Although the Oscars have been honoring movies for nearly 100 years, there are still key parts of Hollywood that are yet to receive any recognition, but I am confident at least one injustice may finally change. As a movie lover, I have long enjoyed watching the Oscars each year. It’s exciting to watch the films, form my opinions, make my predictions, and then see the casts and crews gather in one space for the actual ceremony. Yet, it’s hard to ignore the fact that certain parts of the moviemaking process receive much more acclaim than others.

There are currently 24 categories for which the Academy gives out awards. Seven of these are the categories that have been around since the Oscars began in 1927, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor/Actress. The rest have been added in the time since, and I’m relieved they did. Film editing, costume design, and scoring are areas that undoubtedly help a film shine. There’s even a new Oscars category being added in 2026 called Best Casting. However, a certain movie from 2024 shone a light on an Oscars category that should definitely exist and will hopefully be added soon.

A Best Stunts Category Is More Likely Now, But It Should’ve Happened Years Ago

The Fall Guy Honors Stunt Performers

This year, The Fall Guy reminded audiences that stuntpeople deserve an Oscars category as much as any actor or director. The film stars Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who returns to the job after a horrible accident to rekindle an old romance. Along the way, he gets sucked into a violent conspiracy where only his stunt skills can keep him alive. The Fall Guy, while entertaining, made me hyperaware of a stuntperson’s role. Although they are often away from the spotlight, they are the heart of any action sequence, and unfortunately, their bravery and skill are rarely appreciated in awards.

Though The Fall Guy made a stunts category more likely, this change should’ve occurred a long time ago. The Academy has added new categories since the awards’ conception, yet stunts have never made it to the big stage. There have even been discontinued categories, and stunts don’t land on that list either. Though The Fall Guy spells it out loud and clear, I believe there has always been a need for a stunts category, because almost every movie has a stunt team behind it. Hopefully, The Fall Guy can finally change the game.

When Could The Best Stunts Category Realistically Be Introduced?

2027 At The Earliest

If The Fall Guy does manage to sway the hearts of the Academy, there is a likely timeline I think the category will follow. Since the Academy announced Best Casting this year, and it is being implemented in 2026, I expect that Best Stunts will not come until 2027 at the earliest. It’s unlikely that the Academy will add two categories at separate times in the same year, therefore Best Stunts would likely have to wait until 2025. Then, as Best Casting has done, the category probably wouldn’t be added to the ceremony until 2027.

My hopes are high that The Fall Guy’s influence can extend into 2027. The Best Casting category came in a year when Barbie and Oppenheimer proved a strong cast can be the difference between a box office success or a complete flop. In its own way, The Fall Guy can make its case for stuntpeople. Although The Fall Guy itself likely won’t get the attention it deserves at the Oscars, it would be amazing for it to spur on this new category. It will not only honor stuntpeople but could also raise the bar for all movie stunts.

Which Movie Would Win Best Stunts If It Was Introduced At The Oscars 2025?

Furiosa Would Be A Strong Candidate

One detail that proves an Oscars stunts category is necessary is that The Fall Guy might not even win if the category appeared at the 2025 Academy Awards. Although The Fall Guy emphasizes the need for a Stunts category, and its stunts are award-worthy, they may not have the best stunts of this year. I think 2024’s Furiosa is a close competitor to The Fall Guy. Like its Mad Max predecessors, Furiosa has stunning visuals that rely heavily on intense action. I believe seeing great action films from different budgets compete in a Best Stunts category would add a lot to the Oscars.