One Battle After Another is the latest offering from acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, and more. At the onset, the action film follows a group of self-described “revolutionaries” known as the French 75, led by explosives engineer Bob (DiCaprio) and his gun-toting lover, Perfidia (Taylor), whose blind loyalty to their cause drives them apart. 16 years later, Bob is a washed-up former extremist living in a state of paranoia off the grid with their self-reliant daughter, Willa. When Bob’s evil nemesis, a corrupt military official (Penn), resurfaces and Willa goes missing, he must do everything in his power to find her. Thankfully, Battle, in large part due to a stacked cast, proves an epic ride.

To begin, Paul Thomas Anderson’s direction immediately hooks viewers in, with an awesome pace and style. I hardly felt the 161 minute runtime and was soon reminded why his filmmaking is revered! The action is very well-shot, particularly in the exhilarating climax. Of course, in many ways, this serves as an experiment for the director, having transitioned from serious dramas to an action crime thriller.

Similarly, Leonardo DiCaprio as our main protagonist is somewhat out of his realm, going for laughs portraying a temperamental, beanie-wearing degenerate, as opposed to a charismatic, Jordan Belfort-style leading man. Nevertheless, with DiCaprio at top billing, you are going to get your money’s worth and One Battle After Another is no exception. The actor’s frantic energy is quite infectious.

The next compelling performances worth discussing are the mother-daughter pair of Teyana Taylor’s Perfidia and Chase Infiniti’s Willa. Though the two never interact on-screen, one cannot help but compare. Willa (played excellently by young Chase Infiniti) is the more level-headed and responsible whereas Perfidia is far more ambitious, to the point where she fires a rifle while pregnant and uses her erotic prowess against Lockjaw. Now, who exactly is Lockjaw?

Saving the craziest for last, Sean Penn as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw is the film’s bigoted, lustful, antagonist. The role is totally balls-to-the-wall and though I wish the character’s arc was resolved differently, Penn absolutely chews up the scenery, especially when the film’s major reveal is unearthed, making for one of the most memorable recent villains. Penn has to at the very least be nominated for best supporting actor at the 2026 Academy Awards. His character also shines a light on some of the film’s more uncomfortable subject matter.

While there has been online discourse over the film tackling issues such as immigration,  Battle is actually a critique of the dangers of radicalism on either side of the aisle and in light of recent events, should be viewed by all. A powerful movie on the whole, One Battle After Another is one of my favorite films of 2025. The film’s domestic opening marked the largest of

Anderson’s career and the 4th consecutive decade where a Leonardo DiCaprio film opened at #1! I rate the movie a 9/10!