One Battle After Another Movie Review

Released: 26th September 2025 (UK and US)

Length: 162 Minutes

Certificate: 15

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti and Regina Hall

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most widely acclaimed directors in modern cinema with a penchant for serious dramas. Upping the scale and action, One Battle After Another is certainly his most politically charged effort to date. The filmmaking prowess is strong, though some elements needed more detail.

Under the thumb of an authoritarian government, Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his lover Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor) are members of the far-left revolutionary group French 75. They sabotage immigration centres, bomb government buildings and rob banks to fuel their cause. When Perfidia gives birth to a baby girl, she leaves her with Bob to continue her controversial activities, running afoul of the ruthless Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) in the process. Some sixteen years later, the authorities track Bob down in rural America, prompting a desperate escape for him and Willa (Chase Infiniti). One-part action thriller and one-part black comedy, One Battle After Another takes the audience on a tense ride. From sanctuary cities to the open roads, the characters are constantly tracking each other while avoiding unwanted attention. Following an initial prologue and flash-forward, the film kicks into gear and rarely lets up. The subject matter will be contentious to some viewers, but the film treats its characters in a level-headed fashion, placing emphasis on their individual flaws at many points. The one downside is how several components are undeveloped; the French 75 are shown to be a well-coordinated group with a band of nuns forming an enclave in the hills. We don’t get many details on this group and their participation is limited. It's a very long film and some of the runtime could have been dedicated to fleshing out the factions.

The performances are energised and uptight in equal measure with four main leads. Bob isn’t your everyday protagonist; after many years of living off-grid and using drugs, he isn’t in the best shape but still presses on regardless. In contrast to the lightweight gear he wears in the opening, the protagonist is clad in basic loungewear throughout. This creates plenty of humour, especially when he needs to remember old codes and passwords over the phone. Sean Penn easily steals the show; a thoroughly unlikeable villain beset by insecurity. The actor’s facial expressions and unpredictable movements really sell Lockjaw’s nefarious motives. It’s a good debut for Chase Infiniti as well who slowly comes into her own as the plot progresses; Willa is able to assert herself on multiple occasions, even when placed at the mercy of her pursuers. Other performers do feel underused. Teyana Taylor has great screen presence, but it’s too bad the film pushes her out at the halfway mark without much resolution. Benicio Del Toro also has a likeable turn as Willa’s kung-fu teacher, though he is mostly relegated to a supporting role by the end. More could have been done with several actors, but the central performances are still strong enough to hit the mark.

With tight editing and precise camerawork, One Battle After Another keeps the audience locked into the action. There’s a heavy use of mid and long shots that put the characters in the central frame. The film generates so much tension through the simple use of percussion and piano; some of the big set pieces include Bob fleeing over the rooftops and a climatic car chase in the final act that doesn’t need to rely on rapid cuts or death-defying stunts. Everything is very well-staged with heavily armed officers breaking down the doors of every business they see. Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood was brought on to compose the score and it strikes the right balance between tenderness and grit.

One Battle After Another is a simple but highly effective production. Some of its factions and characters lack depth, but the chase itself is well worth the price of admission. The main performances, directing and comedic moments are all on top form; you will enjoy this production, even if it doesn’t measure up to the director’s best work.

Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)