One Battle After Another topped the National Board of Review 2025 honorees, winning Best Film; Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson; Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio; Best Supporting Actor for Benicio Del Toro; and Breakthrough Performance for Chase Infiniti.
“Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the shining lights of contemporary cinema. 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. The NBR is honored to celebrate this absolutely remarkable film,” said NBR President Annie Schulhof.
Other top awards went to Rose Byrne for Best Actress for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You; Best Directorial Debut for Eva Victor for Sorry, Baby; Best Animated Feature for Arco; Best International Film for It Was Just an Accident; and Best Documentary for Cover-Up.
Established in 1909, the NBR recognizes excellence in filmmaking. This year, 265 films were viewed by a select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, academics and young professionals, many of which were followed by in-depth discussions with directors, actors, producers, screenwriters and cinematographers.
The NBR Awardees will be fêted at a gala event on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City hosted by Willie Geist; host, NBC News’ Sunday TODAY and co-host, MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
Below is a full list of the 2025 award recipients, announced by the National Board of Review:
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
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