The prestigious National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) has announced its picks for the best cinematic achievements of 2025, with Paul Thomas Anderson's 'One Battle After Another' emerging as the undisputed champion. The film clinched the coveted Best Picture award and led the ceremony with a total of four wins, as reported by Variety.
A Clean Sweep for the Critically Acclaimed Drama
Beyond the top prize, 'One Battle After Another' secured victories in several major categories. Paul Thomas Anderson was honoured with the Best Director award for his work on the film. The cast also received significant recognition, with Teyana Taylor winning Best Supporting Actress and Benicio del Toro taking home the Best Supporting Actor trophy. This strong showing underscores the film's powerful impact with the critics' body.
However, in a surprising turn, the film's lead star, Leonardo DiCaprio, did not win in the Best Actor category. That honour went to Ethan Hawke for his portrayal of lyricist Lorenz Hart in Richard Linklater's 'Blue Moon'. The runners-up for Best Actor were Wagner Moura for 'The Secret Agent' and Michael B. Jordan for 'Sinners'.
Celebrating Global Cinema and Diverse Stories
The awards celebrated a wide array of films from across the globe. 'The Secret Agent' won Best Film Not in the English Language, while 'Sinners' earned the award for Best Cinematography, credited to Autumn Durald Arkapaw. Other notable winners included 'My Undesirable Friends: Part I -- Last Air in Moscow' for Best Nonfiction Film and 'Familiar Touch', which earned Kathleen Chalfant the Best Actress prize.
Commenting on the selections, NSFC chair Justin Chang declared 2025 a 'great year for movies', highlighting a notable trend of films focusing on themes of revolution and solidarity. He stated it was particularly meaningful to honour these works after a challenging period for journalism and filmmaking. The chair specifically saluted films like 'One Battle After Another', 'The Secret Agent', and 'Sinners' among the brilliant works recognised.
The Complete List of Winners and Honours
Here is the full breakdown of the 2025 National Society of Film Critics Awards winners and runners-up:
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 Actress:
Winner: Kathleen Chalfant (Familiar Touch)
Runners-up: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You); Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value)
Best Supporting Actress:
Winner: Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)
Runners-up: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value); Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners)
Best Actor:
Winner: Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
Runners-up: Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent); Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Supporting Actor:
Winner: Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another)
Runners-up: Delroy Lindo (Sinners); Stellan Skarsgard (Sentimental Value)
Best Screenplay:
Winner: Jafar Panahi (It Was Just an Accident)
Runners-up: Robert Kaplow (Blue Moon); Kleber Mendonca Filho (The Secret Agent)
Best Film Not in the English Language:
Winner: The Secret Agent
Runners-up: It Was Just an Accident; Sentimental Value
Best Nonfiction Film:
Winner: My Undesirable Friends: Part I -- Last Air in Moscow
Runners-up: The Perfect Neighbor; Orwell: 2+2=5
Best Cinematography:
Winner: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners)
Runners-up: Aldolpho Veloso (Train Dreams); Michael Bauman (One Battle After Another)
Best Experimental Film:
Winner: Morning Circle (Basma al-Sharif)
Special Award for a Film Awaiting U.S. Distribution:
Winner: Landmarks (Lucrecia Martel)
Film Heritage Awards:
Cinema Tropical, for promoting Latin American cinema in the U.S.; The Film Desk, for releasing global cinema in theatres and on home video; Ken and Flo Jacobs, for their lasting contribution to American experimental cinema.
