One Battle After Another facts for kids
Quick facts for kids One Battle After Another |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Jonny Greenwood |
| Cinematography | Michael Bauman |
| Editing by | Andy Jurgensen |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Release date(s) | September 8, 2025 (TCL Chinese Theatre) September 26, 2025 (United States) |
| Running time | 161 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $130–175 million |
| Money made | $208.7 million |
One Battle After Another is an exciting adventure film from 2025. It was produced, written, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The movie was inspired by the 1990 novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon. It features a large cast of stars, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti in her first film role.
The story is about a former activist who must protect his daughter. They are chased by a powerful officer, forcing the father back into his old ways. Director Paul Thomas Anderson had wanted to make a film based on Vineland since the early 2000s. He eventually combined his own ideas with parts of the novel to create the screenplay.
Filming took place in California from January to June 2024. The movie used a special camera format called VistaVision, which had not been used much since the 1960s. One Battle After Another first showed at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on September 8, 2025. It was then released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 26, 2025.
The film had a budget of $130–175 million, making it the most expensive movie Anderson has ever made. It earned $208.7 million worldwide. While it didn't earn as much as some expected, it still became Anderson's highest-grossing film. One Battle After Another received many good reviews and won several awards. These included Best Picture at the 31st Critics' Choice Awards and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 83rd Golden Globes. It also received 13 nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The American Film Institute named it one of the top ten films of 2025.
Contents
Meet the Cast: Who Plays Whom?
- Leonardo DiCaprio plays "Ghetto" Pat Calhoun, also known as "Rocketman" or Bob Ferguson. He is a former member of the French 75 group, skilled with special tools.
- Sean Penn plays Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, a powerful officer who chases the French 75.
- Benicio del Toro plays Sergio St. Carlos, Willa's Karate teacher and a leader in the community of Baktan Cross.
- Regina Hall plays Deandra, also known as "Lady Champagne," a member of the French 75.
- Teyana Taylor plays Perfidia Beverly Hills, a French 75 member, Willa's mother, and Pat's partner.
- Chase Infiniti plays Willa Ferguson, also known as Charlene Calhoun, the daughter of Bob and Perfidia.
- Wood Harris plays Laredo, a French 75 member.
- Alana Haim plays "Mae West," a French 75 member.
- Paul Grimstad plays Howard Sommerville, also known as "Billy Goat" or "Gringo Coyote," a French 75 member.
- Shayna McHayle plays "Junglepussy," a French 75 member.
- Tony Goldwyn plays Virgil Throckmorton, a member of the Christmas Adventurers Club, a secret, powerful group.
- John Hoogenakker plays Tim Smith, a member of the Christmas Adventurers Club.
- Starletta DuPois plays Grandma Minnie, Perfidia's mother.
- Eric Schweig plays Avanti, a bounty hunter.
- D. W. Moffett as Bill Desmond, a member of the Christmas Adventurers Club.
- Kevin Tighe as Roy More, a member of the Christmas Adventurers Club.
- Jim Downey as Sandy Irvine, a member of the Christmas Adventurers Club.
- James Raterman as Colonel Danvers, Lockjaw's second-in-command.
- Dijon Duenas as "Talleyrand," a French 75 member.
- Dan Chariton as Comrade Josh, a French 75 member.
- Jon Beavers as 1776 James, a member of a dangerous group.
- Tisha Sloan as Willa's teacher.
- Jena Malone as the voice of the French 75 greeting code.
Behind the Scenes: Making the Movie
How the Idea for the Film Started
Paul Thomas Anderson thought about making a movie from the 1990 novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon for many years. He found it hard because he loved the book so much. Instead, he came up with two other ideas: one about exciting car chases and another about a strong female activist. One Battle After Another brought these two ideas together. It also kept some parts of Vineland, especially the close relationship between a father and daughter.
Choosing the Actors
In June 2023, news spread that Anderson's next film would star Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Viggo Mortensen, and Joaquin Phoenix. Warner Bros. Pictures agreed to produce it. By January 2024, DiCaprio and Hall were confirmed for the movie, and Sean Penn joined them. DiCaprio reportedly received his usual large fee for his role. In February, Alana Haim, Wood Harris, Chase Infiniti, Shayna McHayle, and Teyana Taylor also joined the cast.
Chase Infiniti went through a six-month audition process to get the role of Willa Ferguson. Willa is the brave but sometimes confused teenage daughter of the main character. Infiniti had many callbacks and screen tests. She also did "chemistry reads" with DiCaprio and Hall to see how well they would work together. Infiniti said these felt like amazing acting classes. She had been a kickboxing trainer, but she still trained for months in karate and mixed martial arts. This prepared her for stunts and intense scenes with Penn.
The casting director, Cassandra Kulukundis, said Anderson was looking for "anyone who's right" for Willa. It didn't matter if they were famous or had acted before. Kulukundis realized how important the physical demands of the role were. She was very impressed when she saw Infiniti dance. Infiniti's ability to act strongly alongside DiCaprio was also key.
Filming Locations and Challenges
Principal photography started in California in January 2024. The film, known then as BC Project, shot for eleven days in Humboldt County. This included places like Arcata and Eureka. The filmmakers even consulted local experts, like the Sisters of the Valley, who inspired a group in the movie. Anderson and his team visited a high school prom to observe music and fashion. Students from the school were cast as extras in a big scene.
In February, filming moved to Sacramento. They shot scenes at government buildings. A temporary camp for people experiencing homelessness was cleared for filming, which caused some discussion. The former mansion of Governor Ronald Reagan was used for the outside shots of the Christmas Adventurers Club's headquarters.
Filming paused for two and a half months because Benicio del Toro had another movie to make. When he returned, he had only 10 days between projects. Del Toro said it was a challenge to quickly switch from one character to another. Other filming locations included Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Borrego Springs in May 2024. They also filmed in El Paso, Texas, in June 2024, using the city's streetcars. More scenes were shot in San Diego and near the Mexico–United States border.
How the Film Looked: VistaVision Cameras
The movie was filmed by Michael Bauman using VistaVision cameras and 35 mm film. This was his third time working with Anderson. About 75 to 80% of the film was shot with VistaVision. This special camera format creates a very clear, wide image. Bauman said Anderson wanted the film to have a "rough" look, like movies from the 1970s. He mentioned films like The French Connection as inspiration.
VistaVision uses film horizontally, making each frame twice as big as normal 35 mm film. This creates a much richer picture. It was perfect for capturing the action scenes, especially the final car chase. Bauman explained that it was tricky to make the rich VistaVision look like a 1970s film. He pushed the cameras to their limits, using a huge amount of film. He said seeing the film projected in VistaVision in a theater creates a powerful emotional feeling.
The exciting car chase scene was filmed in a unique location found by accident. Bauman and his team worked with stunt coordinator Allan Padelford to capture the scene's energy. For the film's colors and lighting, they looked at the work of filmmaker Wong Kar-wai and the movie The Silence of the Lambs. Actor and camera collector Giovanni Ribisi helped by letting the production use VistaVision cameras he had restored.
Putting It All Together: Editing and Budget
Andy Jurgensen edited the film. He has worked with Anderson many times before. Jurgensen knew how to be flexible to match the director's ideas. He described editing the final car chase as a long process. There were no detailed storyboards, just ideas for the beginning, middle, and end. He had to gather shots from many angles and find the best parts to put together.
Jurgensen was on location during filming. He watched the daily footage with Anderson on a special vintage VistaVision projector. This helped him understand the filming process better.
In February 2024, Variety reported the film's budget was $115 million. By August 2024, The Wall Street Journal said it was "more than $140 million." They noted that Anderson's highest-earning film before this, There Will Be Blood (2007), made $76 million. However, Warner Bros. believed Leonardo DiCaprio's popularity would make the budget worthwhile. Rumors also spread that the film was inspired by Pynchon's Vineland. Anderson had previously adapted Pynchon's Inherent Vice into a film in 2014.
By August 2025, Variety reported the final budget was $175 million. Warner Bros. said it cost $130 million. The film was the most expensive of Anderson's career. An additional $70 million was spent on marketing.
The film had several test screenings starting in January 2025. This was the first time Anderson had tested a film with an audience since Boogie Nights (1997). Based on the feedback, he cut eight to ten minutes from the movie. Warner Bros. wanted to make the film as successful as possible but did not ask for big changes. Jurgensen said the tests helped confirm that the humor in the film was working well.
The film's official title, One Battle After Another, was confirmed in March 2025. Warner Bros. released a first look trailer then. This movie is the sixth time Anderson has worked with composer Jonny Greenwood (from the band Radiohead). It is also the sixth collaboration with Anderson and producer Adam Somner, who sadly passed away in November 2024. The film is dedicated to Somner.
In February 2026, Variety reported that about $14 million was spent on the film's awards campaign.
The Music of the Film
Jonny Greenwood composed the film's music. It was recorded with the London Contemporary Orchestra. The soundtrack was released by Nonesuch Records on September 26, 2025. The movie also includes two songs by Jon Brion. This marked the first time Anderson and Brion worked together since Punch-Drunk Love (2002).
Getting the Word Out: Marketing the Movie
The marketing campaign for One Battle After Another cost $70 million. On March 27, 2025, Leonardo DiCaprio launched his own YouTube channel to share the first trailer. More footage was shown at the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon in April 2025. The second trailer came out online on July 24, 2025. On the same day, an announcement on the film's Instagram said the movie would be featured in Fortnite Creative starting September 12. Posts on Twitter also used funny internet memes with clips from the film.
Many film critics and news outlets found the marketing to be "confusing" and "unusual." Dana Nussbaum, a co-head of marketing for Warner Bros. Pictures, defended this approach. She said that every movie campaign needs to be unique and change quickly based on what the audience wants.
When and Where to See It: Release Information
In Theaters
The film was released on September 26, 2025, with early showings on September 24. It was the first of Anderson's films to be released in IMAX. The movie was originally set for an August 8, 2025, release. However, it was moved to September to be considered for awards season. It premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on September 8, 2025. A global tour followed, starting in London on September 16, Mexico City on September 18, and ending in New York City on September 21. The film also screened at Fantastic Fest on September 23, 2025.
One Battle After Another was shown in the special VistaVision format at select theaters. These included the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles and the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London. The film was also available in other formats, such as 4DX, digital IMAX, Dolby Vision, IMAX 70 mm, and standard 70 mm film. In January 2026, it was announced that the film would return to some IMAX 70 mm locations to celebrate its Academy Award nominations.
Watching at Home
One Battle After Another became available for digital streaming on November 14, 2025. It was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on January 20, 2026. The movie started streaming on HBO Max on December 19, 2025. It will be released on Disney+ Hotstar in India on February 26, 2026. A company that tracks streaming data, FlixPatrol, reported that One Battle After Another was the most-streamed film on HBO Max within its first four days in December 2025. It was also the number one film globally on the streaming service by December 23.
More to Explore
- The Battle of Algiers, a 1966 war film that the main character, Bob Ferguson, watches on television.
- List of media set in San Diego
- "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", a famous poem and song whose lyrics are used by the French 75 in the film as a secret code.
 | Charles R. Drew |
 | Benjamin Banneker |
 | Jane C. Wright |
 | Roger Arliner Young |
