Any list of Hollywood’s most memorable stunt work is bound to be idiosyncratic. Do you prefer a jaw-dropping action set piece with the star visibly and unmistakably at risk (as with the silent comedians and, more recently, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise); a feat by a nameless stunt double whose fate you’re not emotionally invested in (presumably with the Wilhelm scream sounding his demise); or the choreography of battalions of humans in league with horses, trains, cars or planes (in which case Plutarch deserves a posthumous credit as stunt coordinator on Spartacus).

Even the definition of a “stunt” is hard to pin down. For precision driving, flying, fighting and falling, the very word seems to trivialize the skill set. After all, “stunt” had also been Hollywood parlance for a cheesy publicity ploy or exploitation tie-in. Now, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has formalized a plan for its stunt design Oscar category, which will first be presented at the 100th honors in 2028.

In that spirit, here is a close read, year-by-year, from the start of the Academy Awards onward, on some of the most noteworthy stunt artistry in Hollywood cinema over the course of the last century — and which films may have claimed Oscar gold. (One note regarding the list below: So as not to skew the sample, the Bond, Bourne, and Cruise franchises have been rationed. And feel free to argue.)

Source: The Hollywood Reporter.