'Spotlight' Ousts 'Mad Max' as Best Picture According to Critics; DiCaprio on Top as Well

According to The Wrap, 26 different critics' circles have chosen their picks for the best achievements in film for the year, and when all of the wins are accounted for, Tom McCarthy's Spotlight comes out on top. The film topped the list for Best Picture 14 times, with the closest competition being Mad Max: Fury Road, which has eight wins. Other big winners include Brie Larson and Leonardo DiCaprio.

It is important to note that this count only includes critics' groups who have announced winners. Some circles have announced nominees, but will announce winners soon.

Mad Max may not have impressed as many critics as Spotlight for best picture, but Mad Max director George Miller has been named the year's best director 16 times for the film. This tramples others in the running, namely, Spotlight director McCarthy and Carol director Todd Haynes, who each have three awards among them.

Best Actress surprises with Brie Larson holding the lead at 15 awards for her role in Room, with Saoirse Ronan at five awards for Brooklyn and Charlotte Rampling with two for 45 Years. Cate Blanchett only graced the list once, which comes as a major surprise. Many pundits have her being neck-and-neck with Larson for the honor.

The Best Actor count bodes well for Leonardo DiCaprio's Oscar chances, as he is the overall favorite with 10 wins and a tie for his work in The Revenant. In second place, Michael Fassbender has won four times for Steve Jobs, with Paul Dano close behind: the actor has won three times and tied once for Love & Mercy.

So does all of this mean Oscar gold for Spotlight, DiCaprio and Larson? Not necessarily, as last year's Boyhood famously won over plenty of critics' circles but ultimately didn't end up winning much at the Oscars (the film lost out on both Best Director and Best Picture to Birdman). Critics' circles are made up of film critics and journalists, whereas the Academy is made up of the various film artists themselves (directors, actors, etc), and the two groups often differ on who should win.

Head on over to The Wrap to see the full list of critics' awards, including who is sitting on top in the Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories, as well as screenplay honors.