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Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambitious drama One Battle After Another has been named Best Picture of 2025 by the National Society of Film Critics, solidifying its position as one of the most acclaimed films of the year and a strong contender in the wider awards season. The honor was announced following the Society’s 60th annual awards voting meeting, held on Saturday January 3, with critics gathering in Los Angeles and New York and others participating virtually from across the United States.
In addition to taking the top prize, One Battle After Another emerged as the most decorated film of the night. Anderson received the award for Best Director, while the film’s ensemble was also recognized. Teyana Taylor won Best Supporting Actress for her performance, and Benicio del Toro earned Best Supporting Actor. Together, these wins underscored the film’s broad appeal across directing, acting, and overall cinematic achievement.
The National Society of Film Critics, founded in 1966 and composed of more than 60 prominent film critics, is known for honoring ambitious and artistically driven work. Its selections often highlight films that combine strong craft with emotional and thematic depth. One Battle After Another fits squarely within that tradition. The film has also found notable commercial success, grossing more than 205 million dollars worldwide, a rare feat for a sprawling adventure drama driven by character and vision.
In the Best Picture category, Sinners and The Secret Agent were named runners up, both of which appeared repeatedly throughout the winners list. Anderson’s Best Director win came over Jafar Panahi for It Was Just an Accident and Richard Linklater for Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague, reflecting a competitive year for auteur driven cinema.
Acting honors were spread across several films. Kathleen Chalfant won Best Actress for Familiar Touch, with Rose Byrne and Renate Reinsve recognized as runners up. Ethan Hawke took Best Actor for his work in Blue Moon, edging out performances by Wagner Moura in The Secret Agent and Michael B. Jordan in Sinners. Supporting categories
further highlighted the year’s depth, with Delroy Lindo and Stellan Skarsgård earning runner up mentions alongside the winners.
Screenwriting honors went to Jafar Panahi for It Was Just an Accident, while The Secret Agent claimed Best Film Not in the English Language. In the nonfiction category, My Undesirable Friends Part I Last Air in Moscow won Best Nonfiction Film, pointing to the Society’s continued recognition of documentary storytelling.
Technical and specialty awards rounded out the ceremony. Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for Sinners, and Basma al Sharif’s Morning Circle was named Best Experimental Film. A Special Award for a Film Awaiting United States Distribution was given to Lucrecia Martel’s Landmarks.
The Society also presented Film Heritage Awards to Cinema Tropical, The Film Desk, and Ken and Flo Jacobs, honoring their lasting contributions to film culture and preservation. Taken together, this year’s winners reflect a celebration of global cinema, artistic risk, and sustained excellence, with One Battle After Another standing at the center of that achievement.
