US National Society of Film Critics celebrates Melancholia

Von Trier film takes top prize from top critics.

by Jennie Kermode

Lars Von Trier's Melancholia has moved up a place in this year's Oscar race by winning Best Film at the US National Society of Film Critics' awards ceremony in New York City. The awards are among few to rank winners, with Terrence Malick's Tree Of Life taking second place and Iranian drama A Separation coming in third. The latter also received the Best Screenplay gong.

Melancholia scored again in the Best Actress category with the top prize going to Kirsten Dunst, over Jun Yung-Hee (Poetry) and Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady). Brad Pitt won best actor for his work in Tree Of Life and Moneyball, with Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Jean Dujardin (The Artist) the runners-up. Albert Brooks won Best Supporting Actor for Drive and Jessica Chastain took Best Supporting Actress for her work across three films (Tree Of Life, Take Shelter and The Help).

Winner in the Best Documentary category was Werner Herzog's Cave Of Forgotten Dreams, which is now a clear front runner across numerous sets of awards.

Share this with others on...

Movies out this week include:

Is This Thing On? Nouvelle Vague Primate Rabbit Trap
News

Home truths Marijana Janković on Balkan representation, and the immigrant question of belonging

The division belle Suzannah Herbert on facing the US' troubled history and making Natchez

Spin-off alchemy Claude Schmitz on bringing back cop pairing for Conrad & Crab – Idiotic Gems

Past crime Christoffer Boe on creating a world for his period mystery Special Unit - The First Murder

It Was Just An Accident screenwriter arrested in Iran Jafar Panahi speaks out

Sundance announces winners Josephine, Nuisance Bear, Shame And Money and To Hold A Mountain take top prizes

More news and features

Interact

As we move into 2026, don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.

With awards season in full flow, you can keep track of the latest news on that here:

César nominations Nouvelle Vague leads the race for France's biggest awards

BAFTA nominations One Battle After Another and Sinners almost neck and neck

Critics' Circle Awards One Battle After Another wins fight

Oscars Sinners dominates the nominations