Leonardo DiCaprio is back on the big screen in One Battle After Another, a high-stakes, politically tinged action thriller from acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson. This isn’t just another popcorn flick — it blends satire, dystopian ideas, and emotional core to tell a story that’s timely and provocative.
🎬 Release Date & Key Details
One Battle After Another is scheduled for a wide theatrical release on September 26, 2025, in the United States. It also premiered earlier at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on September 8, 2025. The film is being distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and will also be available in IMAX format, marking a first for Anderson’s filmography.
The runtime is about 162 minutes (2 hours, 42 minutes) and it carries an R rating for pervasive language, violence, drug use, and sexual content.
🧩 Plot Synopsis & Themes
While One Battle After Another is not a straight adaptation, it draws loose inspiration from Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland (1990). In Anderson’s version, the story is transported to a modern, shifting political landscape filled with polarization and extremism.
Here’s the core setup:
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Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, a former revolutionary who has retreated from the world after a dramatic past.
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His partner Perfidia (played by Teyana Taylor) vanished under mysterious circumstances, leaving Bob to raise their daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti), largely in isolation.
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Sixteen years later, Bob’s past catches up with him when their old adversary Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), resurfaces and kidnaps Willa.
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Forced back into action, Bob must reunite with former allies and navigate ideological conflicts, chaos, and deeply personal stakes to rescue his daughter and confront the consequences of his past.
The film leans heavily into satire, exploring political extremism from all sides, and avoids preaching. Instead, it holds up a mirror to society’s divisions, asking questions about loyalty, ideology, and humanity.
👥 Cast Highlights
The ensemble cast carries significant star power:
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Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson
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Teyana Taylor as Perfidia
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Sean Penn as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (villain)
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Benicio del Toro as a key ally (Sensei / interpreter of revolution?)
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Regina Hall in a major supporting role
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Chase Infiniti plays Willa, Bob’s daughter, in what many expect to be a breakthrough performance.
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Alana Haim, Wood Harris, and others round out the cast.
Behind the camera, Anderson is wearing multiple hats — writer, director, and producer — and reunites with key collaborators like composer Jonny Greenwood, cinematographer Michael Bauman, editor Andy Jurgensen, and production designer Florencia Martin.
🎥 What to Expect & Why It Matters
Expect One Battle After Another to combine intense action, dark humor, and emotional weight. Critics and early buzz suggest it’s Anderson’s boldest film yet — more accessible, more outward-looking, and politically resonant.
The film has already struck a chord with reviewers for balancing spectacle and message without getting preachy. Some call it an “absurd political satire,” others see emotional resonance in its father-daughter bond.
Also noteworthy: the film reportedly had a substantial production budget (estimated between $130 million and $175 million) making it likely Anderson’s biggest-budget film ever. If it succeeds, it could prove that thoughtful, auteur-driven cinema can still play in the blockbuster arena.
