| 68th National Board of Review Awards (1996) |
| Top 10 films: |
| 1. Shine | |
| 2. The English Patient | |
| 3. Fargo | |
| 4. Secrets & Lies | |
| 5. Everyone Says I Love You | |
| 6. Evita | |
| 7. Sling Blade | |
| 8. Trainspotting | |
| 9. Breaking the Waves | |
| 10. Jerry Maguire |
| Top Foreign Films: |
| 1. Ridicule | |
| 2. Les Voleurs | |
| 3. Bitter Sugar | |
| 4. La Cérémonie | |
| 5. Kolya |
| Best Picture: |
| Shine |
| Best Foreign Language Film |
| Ridicule, France |
| Best Director: |
| Joel Coen - Fargo |
| Best Ensemble Acting: |
| The First Wives Club |
| Best Actor: |
| Tom Cruise - Jerry Maguire |
| Best Actress: |
| Frances McDormand - Fargo |
| Best Supporting Actor: |
| Edward Norton - Everyone Says I Love You |
| Best Supporting Actress (tie): |
| Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott Thomas - The English Patient |
| Best Documentary: |
| Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills |
| Best Film Made for Cable TV: |
| Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick |
| Breakthrough performance: |
| Renée Zellweger - Jerry Maguire |
| Special Achievement in Filmmaking: |
| Billy Bob Thornton - Sling Blade |
| Special Citation: |
| Elia Kazan, for lifetime achievement in direction |
| Freedom of Expression Award: |
| The People vs. Larry Flynt - Miloš Forman, Oliver Stone |
| International Freedom Award: |
| Zhang Yuan |
| Billy Wilder Award: |
| Sidney Lumet |
| Career Achievement Award: |
| Gena Rowlands |
| William K. Everson Award for Film History: |
| Peter Bogdanovich, for Who the Devil Made It? |
| Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking: |
| Angels & Insects | |
| Basquiat | |
| Big Night | |
| Bound | |
| Caught | |
| Follow Me Home | |
| I Shot Andy Warhol | |
| Lone Star | |
| Marvin's Room | |
| The Substance of Fire | |
| Swingers | |
| The Deli | |
| The War Room | |
| Unhook the Stars | |
| Welcome to the Dollhouse |