With the exception of Jennifer Lopez, the NAACP has selected predominantly black artists and films for their annual Image Awards nominations. That’s to be expected since that’s the entire point of the Image Awards and they have largely picked out the most acclaimed films they could. Like the critics, they also didn’t seem to like Waves that much, which is a shame. There are few surprises on this list with the films earning more than 5 nominations being the most acclaimed on the lists (and also being the Best Motion Picture nominees.

Award Tallies

(9) Harriet
(8) Us
(7) Dolemite Is My Name, Queen & Slim
(6) Just Mercy
(4) The Lion King
(3) Clemency

The Nominations

Best Motion Picture

Dolemite Is My Name
Harriet
Just Mercy
Queen & Slim
Us

Best Independent Motion Picture

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Clemency
Dolemite Is My Name
Luce
Queen & Slim

Best Directing

Mati Diop – Atlantics
Chiwetel Ejiofor – The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Reginald Hudlin – The Black Godfather
Kasi Lemmons – Harriet
Jordan Peele – Us

Best Actor

Chadwick Boseman – 21 Bridges
Daniel Kaluuya – Queen & Slim
Eddie Murphy – Dolemite Is My Name
Michael B. Jordan – Just Mercy
Winston Duke – Us

Best Actress

Alfre Woodard – Clemency
Cynthia Erivo – Harriet
Jodie-Turner-Smith – Queen & Slim
Lupita Nyong’o – Us
Naomie Harris – Black and Blue

Best Supporting Actor

Jamie Foxx – Just Mercy
Leslie Odom Jr. – Harriet
Sterling K. Brown – Waves
Tituss Burgess – Dolemite Is My Name
Wesley Snipes – Dolemite Is My Name

Best Supporting Actress

Da’Vine Joy Randolph – Dolemite Is My Name
Janelle Monae – Harriet
Jennifer Lopez – Hustlers
Marsai Martin – Little
Octavia Spencer – Luce

Best Writing

Brian Banks
Clemency
Just Mercy
Harriet
Us

Best Documentary

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool
The Black Godfather
The Apollo
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality

Best Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture

Cynthia Erivo – Harriet
Jodie Turner-Smith – Queen & Slim
Marsai Martin – Little
Rob Morgan – Just Mercy
Shahadi Wright Joseph – Us

Best Ensemble

Dolemite Is My Name
Harriet
Just Mercy
Queen & Slim
Us

Best Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film)

Alfre Woodard – The Lion King
Donald Glover – The Lion King
James Earl Jones – The Lion King
Lupita Nyong’o – Serengeti
Sterling K. Brown – Frozen II

Entertainer of the Year

Angela Bassett
Billy Porter
Lizzo
Regina King
Tyler Perry

Soundtrack/Compilation Album

Harriet
The Lion King: The Gift
The Lion King
Queen & Slim
Us

NAACP Image Awards Data

Year Founded: 1909
First Awards: 1968 (51)