The first reviews are coming in for the movie One Battle After Another and it sounds like this is going to be the frontrunner for all the major awards at the 2026 Oscars!
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the brand new film from Paul Thomas Anderson, the man behind such movies as There Will Be Blood, Inherent Vice, Boogie Nights, and Licorice Pizza.
While Leo and co-stars Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro are all Oscar winners, Anderson is an 11-time nominee who still hasn’t won yet. It sounds like that might change this time!
One Battle After Another hits theaters on September 26. Here’s the synopsis from IMDb: “When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue one of their own’s daughter.”
Also starring in the film are Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. Watch the trailer now!
Head inside to read the first reviews from critics…
Following the red carpet premiere in Los Angeles, critics are sharing their first reactions to the new movie. Read below.
The fall fests didn’t move the Oscar needle much, but ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER certainly will. Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest could be nominated across the board (Sean Penn & Teyana Taylor are standouts) and finally nab PTA the top Oscar. Now, to see if Warner Bros can open it…
— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) September 9, 2025
Paul Thomas Anderson’s #OneBattleAfterAnother rips! A riveting masterclass handling absurdity, satire & suspense. DiCaprio is in top form. Teyana Taylor is a standout. Chase Infiniti is a revelation. She steals the show. Jonny Greenwood’s score hits like no other. @warnerbros pic.twitter.com/d2rrbgc752
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) September 9, 2025
To quote Steven Spielberg, “What an insane movie.” One Battle After another is phenomenal, and filled oh such fantastic performances. Sean Fucking Penn! Leonardo! All round excellence. Loved it. PTA, delivered in aces! A solid best picture contender. pic.twitter.com/YSCsZDMFK3
— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) September 9, 2025
Look I’m aware I’m not unbiased. But ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER earns the M
Word – a total Masterpiece. Can’t remember the last time my most anticipated film of the year was also the best.— Jenelle Riley (@jenelleriley) September 9, 2025
This movie is chaos in the best way. Political terror, heists, satire, and weed! Leo’s paranoid dad, Penn’s menace, Teyana’s fire, Benicio’s calm. PTA blends satire, paranoia & chaos into a movie that’s both funny and terrifying. #OneBattleAfterAnother pic.twitter.com/8BLkJKGDFv
— TMB: The Correct Opinion (@the_movieblog) September 9, 2025
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: pardon my French (75) but what a fcking riot. Buoyed by Johnny Greenwood’s bellicose score, PTA revisits familiar themes, namely the tension btwn the responsibilities of love vs requirements of vocation, but w/ renewed fury.
Blisteringly efficacious. pic.twitter.com/38upCyKGkR— Zachary Lee @TIFF50 (@zacharoni22) September 9, 2025
Paul Thomas Anderson’s #OneBattleAfterAnother is an absolute triumph—an explosive action spectacle filtered through the artistry of one of cinema’s great filmmakers. Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyona Taylor and Sean Penn deliver especially memorable performances in a story that’s as… pic.twitter.com/c3Im2QfyrX
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) September 9, 2025
Now that the social embargo is lifted, I can finally say that One Battle After Another is my favorite movie of the year so far. Hilarious, gorgeously shot, and expertly directed with stellar performances. Don’t be surprised if Sean Penn gets a Supporting Actor nom. pic.twitter.com/kP401fmsnO
— Zachary S. Marsh (@ZachSMarsh) September 8, 2025
I’m not a real critic so I can officially talk about it now— ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER was excellent. In a just world, Sean Penn wins an Oscar. Whole cast is strong. Direction is unsurprisingly stellar, it feels as grand as I hoped, super funny. My favorite movie of 2025 so far.
— Adam (@interpol4ntics) September 8, 2025
I laughed out loud throughout, it’s probably Anderson’s funniest movie, and by the end I was so deeply moved I was crying. Sean Penn will win an incredibly well-deserved Oscar. And the action! My god. I haven’t stopped thinking about the car chase and what the camera does.
— Brett (@BrettRedacted) September 8, 2025
Source: justjared.com