"Zero Dark Thirty" has been named the best film of 2012 by the New York Film Critics Circle, the first and one of the most important critics' groups to make its year-end picks, TheWrap said.

The gripping Kathryn Bigelow procedural about the hunt for Osama bin Laden also won awards for its director and for cinematographer Greig Fraser. Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" won three awards as well, for screenplay (Tony Kusher), best actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) and supporting actress (Sally Field).

Supporting actor Matthew McConaughey was honored for "Bernie" and "Magic Mike" with an award that definitely gave some needed momentum to a performer whose films are not typical Oscar bait.

And Rachel Weisz, whose role as a judge's wife having an affair with an RAF pilot in "The Deep Blue Sea" was barely noticed at the box office, was a surprise best-actress winner whose small awards profile just got a huge shot boost.

Other winners included writer Tony Kushner ("Lincoln") and cinematographer Greig Fraser ("Zero Dark Thirty").

Michael Haneke's "Amour" was named best foreign film, while Tim Burton's "Frankenweenie" won the award for animation.