The National Board of Review has named Wicked as its best film of 2024.
The movie adaptation of the Broadway musical, which has been a critical and commercial hit and hopes to be an Oscars contender, also picked up two other honors from the group. The NBR’s honors are voted on by a group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals, academics and students.
Wicked‘s Jon M. Chu was named best director by NBR and its stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande received a special spotlight award for their “creative collaboration.”
“Wicked represents the pure magic that movies can bring to audiences,” NBR president Annie Schulhof said in a statement. “Every detail is beautifully crafted and designed, the actors are all exceptional and the music is second-to-none — together it adds up to a transporting experience like no other. The NBR is proud to honor director Jon M. Chu and his remarkable cinematic vision.”
Last year, NBR’s top film was Killers of the Flower Moon.
This year’s NBR honorees will be celebrated at an awards gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York on Tuesday, Jan. 7, hosted by NBC News’ Willie Geist.
A complete list of the 2024 NBR award winners follows.
Best Film: Wicked
Best Director: Jon M. Chu, Wicked
Best Actor: Daniel Craig, Queer
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman, Babygirl
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning, A Complete Unknown
Best Ensemble: Conclave
Breakthrough Performance: Mikey Madison, Anora
Best Directorial Debut: India Donaldson, Good One
Best Original Screenplay: Mike Leigh, Hard Truths
Best Adapted Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing
NBR Spotlight Award: Creative Collaboration of Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: No Other Land
Best Animated Feature: Flow
Best International Film: The Seed of the Sacred Fig
Best Documentary: Sugarcane
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Jarin Blaschke, Nosferatu
Outstanding Achievement in Stunt Artistry: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Top Films (in alphabetical order):
Anora
Babygirl
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Gladiator II
Juror #2
Queer
A Real Pain
Sing Sing
Top 5 International Films (in alphabetical order):
All We Imagine as Light
The Girl With the Needle
I’m Still Here
Santosh
Universal Language
Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order):
Black Box Diaries
Dahomey
Look Into My Eyes
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Will & Harper
Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order):
Bird
A Different Man
Dìdi
Ghostlight
Good One
Hard Truths
His Three Daughters
Love Lies Bleeding
My Old Ass
Thelma
