Tom Cruise has built a legendary career on daring stunts, relentless dedication, and redefining the action genre. Yet, despite multiple Oscar nominations, the iconic actor has never won an Academy Award. With the Academy finally recognizing stunt work as an official category by 2028, many believe the time has come for Cruise to be honored for what he does best.
For over four decades, Cruise has taken audiences on exhilarating rides, often literally. From clinging to airplanes to leaping off cliffs, his commitment to performing his own stunts has elevated the spectacle of modern cinema. It’s a legacy that deserves more than applause.
Why Tom Cruise deserves an Academy Award for his stunts
Whether scaling skyscrapers in Ghost Protocol or riding a motorcycle off a cliff in Dead Reckoning, Cruise’s commitment to performing high-risk stunts has pushed the bar higher for action filmmaking. These moments are testaments to his discipline and courage.
While the stunt Oscar will be awarded starting in 2028, Cruise’s most iconic action sequences may already be behind him. That’s why many fans and industry insiders are urging the Academy to acknowledge his unique contribution before it’s too late. A competitive Oscar for stunt performance could finally give Cruise the recognition he’s earned.
The Academy’s long-overdue leap forward
The decision to honor stunt work comes after decades of advocacy from filmmakers and fans who’ve long viewed stunts as essential to cinematic storytelling. Visionaries like David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, who have championed this movement, say it’s time to celebrate the artistry behind the action.
Still, if the first-ever Best Stunt Design Oscar goes to a film that doesn’t include Cruise, it might feel like a missed opportunity. He’s the face audiences associate with high-octane, practical stunts. Recognizing Cruise’s legacy with a competitive Oscar would validate a century’s worth of action filmmaking, finally giving stunt performers and stars like Cruise the respect they deserve.