Star Wars: The Force Awakens Nominated For Critics' Choice Award For Best Picture

In an unprecedented move, the Broadcast Film Critics Association had added Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the list of nominees for the 2015 Critics' Choice Award for Best Picture.

The BFCA did not originally nominate the new Star Wars because they hadn't seen it, thanks to Disney's refusal to grant critics early enough access. The strong positive reaction to the film led the BFCA to take a vote on whether it should be allowed in as a late inclusion, and apparently the BFCA voted in favor.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is now nominated alongside The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Carol, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, The Revenant, Room, Sicario and Spotlight.

The winner will be revealed at the 21st annual Critics' Choice Awards show on Jan. 17.