Starting in 2027, the Academy Awards will officially recognize Best Stunt Design as a competitive category, debuting at the 100th Oscars in 2028. This landmark decision follows years of advocacy from within the stunt community, led by director and former stuntman David Leitch (The Fall Guy, Deadpool 2) and stunt designer Chris O’Hara. Their efforts, supported by multiple presentations to the Academy, helped spotlight the crucial artistic and technical role of stunt professionals in modern filmmaking.
Leitch, who began his career in stunts and co-founded 87North Productions, celebrated the news, calling it a tribute to generations of under-recognized artists:
"This has been a long journey for so many of us… standing on the shoulders of the stunt professionals who’ve fought tirelessly for recognition over the decades."
The Academy’s leadership echoed that sentiment. CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang praised stunt design as a foundational part of film history, from Buster Keaton to today's action epics. Details about voting and eligibility will be announced in 2027, with over 100 stunt professionals already part of the Academy’s production and technology branch.
Industry voices like Chad Stahelski (John Wick) emphasized the significance of awarding the design of stunts, not just individual performers, highlighting the collaborative nature of the craft. Meanwhile, Jeff Wolfe, president of the Stuntmen’s Association, called it a "historic moment" that validates the creativity and sacrifice behind every explosion, fall, and fight.
The move comes amid growing industry support. The SAG Awards have honored stunt ensembles since 2007, with The Fall Guy taking the most recent award. Actor Winston Duke also joined the call for recognition, urging audiences to stand with stunt performers:
"There could be no movies without the audience… it takes allyship to get this to change."
