Hard work should be rewarded. It's plain and simple. But for decades, one aspect of the work that goes behind the scenes while making movies has eschewed giving a portion of the crew the props it absolutely deserves: Stunts.
Stunt work is what makes action films what they are. We wouldn't have The Matrix's amazing lobby scene, Mad Max: Fury Road's wild-ass car and motorcycle chases, the multi-roll insanity in The Fall Guy which broke a stunt record, or the countless other amazing action set pieces that we've come to love. I mean, the Mission Impossible series' countless motorcycle chases wouldn't be a thing for Tom Cruise to do himself without the stunt work industry.
And finally, after years of advocating for these workers to receive the same accolades as makeup artists, VFX artists, cinematographers, producers, and more, the Academy Awards will award an Oscar for Best Stunt Design. Weirdly, however, they aren't adding the category for another three years.
According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, "The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today the creation of an annual competitive Academy Award for Achievement in Stunt Design." The move will see the first Oscar given out during the 100th Academy Awards set to take place in 2028.
"Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. "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."
The move comes after increased pressure from Hollywood's stunt community, its directors, choreographers, and actors, too. In recent years, folks like Tom Cruise, director David Leitch, and more have come out in support of the category, as it's been widely overlooked throughout the years as a proper art form and skill. I advocated for the category last year after renewed interest.
But it's going to take some time before the first Oscar is given out, as "Category rules for eligibility and voting for the inaugural award will be announced in 2027 with the complete 100th Academy Awards Rules." Basically, the governors of the awards show have agreed to the category, but they haven't yet agreed to how they're going to judge it or who's allowed to take part.
Furthermore, it's unclear who gets the award itself. The new category is "Achievement in Stunt Design," so is it the stunt coordinator? The team who did the stunt? Will it be an award like Best Picture where everyone involved in the making of the stunt gets an Oscar? It's still unclear.
It is, however, a step in the right direction, as the stunt performers absolutely deserve their time in the limelight.
