The nominees for the 30th annual San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Awards are now public. The list shows a close contest among major films, with the final winners set to be announced today, December 15, 2025.
The Top Nominated Films of 2025
The crime drama Sinners leads with the most nominations this year. The film received 12 total nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Ryan Coogler. It is followed closely by One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which earned 10 nominations. The historical drama Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, holds 9 nominations.
Other films with multiple nominations include Frankenstein (6), Marty Supreme (5), and It Was Just an Accident (4).
The SDFCS is known for its diverse and sometimes surprising nominations, often highlighting films that other award groups might overlook.
Breakdown of Major Category Nominees
Here is the full list of nominees in key categories for the 2025 awards.
Best Picture
- Hamnet
- It Was Just an Accident
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- Sinners
Best Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler for Sinners
- Yorgos Lanthimos for Bugonia
- Jafar Panahi for It Was Just an Accident
- Chloé Zhao for Hamnet
Best Actor
- Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme
- Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another
- Joel Edgerton for Train Dreams
- Michael B. Jordan for Sinners
- Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent
Best Actress
- Jessie Buckley for Hamnet
- Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value
- Emma Stone for Bugonia
- Eva Victor for Sorry, Baby
Best Supporting Actor
- Benicio del Toro for One Battle After Another
- Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein
- Sean Penn for One Battle After Another
- Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value
- Jeffrey Wright for Highest 2 Lowest
Best Supporting Actress
- Odessa A’zion for Marty Supreme
- Nina Hoss for Hedda
- Amy Madigan for Weapons
- Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners
- Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another
Recognition for Emerging Talent and Unique Categories
The SDFCS nominations also highlight new directors and performances in unique categories. The Best First Feature category includes actors stepping behind the camera, such as Scarlett Johansson for Eleanor the Great and Kristen Stewart for The Chronology of Water.
The Best Comedic Performance category features a wide range of actors, from Liam Neeson in The Naked Gun to Da’Vine Joy Randolph in Eternity. The society also awards Best Youth Performance for actors under 18, with nominees including Jacobi Jupe for Hamnet and Alfie Williams for 28 Years Later.
Nominated Films in Technical and Specialty Categories
Several blockbuster and genre films received recognition for their technical craft. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein earned multiple nods in categories like Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects.
Big-budget films such as Avatar: Fire and Ash, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Superman are competing for Best Visual Effects and Best Stunt Choreography. The Best Animated Film category includes major studio releases like Zootopia 2 and Elio alongside the stylized KPop Demon Hunters.
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