National Board of Review 2025 Winners: 'One Battle After Another' Sweeps Best Film, Director, Three Acting Awards

Paul Thomas Andersons action-packed film One Battle After Another dominated the 2025 National Board of Review awards, securing the top accolades for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actor for Benicio Del Toro, and Breakthrough Performance for Chase Infiniti. This marks Andersons fourth career win at the NBR and his second recognition for directing, following previous wins for Inherent Vice (adapted screenplay, 2014), Phantom Thread (original screenplay, 2017), and Licorice Pizza (directing, 2021).

Leonardo DiCaprio received his third acting award from the board, adding to prior honors for supporting roles in Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and Django Unchained (2012).

Rose Byrne earned Best Actress for her performance in A24s If I Had Legs Id Kick You, while Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas claimed Best Supporting Actress for Neons Sentimental Value, marking her first major industry recognition.

Warner Bros. led the evening with One Battle After Another taking home five trophies, alongside Ryan Cooglers Sinners winning Best Original Screenplay and Autumn Durald Arkapaw receiving the cinematography award. Sinners also appeared on the Top 10 Films list.

Netflix achieved strong representation with Train Dreams, winning Best Adapted Screenplay for Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, while also appearing on the top 10 list alongside Guillermo del Toros Frankenstein. Other top 10 films included Universals Wicked: For Good and Searchlights Rental Family by director Hikari.

Several notable films were absent from the top 10, including Focus Features Hamnet by Chloe Zhao, Neons South Korean black comedy No Other Choice by Park Chan-wook, Richard Linklaters Blue Moon, and Bradley Coopers Is This Thing On?

The National Board of Review gala is set for January 13 in New York City.

Major NBR Winners 2025

• Best Film: One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
• Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
• Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
• Best Actress: Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs Id Kick You (A24)
• Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
• Best Supporting Actress: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value (Neon)
• Best Directorial Debut: Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby (A24)
• Breakthrough Performance: Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
• Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler, Sinners (Warner Bros.)
• Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, Train Dreams (Netflix)
• Best Animated Feature: Arco (Neon)
• Best International Film: It Was Just an Accident (Neon)
• Best Documentary: Cover-Up (Netflix)
• Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Sinners (Warner Bros.)
• Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry: Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
• NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk (Kino Lorber)

Top 10 Films (Alphabetical)

• Avatar: Fire and Ash (20th Century Studios)
• F1 (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
• Frankenstein (Netflix)
• Jay Kelly (Netflix)
• Marty Supreme (A24)
• Rental Family (Searchlight Pictures)
• Sinners (Warner Bros.)
• Train Dreams (Netflix)
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)
• Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

Top 5 International Films (Alphabetical)

• Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)
• The Love That Remains (Janus Films)
• The Secret Agent (Neon)
• Sentimental Value (Neon)
• Sirt (Neon)

Top 5 Documentaries (Alphabetical)

• 2000 Meters to Andriivka (PBS)
• Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple Original Films)
• My Mom Jayne (HBO Documentary Films)
• Natchez (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
• Orwell: 2+2=5 (Neon)

Top 10 Independent Films (Alphabetical)

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

Author: Gavin Porter