Leonardo DiCaprio’s New Action Thriller Explodes With Huge Rotten Tomatoes Score
Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film One Battle After Another is already being called one of the standout releases of the year. The action thriller premiered in Los Angeles on September 8, and will hit theaters across the United States on September 26 through Warner Bros. Pictures.
The movie is adapted loosely from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland and features a star-packed cast. Leonardo DiCaprio leads the film, joined by Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor. Rising newcomer Chase Infiniti also makes her debut in the movie.
Critics are praising Anderson for creating a bold and uncompromising vision. They describe the film as provocative, intense, and even nihilistic in its message. Many note that Sean Penn delivers one of his best performances, portraying a villain that represents power, hypocrisy, and corruption.
The film currently holds a 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 54 reviews. Reviewers say it is one of the most thrilling cinematic rides of the year, with action that leaves other blockbusters in the dust. Some even call it a pure masterpiece, comparing the experience of watching it to a relentless rollercoaster.
One Battle pivots on an all-time sinister big screen villain. Penn is indeed a personification of white American hegemony and hypocrisy in one of the best turns of his career.
David Crow
Anderson’s film is daring, deliberately provocative and quite nihilistic. He’s unafraid to point fingers. But he’s not just interested in condemning our reigning leaders and institutions. He’s also keenly diving into the psychology of human nature…
Frank J. Avella
One Battle After Another is an adrenaline rush that makes the year’s other blockbusters seem pathetically lacking in comparison. Paul Thomas Anderson lobs a cinematic grenade in an unrelenting action-thriller. It is a must-see in IMAX.
Julian Roman
One Battle After Another is cinema at its purest—uncompromising, exhilarating, and alive. Here Paul Thomas Anderson has given us a masterpiece that doesn’t just entertain but rattles the bones.
Linda Marric
One might compare such an experience to that of riding a rollercoaster. In this case, the word “masterpiece” works just as well.
Will Bjarnar
Anderson is being celebrated for delivering a movie that not only entertains but also challenges viewers with its themes and energy. As one review put it, “One Battle After Another is cinema at its purest—uncompromising, exhilarating, and alive.”
Here's the official trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," in theaters September 26. Learn more about the film: https://t.co/qRTPic058K pic.twitter.com/Aplndoxxbe
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) March 27, 2025
This sounds like Anderson at his most daring. Pairing DiCaprio with a powerful supporting cast and Penn as the villain is a recipe for fireworks.
If the early reviews are right, this could be one of those rare films that shakes up both audiences and critics. What do you think? Will you be watching One Battle After Another when it hits theaters? Share your thoughts in the comments.
