t express enough how thrilled and proud we are to see the Academy recognize the art and craft of stunt action design,” he said. Wolfe emphasized that this acknowledgment is historic for the stunt community, highlighting their crucial contributions to the cinematic experience.

The process for establishing eligibility and voting guidelines for the new stunt design award will be revealed in 2027, along with details of the presentation during the upcoming Academy Awards. The Academy’s production and technology branch currently includes over 100 stunt professionals as members and aims to create a more significant focus on the contributions made by these artists.

In recent years, there has been growing momentum within the industry to prioritize recognition for stunts. The Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America have already made strides by approving the title of “stunt designer.”

The introduction of the Achievement in Stunt Design Award aligns with the Academy’s trend to include more categories. The last new award category established was for achievement in casting, set to be introduced at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.