After a century of being overlooked, the film industry is set to celebrate the art of stunt design with a new category at the Oscars. The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially announced that an Academy Award for achievement in stunt design will be introduced starting with the 2028 Oscars. This exciting news was shared across The Academy's social media platforms, featuring iconic images from films such as 2022's "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "RRR," as well as 2011's "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol." However, these films will not be eligible for the new award, as only movies released in 2027 and beyond will qualify.

The 2028 Oscars will mark a historic milestone as the 100th Academy Awards. In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang expressed their enthusiasm, stating, "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." Further details and rules regarding the new category will be disclosed in 2027.

The introduction of an Oscar for stunt design represents a significant triumph in the long and arduous fight for recognition of stunt work within the film industry. The Oscars typically vote on new categories once a year. A previous proposal for a stunt coordination category was put forward annually from 1991 to 2012 but was never approved.

The most recent new category added to the Oscars was Achievement in Casting, approved last year and set to be awarded starting with the 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025. This development underscores the Academy's ongoing commitment to acknowledging the diverse talents that contribute to the magic of cinema.