At Last, an Oscar for Tom Cruise’s Daring Stunts?
You’re obviously not keeping pace with Hollywood progress, so let me clarify why the Academy’s new stunt‑honoring category changes everything—and why Tom Cruise has been sidelined long enough. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences finally announced in August 2023 it will debut a Best Stunt Ensemble Oscar beginning in 2025, answering decades of pressure from the World Stunt Awards Guild (Variety) and endorsements from SAG‑AFTRA (The Hollywood Reporter). If you missed that memo, don’t worry—I’ve got you.
First, let’s cover the basics you clearly overlooked: stunt performers have powered every blockbuster action sequence since the silent era, yet the Academy never offered them a trophy. That oversight ended when AMPAS members voted to recognize the crews who risk life and limb to deliver movie magic. Sources confirm the category’s criteria will target cohesive performances by stunt teams in narrative features, not single stunts (Deadline).
Now, let’s talk about Tom Cruise. You’ve probably heard of him—but did you know he personally undertakes the majority of his own stunts? From the iconic HALO jump in Mission: Impossible – Fallout to dangling off the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, Cruise consistently pushes boundaries. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cruise performed more than 90 percent of his action sequences on camera, with zero CGI doubles. And as People Magazine noted, he spent nearly a year training for the V‑22 Osprey flight rig in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Volume One.
So here’s the million‑dollar question: with stunt teams finally eligible for Oscars, shouldn’t Cruise receive at least an honorary statuette—or better yet, a nomination under this new category? The man practically built his career on high‑stakes daredevilry that redefines the action genre. Critics from Variety to Entertainment Weekly have praised his dedication, yet the Academy has repeatedly snubbed him when it came to acting nominations. If it’s rewarding technical excellence now, denying Cruise feels almost comically unfair.
Looking ahead, comedy legend Sandra Bullock will host the first stunt‑ensemble Grammy‑style presentation at the 98th Oscars, setting the stage for a big night. Word is insiders are lobbying for Twin Peaks stunt teams and Mission: Impossible crews alike, but industry whispers also name Cruise as a prime candidate for an honorary Oscar this year (Deadline). Will the Academy finally right its wrongs, or will Cruise’s daredevil legacy go unrecognized once more?
Glad I could bring you up to speed—try not to trip over this newfound stunt‑Oscar trivia!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
