MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Warner Bros. Pictures is set to deliver one of the year’s most anticipated films with the release of One Battle After Another, a high-octane thriller written, directed, and produced by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson. Starring Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio, the film opens exclusively in cinemas and IMAX nationwide on September 24.
Two decades in the making, Anderson’s latest feature balances sharp humor with heart-stopping action.
At the heart of One Battle After Another is Bob (DiCaprio), a washed-up revolutionary living off the grid in a haze of paranoia, alongside his spirited daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti). Their fragile world is shattered when Bob’s long-dormant nemesis (Sean Penn) resurfaces after 16 years, leading to Willa’s disappearance. The former radical must confront the wreckage of his past as father and daughter are drawn into a desperate fight for survival.
The film also stars Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor, with Anderson weaving together a story that Producer Sara Murphy notes is “grounded, but full of incredible world-building.” She adds: “Paul introduces heightened versions of various factions that bring a myriad of villains, foes, and unlikely friends. While it doesn’t take itself too seriously, it ultimately delivers a deeply emotional father-daughter journey.”
Despite its thrilling premise, One Battle After Another is laced with Anderson’s signature brand of humor. “The things I think are funny are the things I think are funny, it’s kind of that simple. When you’re on set and you are collaborating with actors, if they are trying to be funny, it’s not going to be funny. Generally, humor can come out of sincerity, or a dedication to something.
“I find humor in peculiar places, for sure, and when you’re on set, if you’re not trying to make an out-and-out comedy, an actor will generally let you know if they are having to try too hard. I will say, though, it’s really nice to go for a cheap laugh if you have a silly idea. Just go for it.”
Industry icons have already praised the film. Director Steven Spielberg, who recently moderated a Q&A with Anderson at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, said he “had a great time laughing all the way” through the screening.
With DiCaprio leading a stellar ensemble cast under Anderson’s direction, One Battle After Another promises a rare blend of spectacle and intimacy. Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Ghoulardi Film Company, a Paul Thomas Anderson film – set to reaffirm Anderson’s reputation as one of contemporary cinema’s most daring storytellers.
One Battle After Another opens nationwide on September 24, 2025, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
