One Battle After Another takes top honours at critics awards

In a night that felt tailor-made for cinephiles, One Battle After Another emerged as the undisputed star of the National Society of Film Critics Awards for 2025 , sweeping four major honours including Best Picture. The Paul Thomas Anderson directorial also secured Best Director, Best Supporting Actress for Teyana Taylor and Best Supporting Actor for Benicio del Toro , cementing its position as one of the most critically celebrated films of the year.

In the acting categories, Ethan Hawke clinched Best Actor for his nuanced portrayal of lyricist Lorenz Hart in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon . Wagner Moura earned runner-up honours for The Secret Agent , while Michael B. Jordan followed for his performance in Sinners . Kathleen Chalfant took home Best Actress for her emotionally restrained performance in Familiar Touch , while international cinema made a strong mark with The Secret Agent winning Best Film Not in the English Language. Sinners added to its growing buzz by winning Best Cinematography, with Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s work drawing special praise as a landmark achievement in the category.

The awards also highlighted bold storytelling across formats. My Undesirable Friends Part I Last Air in Moscow was named Best Nonfiction Film, Jafar Panahi won Best Screenplay for It Was Just an Accident , and Basma al-Sharif’s Morning Circle claimed Best Experimental Film. Special recognition was also given to films awaiting US distribution and institutions committed to preserving and promoting cinema heritage.

Reflecting on the results, NSFC chair Justin Chang described 2025 as a remarkable year for movies, particularly those exploring themes of revolution, resistance and solidarity. He noted that after a challenging period for journalism and filmmaking, it felt especially meaningful to honour films that were both artistically daring and socially resonant.

With awards season gaining momentum, the sweeping success of One Battle After Another has firmly positioned it as a frontrunner to watch, while the NSFC’s diverse list of winners underscores a year where global voices and bold visions took centre stage.