One Battle After Another Is A Best Picture!

One Battle After Another (2025/USA) is a dark political thriller from America. On 4th January, this thought-provoking film won the Best Picture at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony.

Movie Review [Spoiler-Free]: One Battle After Another (2025) English

In FOCUS: When Democracy Dies & Dictatorship Takes Over, What Can the Revolutionaries Do?

Movie Synopsis

Washed-up revolutionary Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti). When his evil nemesis, Colonel Steven J Lockjaw (Sean Penn), resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.

Political Fiction

The US filmmaker, Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA), has loosely based this 21st-century cautionary tale, ‘One Battle After Another‘ (2025), on the 20th-century fiction novel ‘Vineland‘ (1990) by Thomas Pynchon. Fascinatingly, the original novelist, Thomas Pynchon, has described ‘Vineland’ as a fusion of daytime drama and political thriller. For him, it is a curious representation of a twentieth-century America that is destined for a future that is anything but harmonious.

We have learned that the writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson took almost two decades to write the screenplay. It is worth noting that Paul has written a smart political screenplay. So his tale does not clarify the time, location, or which administration is making the decisions. It was a purposeful decision by Paul, who thought that explicit political content would date the film in the future. And now the Movie Award season has begun in America. It seems that his efforts have really paid off.

Movie Poster

Political Reality

Not so long ago, we reviewed the ‘Pluribus‘ (Season 1/USA/2025) Series in our Focus Magazine. And now we have seen ‘One Battle After Another’ (2025/USA) Movie, and we can see a common thread. One could argue that the harsh political reality of the USA is forcing the creative people (including filmmakers) to express their strong opinions while using the visual arts.

It seems that the Right-Wing politics driven purely by race and religion is driving the politics in the USA. And one could see these conservatives and traditionalists wielding power in different nations of the world. For instance, they are ruling nations, like Argentina, Hungary, Italy, Türkiye, Israel, India, etc. In many of these nations, ruled by the (extreme and far-right) government, one can see quite a few familiar trends:

• The erosion of democratic norms in these nations.
• The growing instances of intense political polarisation.
• The media, misinformation, disinformation and political violence.
• The common citizens are concerned about fairness and representation.
• There is a lot of economic anxiety and distrust in institutions among the masses.

And all the above-mentioned realities (and more) of the world (and the USA) get reflected in this film. In fact, recently, a leading American economist lamented the fact that the USA is facing a constitutional breakdown. He further reiterated that at present day and age, Americans are living in a post-constitutional order. Reality is that there are ongoing disruptions going on in America.

In short, one could say that we are living in dangerous times, indeed. And, as of now, the world is on the verge of major wars; trade, armed, and otherwise.

Wit, Sarcasm & More

There is no doubt that the ‘One Battle After Another’ (2025/USA) film is a dark satire about the radical politics in the USA.

The protagonist Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an ex-revolutionary and a single dad, who cares for his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) very much. And when the antagonist from the distant past, Colonel Steven J Lockjaw (Sean Penn), reappears in Bob’s life, he threatens to take away the joy, peace, tranquillity and family Bob. So, Bob has no option but to fight back against a powerful and self-proclaimed racist army leader, Colonel Lockjaw.

In this violent political tussle between the far-right-wing extremist army unit led by Colonel and the American political revolutionaries, the Colonel’s hidden agenda is to kill and eliminate Will. And this was purely a sick and selfish decision in the past of the Colonel. [Spoiler] And is deeply connected with his lust and fascination for Perfidia (Teyana Taylor), who is Willa’s mother. Also, check the Spoilers shared below.

In the showdown between Bob and Colonel, quite a few good people helped him out, like the Sensei Carlos (Benicio Del Toro), Deandra (Regina Hall), etc. But can they really fight back?

Ticks the Correct Boxes

✅ Both the adapted screenplay and the direction by Paul Thomas Anderson are top-class. This film offers a peek into the grave contemporary issues like racism, immigration, the army, dictatorship, etc.

✅ The fiction does look like reality in the ‘One Battle After Another’ (2025/USA) film. Also, the infusion of wit and sarcasm really hits the sweet spot, especially when Bob is trying to remember the password.

✅ We loved the performances of the entire ensemble cast. However, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Chase Infiniti, and Teyana Taylor were very impressive in their respective complex roles.

✅ And, the makeup of Sean Penn is too realistic and suits his menacing villainous character. To be honest, it took us a while to recognise him playing this despicable character.

✅ The superb cinematography, the admirable music, a fine editing job and the new kind of stunts only added to the charm of this well-made film.

✅ And not to forget, the car chase scene in the closing stages is awesome. We simply loved this highly imaginative and very well executed “river of hills” car scene in Borrego Springs, California.

Movie Rating

Conclusion

Despite all the negativity and pessimism dominating this political thriller, it ends on a positive note. The ending of the movie holds out an optimistic future for the revolutionaries and their next generation. One has to keep believing in a brighter tomorrow for humanity as a whole. The tough and challenging times shall too pass. But, one must be prepared for the – One. Battle. After. Another.

Key Details

Movie Trailer

[Movie Tagline: Shot on VistaVision - Experience it in IMAX]

Bonus YouTube Video Clip Link: One Battle After Another - What is VistaVision? - Warner Bros.

Spoiler Alerts

Awards Won [News Update]

Poster & Featured Images: One Battle After Another | Pictures Credit: Warner Bros.