BBC News Online users have, in common with the Academy, come out overwhelming in support of American Beauty, voting it the winner in each category of our Oscar poll.

The movie - which won five Oscars - was the audience's clear choice best picture.

Stars Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening were voted best actor and actress, while the film's British director Sam Mendes polled more votes than all his fellow nominees put together in the best director category.

Osment in the popular The Sixth Sense

We asked you to vote for your choice of winners in the top Oscar categories based on the nominee shortlists already announced by the Academy.

American Beauty - Mendes' hit black comedy about dysfunctional suburban family lives in the US - was leagues ahead of its nearest rival, The Sixth Sense, to take the best picture title.

The Sixth Sense - starring Bruce Willis and 11-year-old prodigy Haley Joel Osment - took 29% of the vote, while the three other contenders, The Green Mile, The Cider House Rules and The Insider trailed in with 5-9% of the vote.

Kevin Spacey comfortably beat rivals Denzel Washington, Richard Farnsworth, Russell Crowe and Sean Penn in the best actor group.

He drew 56% of the votes whereas Washington - from whom Spacey faced his toughest challenge for his role in The Hurricane - took 22%.

Hilary Swank: Second best actress

However, things were not quite as clear cut in the best actress race. While the Academy voted for Hilary Swank, BBC News Online users plumped for Bening's putting her in the lead with 48% of the votes - comfortably ahead of Swank who trailed with 19%.

But Swank only just beat End of the Affair star Julianne Moore who won 15% of the votes, while Janet McTeer and Meryl Streep tied with 9%.

Results in full:

Best picture:

American Beauty - 51%
The Sixth Sense - 29%
The Green Mile - 9%
The Insider - 5%
The Cider House Rules - 6%

Best actor

Kevin Spacey - 56%
Denzel Washington - 22"%
Russell Crowe - 11%
Richard Farnsworth - 7%
Sean Penn - 4%

Best actress

Annette Bening - 48%
Hilary Swank - 19%
Julianne Moore - 15%
Meryl Streep - 9%
Janet McTeer - 9%

Best director

Sam Mendes - 48%
M Night Shylaman - 26%
Michael Mann - 14%
Spike Jonze - 7%
Lasse Hallstrom - 5%