ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro and Regina Hall
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
NICK
It’s crazy to think that after 25+ films at TIFF, I’d see the best film of the year the day after TIFF ended, but that’s exactly what happened. One Battle After Another is sensational. A film that comes to us at exactly the right time, this look at the role of revolutionaries in present day America is both harrowing and supremely entertaining. The cast is firing on all cylinders, the script is airtight, it’s funny, it’s tense, it’s exciting, it’s agitating, it’s mesmerizing… Needless to say, I’m impressed. This is why people have the reverence they do for director Paul Thomas Anderson.
QUENTIN
One Battle After Another is a good movie. How could it not be? Paul Thomas Anderson’s direction is terrific, generating tension, excitement, and laughter through tremendous performances from all involved, especially an Oscar-worthy Sean Penn. Plus, it holds a very timely mirror up to American society. All wins. BUT, in typical PTA fashion, it’s extremely overwritten at nearly three hours. Certain moments and characters are simply unnecessary, and those diversions steal time from the somewhat underdeveloped father-daughter dynamic at the story’s core. Still, it’s PTA's best movie since Boogie Nights, but I also checked my watch a few times — not the mark of a great movie.
ADRIANO
It takes time after a release to seriously take in a film's magnitude, but I couldn't help but feel that I watched a decade-defining masterpiece in One Battle After Another. Not just because it's timely to the current political paradigm, but also because its theme of how the fight never ends feels so timeless. With its politics blending with a strong familial storyline, Paul Thomas Anderson's latest soars even higher with its propulsive editing, hilarious writing, and enthralling genre thrills. I probably still have plenty to uncover about this, but it's an experience that's easy to be floored by.
ROBERT
I am not the biggest Paul Thomas Anderson fan; I have seen half of his filmography and enjoyed everything I’ve seen, but haven’t sought out the rest. This connects similarly to how I felt about Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing: it played in a sandbox I prefer cinematically. Given the action, dialogue, and superb character interplay, the best word to describe One Battle After Another is kinetic: even when you aren’t physically moving in the plot, you feel as if you aren’t stagnant. Despite its homages to classic action and war films, it is fresh and distinct, and Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio del Toro are comedy legends together…more of that please!
PAIGE
As someone who isn’t the biggest Paul Thomas Anderson fan, I must admit that One Battle After Another drew me in from beginning to end. It’s a nonstop trip featuring high-strung action, top-notch performances from everyone involved, and a compelling father-daughter tale at its core. With that said, though, my biggest criticism is that with its promising subject matter, the tension should have been felt alongside the humor. I simply didn't feel the emotional stakes like I thought I would. Nevertheless, it's unquestionably PTA's most accessible movie to date, bursting with energy and style that will have audiences walking out chanting VIVA LA REVOLUCIÓN!
AMARÚ
The world might’ve had an idea who Teyana Taylor was before One Battle After Another, but now the world knows, as did Paul Thomas Anderson who knew that opening with and modeling his film’s tone after her was the smartest move possible. Both actress and movie are no filter, no bullshit, all power and presence, creating an entertaining, funny, thoughtful, and bold statement of a film. Every performance is pitch perfect, the score is quirky and kinetic, and PTA’s direction is dynamic as hell. There’s only one other theater experience like this in 2025 (Sinners), and being in that company makes for the highest praise.
BODE
How surreal is it to hear Sheck Wes in a Paul Thomas Anderson movie? Very, but in the best way. That aside, it’s refreshing to see PTA apply his tricks to a modern setting again - one that sharply holds a mirror up to our terrifying society today - but on a bigger scope than usual. While I personally wouldn’t call One Battle After Another PTA’s magnum opus (for now, anyway), there’s still a lot to love about it. The performances are indelible, the setpieces are as exciting as you’ve heard, and Jonny Greenwood’s percussion-driven score is another cap in his career. Yeah, it’s great!
Want to hear even more of our thoughts? Nick and Amarú join Matt to take A Bigger Bite out of One Battle After Another HERE.