Stunt Work as a Profession
Planning, training and safety behind every fall. Stunt performers are trained, certified professionals. How stunt coordinators plan action safely and how the craft finally earned an Oscar.
A stuntwoman on a safety line: Jochen Teufel, CC BY-SA 3.0
Not daredevils, professionals
A good stunt looks reckless on screen but is the opposite in real life. Every fall, fight and crash is planned weeks ahead by a stunt coordinator, who breaks the action down into steps, weighs the risks and decides what safety equipment, rigging and rehearsal are needed.
Stunt performers usually train in many disciplines, such as high falls, stage combat, martial arts, gymnastics, driving and horse riding. In many countries they belong to professional registers or unions that set training and safety standards before anyone can work on a set.
The tools of a safe stunt
Behind the camera you will find air bags and crash mats, wires and harnesses, padded costumes, breakaway glass and furniture, and specialists who rig and test every element. Fire stunts use protective gels and suits and are performed with safety teams standing by.
Stunt doubles are matched to an actor's size and look, so the professional can take the risk while the actor's face appears in close-ups.
Recognition at last
For decades stunt performers asked for more recognition. The Taurus World Stunt Awards began in 2001 and also support injured stunt professionals. The Screen Actors Guild added stunt ensemble awards in 2008. The Academy has given honorary Oscars to stunt legends Yakima Canutt, Hal Needham and Jackie Chan.
On 10 April 2025, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a new competitive award, Achievement in Stunt Design. It is due to be presented for the first time at the 100th Academy Awards in 2028, honouring films released in 2027.
Leave it to the pros
The skill of a stunt team is making danger disappear through preparation. Copying a movie stunt without that preparation removes every safety layer that made it possible.
Everything described here is done by trained professionals. Please enjoy it on screen and never try to recreate it.
How people become stunt performers
Most stunt professionals come from a sporting background such as gymnastics, martial arts, diving, motorsport or horse riding. They then build a broad set of skills, gain experience under established coordinators and, in many countries, meet the entry standards of a professional register or union.
It is a career built on reliability. Coordinators hire people who can repeat a movement safely, take after take, and who speak up when something does not feel right.
- A stuntwoman on a safety line: Jochen Teufel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- A controlled fire stunt: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0
Text written by Legendary Awesome.
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