Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, One Battle After Another (2025), is a wild, emotional and truly human ride through chaos, ideology and survival. Clocking in at 162 minutes, the film is definitely long, but the pacing keeps things brisk enough that it never feels dragged. Going in, I knew almost nothing about the story–and what I got was far from what I expected–yet I left completely enamored and impressed. It’s part political thriller, part messy-family-drama that stretches from the borderlands of California to a tense underground revolution years later.
What stood out the most to me were the performances. The film follows “Ghetto” Pat Calhoun (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor), radical members of the militant group called the French 75, as their rebellion and flawed love spirals into decades of fallout. Taylor commands every scene she is in–her Perfidia burns with conviction and chaos. DiCaprio’s portrayal of Pat (later “Bob”) brings humor and heartbreak, while Chase Infiniti’s Willa, their daughter, grounds the story with quiet strength and sympathy. Sean Penn’s Steven Lockjaw, meanwhile, delivers one of the most chilling and infuriating villains I’ve seen in a while.
Beyond the action and intensity, One Battle After Another feels especially relevant to today’s world. It dives into heavy themes like immigration, racial identity and the ways ideology and power twist people apart. The film doesn’t shy away from exploring how politics intersect with personal lives–especially through its look on interracial relationships and hypocrisy in systems built on “moral purity.” Those moments hit hard, and they give the movie more depth than just explosions and good laughs. Visually, the film is stunning, gritty when it needs to be and beautiful when slowed down. The soundtrack mixes revolution with emotion, and the final act balances tragedy with an aching sense of hope. Though it’s rated R and earns that rating through its violence and mature themes, it’s worth the intensity. The film lingers long after the credits roll, not just for its twists but because it makes you think about our world right now.
I’m genuinely excited to see how it performs this award season, especially at the Oscars. With its powerhouse cast and bold storytelling, it deserves recognition. If you’re up for a movie that’s both thrilling and thought-provoking, One Battle After Another is more than worth the watch.
