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Universal’s feature take of the Broadway musical, Wicked, wasn’t only named Best Film of 2024 by the National Board of Review, but the movie was also named Best Director for Jon M. Chu, while its stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are receiving an NBR Spotlight Award for their creative collaboration.
A24 after coming up big earlier this morning at the Independent Spirit Awards with noms for I Saw the TV Glow and Sing Sing, saw wins here with NBR for Babygirl, Nicole Kidman winning Best Actress; and Luca Guadagnino’s Queer winning Best Actor for Daniel Craig.
Winners will be honored at the NBR’s annual awards gala Jan. 7 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The ceremony will be hosted by MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Willie Geist. The group’s awards celebrate excellence in filmmaking and also hand out its signature honors for the NBR Icon Award, NBC Freedom of Expression and the WIlliam K. Everson Award for Film.
Last year, the National Board of Review named Killers of the Flower Moon as Best Film, its helmer Martin Scorsese as Best Director and its star Lily Gladstone as Best Actress. Paul Giamatti took Best Actor for The Holdovers.
“Wicked represents the pure magic that movies can bring to audiences. 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 John M. Chu and his remarkable cinematic vision,” said NBR President Annie Schulhof.
Established in 1909, the NBR recognizes excellence in filmmaking. This year, 246 films were viewed by a select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals, academics, and students, many of which were followed by in-depth discussions with directors, actors, producers, and screenwriters. Ballots were tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr CPA.
While the top film chose by NBR typically finds a place among the Oscar Best Picture nominees, the last time the org synced up with AMPAS as far as the to win went was in 2018 when they named Universal/Dreamworks/Participant’s Green Book as Best Film.
Below is a full list of the 2024 award recipients, announced by the National Board of Review:
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
