The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the establishment of a stunt design Oscar, which will first be presented at the 100th Academy Awards. The Oscar will honor films released in 2027 at the 2028 ceremony.
“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 100th Academy Awards Rules. The specifics of the award’s presentation — such as whether or not there will be nominees or just a winner announced — will be determined by the Academy’s board of governors and executive leadership at a future date.
To date, only two stunt performers have been awarded Oscar statuettes, both honorary awards: Yakima Canutt, in 1966, and Hal Needham, in 2012. There are now more than 100 stunt professionals who are currently members of the Academy’s production and technology branch. Most were invited to join the organization 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 stunt performer-turned-director/producer David Leitch — who, not coincidentally, helmed the stunt-centric 2024 film The Fall Guy, which starred Ryan Gosling and many stunt performers — and stunt coordinator and designer Chris O’Hara of Stunts Unlimited. Leitch and O’Hara both made presentations to the Academy’s board of governors.
Leitch said in a statement: “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. 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.”
The last new award category created by the Academy was Achievement in Casting. That award 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 at the 2026 awards ceremony.
