Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, known for his critically acclaimed works such as There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread, has another hit film on his hands. One Battle After Another will be released in theaters in the United States on September 26, 2025. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the production is already receiving high praise from critics, which has resulted in an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.
The action thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Chase Infiniti (film debut), follows a washed-up revolutionary whose past comes back to haunt him.
One Battle After Another: Characters and their descriptions
Bob Ferguson (DiCaprio) – This is the lead character in the film; he’s the washed-up revolutionary who lives in a state of paranoia. Ferguson lives off-grid with his self-reliant daughter, Willa, and has to revert to his old ways to save her.
Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Penn) – Sometimes enemies go away forever, but that’s not the case here. Lockjaw is Ferguson’s nemesis, who resurfaces after 16 years on a mission to pick up where he left off.
Perfidia Beverly Hills (Taylor) – Hills is Ferguson’s pregnant wife and Willa’s mom. Teyana Taylor describes the character as a “very complex woman, who knows how to get herself out of anything,” although she’s usually the one who gets herself into messy situations.
Willa Ferguson (Infiniti) – Bob and Perfidia’s daughter, who goes missing. Willa finds herself caught in a web of her father’s past
Sergio St. Carlos (del Toro) – Bob’s right-hand man/ accomplice who isn’t perfect, but doesn’t aim to be
Deandra (Hall) – According to Regina Hall, her character Deandra is the heart of the group, and she has a soft spot for Willa.
The film might be one of the best action-thriller releases of 2025
Between its star-studded cast, Paul Thomas Anderson’s impeccable writing, and more, One Battle After Another is already being called one of the best action-thrillers of the year. The cast performances are stellar, and according to many of the Rotten Tomatoes reviews, it’s Anderson’s “most entertaining film yet.”
Header image: LEONARDO DI CAPRIO as Bob Ferguson in “One Battle After Another.” A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
