The new film by a true master director hit theaters in 2025 and absolutely thrilled MeinMMO author Christoph Waldboth. Those who have missed the movie so far can catch it now at home on HBO Max.
On average, I go to the cinema two to three times a week. I see many films on the big screen each year, and it’s rare that I watch a movie more than once in theaters.
One Battle After Another was one such film.
After the first visit, I knew I had to return. Well, in the end, I watched the film four times in the cinema because it thrilled me so much.
One Battle After Another is the new film by Paul Thomas Anderson. He is one of the great directors of modern cinema and has long etched himself into film history with works such as Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood or The Master – to name just a few.
From the trailers, it was only possible to vaguely guess what kind of film One Battle After Another would be. After all, Anderson has already ventured into various genres. The result surprised me, captivated me, made me laugh, and prompted me to think. And the best part: It entertained me wonderfully four times – even though the film is quite long at 162 minutes.
Viva la revolución!
What is One Battle After Another about? The film initially tells the story of the couple Pat Calhoun and Perfidia Beverly Hills – two revolutionaries and part of a terrorist group in the USA. The organization, called “French 75”, is responsible for a series of attacks, bank robberies, and rescue operations from refugee camps.
During one of these actions, they encounter Steven J. Lockjaw, an officer who develops a strange obsession for Perfidia and decides to hunt her and Pat.
I don’t want to reveal much more about the plot at this point. Just so much: The film can be roughly divided into two halves, with the second being significantly longer and set after a time jump of about 16 years.
Great Actor Cinema
What makes the film so good? Paul Thomas Anderson, as is often the case with his works, wrote the screenplay himself and completely impresses in this regard. The plot is a real rollercoaster ride and surprises with twists and political commentary that never feels forced.
Throughout its runtime, the story manages to remain engaging and captivates with its characters. Leonardo DiCaprio shines as the stoner, slightly swaying Pat, delivering a wonderfully funny performance. Teyana Taylor as Perfidia, Benicio del Toro as Sensei Sergio, and Willa, played by newcomer Chase Infiniti, should not go unmentioned.
However, the film’s standout performance is by Sean Penn, who embodies the villain Lockjaw. The actor approaches the role very physically, evoking in me a mix of fear, disgust, and even sympathy. Lockjaw is certainly a cinematic villain for eternity and can easily stand alongside others like Heath Ledger’s Joker, Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter, or Annie Wilkes, played by Kathy Bates.
A Film for the Big Screen
Paul Thomas Anderson’s directorial work in this film is clearly more action-oriented than in his previous works. Especially a sequence near the end took my breath away in the cinema thanks to a simple camera trick – keyword rollercoaster ride.
The big images, the playful soundtrack, all made it clear to me: One Battle After Another is a film for the cinema, or at least for the biggest screen possible. If you’re lucky, you might still catch the film in one cinema or another. All others can currently access the freshly launched streaming service HBO Max.
For me, it’s clear that One Battle After Another is one of the major highlights of last year’s cinema. I’m not alone in this: On Rotten Tomatoes, 429 critics gave it a rating of 94%. And at this year’s awards ceremonies in the USA, the film is already cleaning up – among other things, it won the award for Best Comedy at the Golden Globes.
I firmly believe that One Battle After Another will also play a significant role at the Oscars 2026. The only obvious competitor in the race for the main prize is currently the drama Hamnet, anything else would be surprising. So in conclusion: If you’re looking for pure, gripping cinema, One Battle After Another is just right for you. More recommendations for HBO Max can be found on MeinMMO: HBO Max in Germany: These 5 films and series you should watch
