The National Board of Review chooses 'Wicked' as the best film of 2024

The National Council of Film Critics (National Board of Review; NBR revealed its annual selection of the best films and performances of 2024.

For this edition, the organization chose Wicked of John M. Chuas the best film of the year 2024. The film adaptation of the Broadway musical also received honors as Best Director (Chu), and the protagonists Cynthia Erivo y Ariana Grandereceived the special spotlight award for their “creative collaboration.”

The film has been a critical and commercial success, and hopes to become one of the serious contenders for the Oscar Award.

• The NBR honors are voted on by a group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals, academics and students.

In previous years, the NBR named best film The Post (2017), Green Book (2018), The Irishman (2019), Da 5 Bloods (2021), and more recently, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).

Annie Schulhof, president of NBR, said in a press release:

“Wicked It represents the pure magic that movies can bring to audiences. Every detail is beautifully designed and crafted, the actors are all exceptional and the music is second to none; Altogether, it adds up to a transportation experience like no other. “The NBR is proud to honor director Jon M. Chu and his remarkable cinematic vision.”

Regarding those chosen in the main performance categories, the organization recognized Daniel Craig by Queery Nicole Kidman by Babygirlas best actor and actress, respectively.

This year's NBR winners will be honored at an awards gala at Cipriani New York on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

Best movie: Wicked
Best Director: Jon M. Chu
Best Actor: Daniel Craig Queer
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman Babygirl
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning, A Complete Unknown
Best cast: Conclave
Best Breakthrough Performance: Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Directorial Debut: India Donaldson, Good One
Best Original Screenplay: Mike Leigh, Hard Truths
Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing
NBR Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration by Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: No Other Land
Best animated feature film: Flow
Best international film: The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Best documentary: Sugarcane
Outstanding Achievement in Photography: Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu
Outstanding achievement in the art of stunts: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

THE 10 BEST MOVIES (in alphabetical order):

Anora
Babygirl
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Gladiator II
Juror #2
Queer
A Real Pain
Sing Sing

TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL FILMS (in alphabetical order):

All We Imagine as Light
The Girl with the Needle
I’m Still Here
Santosh
Universal Language

THE 5 BEST DOCUMENTARIES (in alphabetical order):

Black Box Diaries
Dahomey
Look Into My Eyes
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Will & Harper

TOP 10 INDEPENDENT FILMS (in alphabetical order):

Bird
A Different Man
Didi
Ghostlight
Good One
Hard Truths
His Three Daughters
Love Lies Bleeding
My Old Ass
Thelma