One Battle After Another Review: A Thriller Fueled by Acting Masterclasses
Everyone was buzzing about One Battle After Another before its release, hailing it as “the best movie of the year.” Usually, when you hear that, it’s either paid promo or critics overhyping something. So, does One Battle After Another actually live up to the noise it generated?
In short: yes. The movie isn’t flawless, but it is one of the most compelling films of 2025. It’s a good old-fashioned cinematic experience, driven by a sharp script, powerhouse performances, and a story that never talks down to you.
So what is it about...
At its core, the film follows French 75, a militant vigilante group that believes violence is the only way to “fix the system.” But don’t expect a simple rebel-vs-establishment narrative. The movie branches out into everything from the rise of white supremacist groups to commentary on the radical left, never shying away from uncomfortable truths.
The emotional core of the story lies with Willa, the 16-year-old daughter of Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), one of French 75’s top leaders who has since gone into hiding. Willa is also the daughter of Perfidia (Teyana Taylor), a thrill-seeker whose morality is questionable at best. The tension kicks in when Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) begins hunting Willa. Much of the second and third acts revolve around whether her father or the Colonel gets to her first. Any more detail would give away too much.
The Cast Went All Out
Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob
DiCaprio doesn’t need anyone to remind the world of his talent, but this might genuinely be one of his finest performances in three decades of Hollywood. Bob is layered, effortlessly funny in one moment, devastatingly intense in another. Watching him balance warmth, regret, and sudden bursts of violence is a masterclass. It could be recency bias, but this is peak DiCaprio.
Sean Penn as Colonel Lockjaw
Penn delivers a chilling portrayal of Lockjaw, a disturbed man with a fragile ego. He’s menacing, unpredictable, and strangely darkly funny. A small but telling detail is when Willa mocks his tight T-shirts, and his defensive reply is, “I’m not gay.” That blend of insecurity and aggression encapsulates the character perfectly.
Benicio Del Toro as Sensei Sergio
As Sergio, Del Toro is Bob’s unlikely anchor. You’re never sure if he’ll betray Bob, but his loyalty is genuine. His advice, “deep breaths, think of the ocean”, grounds Bob in moments of chaos. Del Toro shines in subtle ways, always elevating the tension without overshadowing others.
Teyana Taylor as Perfidia
Taylor is a revelation. Perfidia is no martyr, no idealized revolutionary. She’s reckless, passionate, and dangerously magnetic. Her presence in the film is explosive, and even though her morals are messy, she remains unforgettable.
Chase Infiniti as Willa
The daughter at the center of it all, Willa, is played with grit and depth. She carries the fire of her mother and the quiet kindness of her father. Yes, calling a bomber “kind” sounds odd, but DiCaprio’s Bob has a warmth that contrasts sharply with Perfidia’s chaos. Chase holds her own in every scene, even against seasoned actors.
A Nice Surprise: Alana Haim
Yes, that was Alana Haim (of the Haim sisters) playing Mae West, one of French 75’s original members. Longtime fans of Haim know their creative history with director Paul Thomas Anderson, so her presence feels like a clever Easter egg.
Politics Without the Preachiness
This is one of the sharpest political movies of the decade. It doesn’t preach, nor does it spell everything out for the audience. Instead, it paints a picture of how extremists on both sides, whether the far right or radical left, weaponize their causes.
The film dives into how neo-Nazis hide in plain sight while making loud moves, and how leftist ideals can fracture into dangerous absolutism. It’s not subtle, but it’s also not a lecture. Instead, politics functions as a backdrop that amplifies the human stories.
Technical Brilliance
The background score is pivotal here. As I’ve said before in my review of Highest 2 Lowest, music can make or break a film. In this case, it elevates everything. One standout sequence is a car chase in the final act, no dialogue, just pure sound design and breathtaking cinematography. The buildup of music and visuals creates an edge-of-your-seat moment that embodies “absolute cinema.”
Not Everything’s Perfect
For all its brilliance, One Battle After Another isn’t perfect.
- Marketing vs Reality: It was sold as a nonstop action movie, but it’s more of a slow-burn thriller with bursts of gore and intensity. The action is brutal when it arrives, but it isn’t constant.
- First Act Pacing: The opening 30 minutes feel uneven. At first, you wonder if the hype was misplaced. But once the stage is set, the narrative takes off.
- Expectations of a “Message”: Some might feel the film should have offered a clearer moral stance on global politics. Instead, it simply reflects the world as it is, messy, contradictory, and brutal, leaving the audience to wrestle with the moral ambiguity.
Final Thoughts
One Battle After Another is one of the best films of 2025. It’s easy to approach hype with skepticism, but this movie earns it. Between its fearless performances, gripping politics, and masterful visuals, it’s an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
Should You Watch It?
Watch it. If you can, watch it in theaters, the big screen amplifies the tension and cinematography. But even if you wait for streaming, this is a must-watch.
Rating:
We’re giving it a 4.5 out of 5 stars. As a movie, it’s a solid 4, but DiCaprio and Penn push it into greatness.
That’s my take on One Battle After Another. What about you? Did DiCaprio give one of his best performances? Was Penn’s Lockjaw as terrifying for you as it was for me? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, I’d love to hear your take. And if you enjoyed this review, share it with your fellow movie fans so more people can join the conversation.
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