The National Board of Review chooses 'One Battle After Another' as the best film of 2025

The National Board of Review; (NBR, for its acronym in English, and the National Council of Film Critics in free translation) revealed its annual selection of the best films and performances of 2025.

The acclaimed One Battle After Another of Paul Thomas Anderson was the winner of Best Picture, in addition to receiving honors for best director, actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), supporting actor (Benicio del Toro), and best breakthrough performance (Chase Infiniti).

This is the fourth NBR win for a PTA film, and his second as a director. It previously won best adapted screenplay for Inherent Vice (2014), best original screenplay for Phantom Thread (2017), and director for Licorice Pizza (2021). In DiCaprio's case, it is his third win after being chosen best supporting actor for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) y Django Unchained (2012).

One Battle After Another It is a commercial and critical success, and continues to solidify itself as one of the favorites 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), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), y Wicked (2024).

Other acting categories had triumphs for Rose Byrne as best actress for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You from A24; Byrne won the same category at the New York Film Critics Circle on Tuesday of this week. While Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas She is the best supporting actress for Sentimental Value the NEON.

The acclaimed horror hit Sinners by Ryan Coogler, won the award for best original screenplay and best cinematography, in addition to entering the Top 10 of the best films of the year chosen by the NBR.

Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro, Train Dreams, Wicked: For Good, Rental Familywere other of those chosen for the Top 10 best films of the year.

The most notable absences were Hamnet de Chloe Zhao, No Other Choice by Park Chan-wook, Is This Thing On? by Bradley Cooper, and Blue Moon de Richard Linklater.

The winners will be honored at a ceremony scheduled for January 13, 2026 in New York City.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

Best movie: One Battle After Another

Best director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Best actor: Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)

Best actress: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)

Best supporting actor: Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another)

Best supporting actress: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value)

Best Directorial Debut: Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby)

Best Breakthrough Performance: Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another)

Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Best adapted screenplay: Clint Bentley y Greg Kwedar (Train Dreams)

Best animated film: Arco

Best international film: It Was Just an Accident

Best documentary: Cover-Up

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)

Outstanding achievement in the art of stunts: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

THE 10 BEST FILMS OF 2025 (in alphabetical order)

Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
Jay Kelly
Rental Family
Sinners
Train Dreams
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Wicked: For Good

THE 5 BEST INTERNATIONAL FILMS (in alphabetical order)

Left-Handed Girl
The Love That Remains
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Cry

THE 5 BEST DOCUMENTARIES (in alphabetical order)

2000 Meters to Andriivka
Come See Me in the Good Light
My Mom Jayne
Natchez
Orwell: 2+2=5

TOP 10 INDEPENDENT FILMS (in alphabetical order):

The Baltimorons (IFC)
Bring Her Back (a24)
Father Mother Sister Brother (Mubi)
Friendship (A24)
Good Boy (IFC)
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24)
The Mastermind (Mubi)
Rebuilding (Bleecker Street)
Sorry, Baby (A24)
Urchin (1-2 Special)