“Genre filmmaking ruled,” may just be the bold statement made today following the announcement of the winners of the National Board of Review. George Miller’s fever dream franchise entry Mad Max: Fury Road scored the highest honor winning the Best Film prize. Yet that wasn’t the only blockbuster awarded today- the science fiction epic The Martian won three major prizes including Best Director for Ridley Scott and Best Actor for Matt Damon. Sylvester Stallone was also cited for his supporting performance in the just opened crowdpleaser Creed. This is surely a huge departure from just last year when the National Board of Review awarded their top prize to tiny-budgeted A Most Violent Year.

Smaller films were favored in other categories- particularly with Brie Larson’s earning the Best Actress mention for Room. Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight (opening in limited release on Christmas Day) also earned two prizes- one for Tarantino’s Original Screenplay and a Supporting Actress bid for Jennifer Jason Leigh (Anomalisa).

The National Board of Review, following last evenings’ Gotham Awards, shepherds the 2015 award season into overdrive as critics prizes begin to take center stage. The NBR was founded in 19o9 and is traditionally one of the earliest groups to announce end-of-the-year prizes. Prizes are voted on by knowledgeable film enthusiasts, academics, filmmakers and student in the New York area. Check out the full list of winners below:

FILM: Mad Max: Fury Road

Top Ten Films of 2015

• Mad Max: Fury Road
• Bridge of Spies
• Creed
• The Hateful Eight
• Inside Out
• The Martian
• Room
• Sicario
• Spotlight
• Straight Outta Compton

• DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott, The Martian
• ACTOR: Matt Damon, The Martian
• ACTRESS: Brie Larson, Room
• SUPPORTING ACTOR: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
• SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
• ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: The Hateful Eight– written by Quentin Tarantino
• ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: The Martian– written by Drew Goddard
• ANIMATED FEATURE: Inside Out

DOCUMENTARY: Amy

Top Five Documentaries of 2015

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

FOREIGN FILM: Son of Saul

Top Five Foreign Films 2015

• Goodnight Mommy
• Mediterranea
• Phoenix
• The Second Mother
• The Tribe

• DIRECTORIAL DEBUT: Jonas Carpignano, Mediterranea
• ENSEMBLE CAST: The Big Short
• SPOTLIGHT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COLLABORATIVE VISION: Sicario
• NBR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: Beasts of No Nation and Mustang
• BREAKTHROUGH PREFORMANCE: Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation and Jacob Tremblay, Room
• WILLIAM K. EVERSON AWARD FOR FILM HISTORY: Cecilla De Mille Presley

Top Ten Independent Films 2015

• ‘ 71
• 45 Years
• Cop Car
• Ex Machina
• Grandma
• It Follows
• James White
• Mississippi Grind
• Welcome to Me
• While You’re Young