National Board of Review Picks ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ as 2015’s Best Film

Mad Max Fury Road Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy
TOM HARDY as Max Rockatansky and CHARLIZE THERON as Imperator Furiosa in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (Photo © 2015 WV Films IV LLC and Ratpac-Dune Entertainment)
The National Board of Review has announced its choices for the best in films released in 2015, with the sci-fi action thriller Mad Max: Fury Road taking home the top honor. Also recognized by the NBR were Room, The Hateful Eight, Beasts of No Nation, Son of Saul, Creed, and The Martian, with that film taking the Best Director and Best Actor honors.


More than 250 films were screened by film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals, academics, and students who make up the National Board of Review. Announcing this year’s winners, NBR President Annie Schulhof said, “2015 has been a banner year for popular cinema. We are thrilled to be awarding George Miller and Ridley Scott, two iconic filmmakers at the top of their game, while also celebrating the next generation of talent.”

Winners will be recognized during an awards gala on January 5, 2016 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

Best Film: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Director: Ridley Scott – The Martian
Best Actor: Matt Damon – The Martian
Best Actress: Brie Larson – Room
Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone – Creed
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino – The Hateful Eight
Best Adapted Screenplay: Drew Goddard – The Martian
Best Animated Feature: Inside Out
Breakthrough Performance: Abraham Attah – Beasts of No Nation & Jacob Tremblay – Room
Best Directorial Debut: Jonas Carpignano – Mediterranea
Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul
Best Documentary: Amy
William K. Everson Film History Award: Cecilia De Mille Presley
Best Ensemble: The Big Short
Spotlight Award: Sicario for Outstanding Collaborative Vision
NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Beasts of No Nation & Mustang

In addition to recognizing the best in 17 categories, NBR also compiled its annual lists of the top movies of the year, best documentaries, foreign films, and independent films.

Top Films
Bridge of Spies
Creed
The Hateful Eight
Inside Out
The Martian
Room
Sicario
Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton

Top 5 Foreign Language Films
Goodnight Mommy
Mediterranea
Phoenix
The Second Mother
The Tribe

Top 5 Documentaries
Best of Enemies
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
The Diplomat
Listen to Me Marlon
The Look of Silence

Top 10 Independent Films
‘71
45 Years
Cop Car
Ex Machina
Grandma
It Follows
James White
Mississippi Grind
Welcome to Me
While We’re Young