Leonardo DiCaprio has been at the pinnacle of his career for over three decades. From Titanic to The Revenant, he has left an indelible mark with every role. Now, he’s set to dominate 2025 with Paul Thomas Anderson’s big-budget political epic One Battle After Another. Even before its release, the film has earned praise from one of cinema’s greatest luminaries, Steven Spielberg.
At a Q&A following a special screening at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, Spielberg described the film as “wild,” “capturing the spirit of our times,” and “incredible.” He highlighted its unprecedented intensity of action sequences in Anderson’s filmography. Spielberg noted that the film’s tone evokes Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, striking a dark comedic line that “leaves you no choice but to laugh in the face of reality’s weight.”
Inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, the film centers on Bob, played by DiCaprio, a former revolutionary now living a reclusive life with his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). When an old nemesis (Sean Penn) resurfaces, and Willa disappears, Bob embarks on a journey woven with personal and political reckonings.
Anderson shared that working with DiCaprio was a creative whirlwind, with the actor constantly offering ideas, often prefacing them with, “This is a terrible idea, you’ll hate it,” only for them to evolve into extraordinary scenes. This creative synergy is said to directly fuel the film’s dynamism.
With a $130 million budget, One Battle After Another is one of Warner Bros.’ most ambitious projects. Bolstered by Spielberg’s praise, it has already become one of the most anticipated films of the year. Balancing dark comedy, political tension, and character-driven epic storytelling, the film marks a new chapter in Anderson’s career and adds another milestone to DiCaprio’s legacy.
🎬 One Battle After Another hits theaters on September 26, 2025.
