Paul Thomas Anderson’s drama tops Vancouver critics as major wins for Ryan Coogler and Timothée Chalamet boost Oscar buzz.
Awards season momentum shifted in a big way Monday night as the Vancouver Film Critics Circle named One Battle After Another the best film of 2025, giving the politically charged drama a fresh surge of Oscar heat.
The win adds to an already strong run for director Paul Thomas Anderson, whose story about an ex-revolutionary group has become one of the year’s most talked-about films.
The movie previously earned seven nominations from the Vancouver critics, including best director, best screenplay and multiple acting nods for its star-studded cast.
Among the night’s acting winners was Sean Penn, who took home best supporting male actor for his performance in the film. His role in the tense thriller has been widely praised as one of his strongest in recent years.
But One Battle After Another wasn’t the only film building awards momentum.
Ryan Coogler scored a major double win for his vampire drama Sinners, earning both best director and best screenplay. The stylish thriller is quickly becoming a serious contender heading into the 2026 Academy Awards.
In the lead acting categories, Timothée Chalamet won best male actor for his performance in Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley claimed best female actor for her emotional role in Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao.
The supporting female acting prize went to Amy Madigan for her eerie turn in Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger.
The Vancouver critics also recognized powerful storytelling beyond Hollywood. Geeta Gandbhir won best documentary for The Perfect Neighbor, while Iranian director Jafar Panahi earned best international film for It Was Just an Accident.
With Oscar voting around the corner, the Vancouver wins may prove to be an early signal of what’s to come.
