One Battle After Another was named best picture by the National Society of Film Critics in the group’s 60th annual vote Saturday.
In addition to the movie earning the top prize, One Battle After Another‘s Paul Thomas Anderson won best director; Benicio del Toro won best supporting actor; and Teyana Taylor won best supporting actress. The best actor prize went to Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, rather than to One Battle After Another‘s lead, Leonardo DiCaprio.
Horror box-office hit Sinners earned Autumn Durald Arkapaw a win for cinematography, while 2025 Cannes Palme d’Or holder It Was Just an Accident recognized Jafar Panahi for best screenplay. He also directed and produced the picture.
Founded in 1966, the organization consists of more than 60 critics from prominent outlets across the country. The annual votes are in categories such as best picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor and actress, screenplay and cinematography.
Voting is held via a weighted ballot system. On the first ballot, members vote for their top three choices, with the first choice receiving three points, the second receiving two points, and the third receiving one point. The nominee who receives the most points and appears on the majority of ballots wins. If no winner is declared on the first ballot, the category proceeds to a second ballot, and voting continues until a nominee earns the highest points and appears on the most ballots.
Last year, Nickel Boys won best picture, with Hard Truths, A Real Pain and All We Imagine as Light each receiving two awards.
See the full list of winners — and runners-up — below.
Best Picture
Winner: One Battle After Another
Runners-up:
Sinners
The Secret Agent
Best Director
Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Runners-up:
Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident
Richard Linklater, Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague
Best Actor
Winner: Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Runners-up:
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Best Actress
Winner: Kathleen Chalfant, Familiar Touch
Runners-up:
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs Id Kick You
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another
Runners-up:
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Runners-up:
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Best Screenplay
Winner: Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident
Runners-up:
Robert Kaplow, Blue Moon
Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent
Best Cinematography
Winner: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners
Runners-up:
Adolpho Veloso, Train Dreams
Michael Bauman, One Battle After Another
Best Nonfiction Film
Winner: My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in Moscow
Runners-up:
The Perfect Neighbor
Orwell: 2+2=5
Best Film Not in the English Language
Winner: The Secret Agent
Runners-up:
It Was just an Accident
Sentimental Value
Best Experimental Film
Film Heritage Award
Film Heritage Award
Film Heritage Award
The late Ken and Flo Jacobs
Special Award for a Film Awaiting U.S. Distribution