Summary
A Best Stunt category at theOscarshas finally gained momentum after years of industry campaigning. The Academy Awards, which are widely considered the most prestigious, air every March to honor the best in film from the past year. Since their inception in 1929, awards honoringBest Picture, director, actor, actress, writing, and cinematography have been staples of the ceremony, with the newest category, Best Animated Feature Film, added in 2001. In recent years, there have been increasing calls for a Best Stunt category.
Now, after years of industry campaigning, a Best Stunt category at the Oscars is finally gaining momentum with the Academy. During an interview withEmpire,Academy CEO Bill Kramer said they are exploring “the possibility” of a stunt category for the Oscars.
Kramer says, “We’re talking to members of the stunt community who are Academy members about the possibility of that. We added a new award that will launch in two years for Casting Directors, so we’re always open to those discussions.” Academy President Janet Yang also commented on the possibility of adding a stunt category:
The Academy is like a living, breathing organism. We listen to our members, and if there’s really strong support and there’s whole mechanisms for how to advance the cause, and they’re interested… That’s what happened with Casting. We’ve created new branches over the decades. So it does evolve, and it evolves with the changing industry.
Why A Best Stunt Oscar Category Is Finally Gaining Momentum
John Wick, The Fall Guy & More
Stunt work is a significant cinematic art formcredited with creating some of the most awe-inspiring achievements to ever appear on the silver screen. However, in the past 100 years since the inception of the Oscars, stunt work hasn’t been a category at Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony. However, due to some major developments in recent years, a Best Stunt category at the Oscars is finally gaining traction with the Academy.
TheJohn Wickfranchise, started in 2014, has garnered much acclaim for showcasing standout stunt work. During his press tour forJohn Wick: Chapter 4in 2023, directorChad Stahelski repeatedly urged the Academy to create an Oscar category for stunt work, which started to gain significant support within Hollywood’s ranks. As Kramer and Yang mention, the Oscars recently added a category for Best Casting, which only increased calls for the addition of another new category for stunt work.
The Oscars' New Acting Category Is Good, But Ignores The Changes The Academy Really Needs To Make
The first-ever Academy Award for Best Casting will be handed out in 2026, but the addition of a new Oscar category raises questions about other areas.
The Fall Guy, a love letter to the stunt community, came at the exact right time. In fact, the film’s starsRyan Gosling and Emily Blunt took the stage during the2024 Oscarsto introduce a video tribute celebrating 100 years of Hollywood stuntsfrom Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton toJohn WickandMission: Impossible. This tribute once again increased calls for the awards to create a category to honor stunts. Based on Kramer and Yang’s comments, while still in the early stages, it appears the ball is finally rolling on a stunt category at theOscars.
Oscars
The Oscars, also known as The Academy Awards, is an annual awards show celebrating workers in the film industry for their artistic and technical abilities. The Oscars are often considered the most prestigious awards show in the industry and date back to 1929. The 96th Academy Awards will be held on July 23, 2025, and be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel on ABC.
