One Battle After Another Wins Another Best Film Award

They tried to warn us PTA doesn’t miss. One Battle After Another earned the National Board of Review’s top honor this year, adding a third Best Film award to the shelf (next to all the karate trophies). In addition to Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio won Best Actor, Chase Infiniti won Breakthrough Performance, and Benicio Del Toro won Best Supporting Actor, again, after earning it from the New York Film Critics Circle. “Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the shining lights of contemporary cinema,” NBR president Annie Schulhof stated. “He has crafted a bold, funny, and thrilling movie that is somehow one of the most significant films about the world we live in and also a playful, tender story of a father and daughter connecting through some of the wildest events you can imagine.” “Mid,” someone types in the comments.

Other films were excellent this year, too. Rose Byrne was awarded Best Actress for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, one of the Top 10 Independent Films along with Best Debut winner, Sorry Baby, written, directed by, and starring Eva Victor. Best International Film went to Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, his fifth honor for the film since being sentenced in absentia to prison in Iran.

Below, the 2025 National Board of Review honorees, from major blockbusters to indie breakouts. 

Best Film:  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 

Breakthrough Performance: Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, Sinners

Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, Train Dreams

Best Animated Feature: Arco

Best International Film: It Was Just an Accident

Best Documentary: Cover-Up

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners 

Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk 

Top Films (in alphabetical order):
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Frankenstein
Jay Kelly
Marty Supreme
Rental Family
Sinners
Train Dreams
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Wicked: For Good 

Top 5 International Films (in alphabetical order):
Left-Handed Girl
The Love That Remains
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sirāt

Top 5 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
Bring Her Back
Father Mother Sister Brother
Friendship
Good Boy
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
The Mastermind
Rebuilding
Sorry, Baby
Urchin