The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the establishment of a stunt design Oscar, which will be presented beginning at the 100th Academy Awards, recognizing films released in 2027, in 2028.
“Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang said in a statement. “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.”
Category rules for eligibility and voting for the inaugural award will be announced in 2027 as part of the complete 100th Academy Awards Rules. The specifics of the award’s presentation will be determined by the Academy’s Board of Governors and executive leadership at a future date.
More than 100 stunt professionals are currently members of the Academy’s production and technology branch, many of them having been invited in recent years as momentum grew to recognize their sector of the business.
The push within the Academy for a stunt design Oscar was led by director/producer David Leitch (who, not coincidentally, helmed the stunt-centric 2024 film The Fall Guy, which starred Ryan Gosling and many stunt workers) and stunt coordinator Chris O’Hara.
To date, only two stunt workers have ever been awarded Oscar statuettes, both of them honorary awards: Yakima Canutt, in 1966, and Hal Needham, in 2012.
The last new award category created by the Academy was Achievement in Casting, which was established in 2024 and will be presented for the first time at — or ahead of — the 98th Academy Awards, recognizing films released in 2025, in 2026.
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