TheOscarswill formally begin awarding films for Best Stunt Design, and these ten films would have won the award if it had been around for the last ten years. There has been lots of internal debate in the film industry over the Academy Awards and which new categories could be introduced. While an Oscar for casting was already confirmed for the 98th Academy Awards, many filmmakers and stars have been calling for the institution to incorporate an award that celebrates stunt design and performers.
In response, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has formally confirmed there will be anOscar for Stunt Design, which will go into effect in a few years. It’s a very exciting development for fans of action and sci-fi films, which typically don’t get as much recognition at the Academy level. However, if the award had been introduced years earlier, thenthese modern classics would have likely won the Oscar for Best Stunts.
If the Academy Awards had introduced a category for stunt design ten years ago, then the obvious first winner would have beenMad Max: Fury Road. George Miller’s return to the franchise that kicked off his career is a visual masterpiece and one of the best action movies ever produced, with some truly phenomenal stunt work.The artistry ofFury Roadwas so undeniable that the Academy even nominated it for Best Picture— a genuine rarity for sci-fi and action movies that would have likely ensured at least an Oscar for Best Stunt Design.
The film’s blending of visual effects with grounded stunts would have been a great showcase for how computer-generated effects can be used to enhance stunt work instead of replace it. It would have been an ideal way to celebrate one of 2015’s biggest blockbusters.Mad Max: Fury Roadwas a masterpiece of action filmmaking, and is likely the exact kind of film the Academy is thinking of when it decided on an Oscar for Best Stunt Design.
Stunt Design speaks more to a film than just being good at throwing someone through an explosion. Blending special effects with live-action is crucial to strong stunt work in modern blockbusters, something that helpedCaptain America: Civil Warstand out from the rest of the MCU. While most Marvel movies have fun set-pieces,Captain America: Civil War’s stunt design in two key sequences would have guaranteed it an Academy Award. The airport fight between the two camps of Avengers is packed full of character beats, comedic moments, and dramatic turns that speak to efficient and character-driven stunt design.
The Academy Award for Best Stunt Design will be formally introduced at the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, which will honor films released in 2027.
In a similar way, the more desperate and intense duel between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark at the climax of the film is filled with emotional weight, each armored punch fueled by genuine pathos. The stunts inCaptain America: Civil Warare impeccably designed around the story in a way that improves one of the year’s most successful films. While the painfully grounded and impressively staged stunt design ofThe Revenant(plus that film’s overall Oscar momentum) could have snuck the win,Captain America’s instantly iconic airport fight would have been the likely winner.
The hypothetical Academy Award for Best Stunt Design would have been a tight race at the 90th Academy Awards between two films. Christopher Nolan’sDunkirkis an impressive war film that showcases the differing tones and styles of stunt design and would have been a strong contender for the award. However, despite not earning nearly as many nominations asDunkrik,Edgar Wright’sBaby Driverhad enough slick visuals and cool actionto sneak the victory over Nolan’s war epic.
Baby Driveris largely fueled by some of the most mesmerizing vehicle stunts ever put to film, with scenes like the opening bank robbery filled with flashes of humor and clever visual touches. The stunt work goes beyond those escapes, though, especially in the third act when Baby and Debora find themselves on the run from the ruthless Buddy. Turning his car into effectively an unstoppable movie monster,Baby Driver’s approach to vehicular stunts would have made a shoo-in for the Oscar.
Black Pantherwas a massive success critically and commercially when it debuted in 2018, earning Marvel Studios its first-ever nomination for Best Picture. Similar toCaptain America:Civil War, the Stunt Design Academy Award would have likely gone to the Chadwick Bosemen-led film on the sheer merit of being one of the year’s biggest hits. That’s not to downplay the impressive Stunt Design that went into the film, though, asa victory in this category would have been a fitting one forBlack Panther.
While the third act duel between Killmonger and Black Panther has been criticized as the weakest part of the film, other fight scenes in the movie (such as their earlier duel over the Wakanda waterfalls) are impressive fusions of character acting and stunt work. The differing approaches in the film, whether that be Killmonger’s ruthless robberies, the chaotic casino fight, or the Milaje teaming up with the Jabari tribe, are all impressive work.There’s simply no way one of the most critically acclaimed superhero movies ever (that also features Black Panther shoulder-checking a rhino) doesn’t walk away with an Oscar.
1917’s impressive visuals and action set-pieces, coupled with the film’s overall Oscar momentum, would have made it a likely victor for the Stunt Design category if it was around at the 92nd Academy Awards.1917earned Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects, both of which were fitting accolades for the movie’s purposefully difficult long-take approach.Those wins would have likely also helped push the film into a victory for Stunt Design.
1917’s pedigree and Oscar momentum would have helped ensure it earned a victory in a Stunt Design category.
While the action of1917never reaches the gonzo heights of other films that would have likely won this award in other years, the intricate stunt design necessary to fit into the precise cinematography and subtle visual effects would have been worth celebrating. A lesser movie wouldn’t have been able to blend all those elements together, which is something to compliment the creatives behind the scenes.1917’s pedigree and Oscar momentum would have helped ensure it earned a victory in a Stunt Design category.
While Christopher Nolan may have been infamously infuriated with Warner Bros. for the roll-out of his sci-fi action thrillerTenet,the blow might have been softened a bit if the film had been eligible to win an Academy Award for Stunt Design. The film’s central unique twist, that it’s an action movie that can suddenly shift things into reverse, was an inventive approach that elevated the film beyond other entries in the genre. Beyond that, Nolan’s typically strong handling of action set-pieces was a huge boon for the film.
At the time of its release, former Christopher Nolan collaboratorMichael Caine calledTenetthe “best action film"he had ever seen.
Tenet’s creative approach to action would have likely earned a Best Stunt Design Oscar merely on principal alone. However, it’s worth noting just how creatively staged the film’s stunts are.Tenetwould have faced an unexpected dark-horse contender in this category from the sheer shameless stunt work ofBorat Subsequent Moviefilm,Tenetwould have been the clear favorite for the category if it existed during the 93rd Academy Awards.
Dune’s visuals are some of the most acclaimed elements of the sci-fi epic, with Denis Villeneuve and Cinematographer Greig Fraser earning plenty of accolades for the sheer scope of the film’s visuals. However,it’s worth noting that the heady sci-fi film also has some very impressive Stunt Design. The movie underscores the differences in the varied cultures on Arrakis by showcasing their differing approaches to combat and action.
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The slick combat skills of Paul and Duncan are a stark contrast to the brutal force of the Harkonnen family. Likewise, they differ from the specific fluid movements of the Fremen.The Stunt Design inDune: Part Oneis one of the more subtle aspects of the film’s artistry, showcasing the inner workings of the warring families and tribes by highlighting how they approach action and battle. Stunt Design would have notched the sci-fi series another Oscar.
Two of the films directly referenced in the Academy Award’s announcement of the Best Stunt Design Oscar would have actually been in direct competition with one another at the 95th Academy Awards.BothRRRandEverything Everywhere All At Onceearned Oscar accolades, and both movies thrive in their unique approaches to Stunt Design.RRRwould have been strong competition in that field, especially given the sheer absurd scope, commitment to action, and visually rich unique set-pieces in the film.
Everything Everywhere All At Onceis the exact kind of film a Stunt Design Oscar is meant for and would have been a sure-fire win in that category.
However,Everything Everywhere All At Once’s award momentum carried it to massive success at the 95th Academy Awards, earning seven Oscars, including Best Picture. This would have likely carried over to stunts as well. The film is full of thrilling, fun, inventive, and even heartwarming action sequences, showcasing the versatility of Stunt Design as a concept. LikeMad Max: Fury Roadalmost a decade prior,Everything Everywhere All At Onceis the exact kind of film a Stunt Design Oscar is meant for and would have been a sure-fire win in that category.
TheMission: Impossiblefranchise is exactly the kind of movie series that the Stunt Design category would be designed for, with the third film seen in the Academy’s formal announcement (2011’sMission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol) being a likely winner if the category existed at the time. However, strong competition would have likely held the series at bay until 2023, when it would have been the front-runner forMission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1. The latest entry in the Tom Cruise series has some very impressive stunt work and designs.
It’s the third act that would have ensured the film’s victory at the Oscars. Starting from Ethan Hunt’s parachute suit flight onto a moving train to the subsequent efforts to escape as it falls car by car off a bridge,Dead Reckoninghas some very intricate stunt design that uses just enough special effects to hide the seams. While the broad comedy ofBarbieand big set-pieces ofJohn Wick: Chapter 4would have given the Tom Cruise movie a run for its money,Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoningwould have been a near-certain lock for the category.
The 97th Academy Awards would have had a deceptively stacked competition for Best Stunt Design, butThe Fall Guywould have likely carried its sentimental and broad appeal to victoryin the category. A love letter to stunt performers in filmmaking,The Fall Guy’s self-aware and comedic elements don’t detract from the impressive stunt work on display in the movie. The way the movie could use the stunts to accentuate differing tones highlights the sheer versatility of the art form.
The 97th Academy Awards would have been an interesting year for Best Stunt Design, as there were some other very impressive movies with big stunts.Dune: Part Two’s nominations in other categories may have given it an edge in the Best Stunt Design category, whileFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagawould have tried to build on the legacy ofFury Roadwith its own impressive scenes. However,the content of the story and the excellence of the execution would have madeThe Fall Guyan ideal pickfor anOscarfor Best Stunt Design at the 97th Academy Awards.
