The 56th National Board of Review Awards were announced on 17 December 1984.

Top Ten Films

1. A Passage to India
2. Paris, Texas
3. The Killing Fields
4. Places in the Heart
5. Mass Appeal
6. Country
7. A Soldier's Story
8. Birdy
9. Careful, He Might Hear You
10. Under the Volcano

Top Foreign films

1. A Sunday in the Country
2. Carmen
3. A Love in Germany
4. The Fourth Man
5. The Basileus Quartet

Winners

• Best Picture:
  • A Passage to India
• Best Foreign Language Film:
  • Un dimanche à la campagne (A Sunday in the Country), France
• Best Actor:
  • Victor Banerjee - A Passage to India
• Best Actress:
  • Peggy Ashcroft - A Passage to India
• Best Supporting Actor:
  • John Malkovich - Places in the Heart
• Best Supporting Actress:
  • Sabine Azéma - Un dimanche à la campagne (A Sunday in the Country)
• Best Director:
  • David Lean - A Passage to India
• Career Achievement Award:
  • John Huston