Surprise!: ‘Wicked' Named Best Picture by National Board of Review

The National Board of Review, a “prestigious” 92-year-old voting body made up of a group of film enthusiasts, industry professionals, academics, and filmmakers, has unveiled its winners.

“Wicked” just gained some major Oscar momentum as it was named best picture by the NBR. John M. Chu took home the directing prize. Curiously, it was just a week ago that THR wrote about the possibility of “Wicked” defying expectations and winning the best picture Oscar come next year.

Ok, I’ll say it. This win is a total joke. It undermines the credibility of NBR and makes a mockery out of the many more deserving films of 2024. There’s no way around it. You may have liked “Wicked,” and there are many that do, but to call it the best film of the year is stooping down to a timid, narrow and ultra-populist mindset. What if “Wicked” wasn’t a hotshot box-office success? Would it have still won?

At least NBR got the acting winners right. Daniel Craig nabbed the best actor prize for his work in Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer.” Nicole Kidman won best actress for “Babygirl.” Both highly deserving.

Kieran Culkin continued his winning streak for his supporting turn in “A Real Pain” and Elle Fanning was the big surprise taking home supporting actress for “A Complete Unknown.”

NBR’s top 10 movies of the year: “Wicked,” “Anora,” “Babygirl,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “Gladiator 2,” “Juror No. 2,” “Queer,” “A Real Pain” and “Sing Sing.”

Notable snubs from NBR’s top 10 list include Denis Villenueve’s “Dune: Part Two,” Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez” and Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist.”