“One Battle After Another” surges ahead in the awards race after sweeping early critics and industry votes

03 December 2025

Paul Thomas Anderson: ‘I didn’t expect this actually.’ Photograph: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute

The political thriller-comedy “One Battle After Another,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has rapidly emerged as the frontrunner for this season’s top film accolades after a spate of early wins that have industry watchers calling it a likely contender for Best Picture at next year’s Academy Awards.

The momentum began when the film took home Best Feature at the Gotham Awards and was immediately followed by the top prize at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. Within days it also dominated the National Board of Review Awards, leaving with Best Film, Best Director, and acting honours for DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro and rising star Chase Infiniti.

What makes this streak remarkable is how “One Battle After Another” defies several norms, it is a studio-backed, high-budget movie with a sprawling cast, yet it carries the auteur imprint and political urgency more typically found in indie or art-house films. Its budget reportedly exceeded $130 million, yet its gritty themes and satirical edge have struck a chord with critics and awards voters alike.

The film is adapted albeit loosely from a novel by Thomas Pynchon, transposed into a darkly comic thriller about resistance, surveillance, corruption and a father’s desperate attempt to protect his daughter. DiCaprio plays the former revolutionary who’s pulled back into violence after a brutal abduction, while del Toro portrays a morally ambiguous smuggler-mentor. The tension between idealistic rebellion and brutal realism paints a cinematic world that feels both urgent and timeless.

Critics have praised the film for pulling off a rare balancing act: making a politically charged story accessible without diluting its impact. Its mix of blistering action, satirical humour and emotional undercurrents especially in the father-daughter relationship at its core gives it a broad appeal while leaving space for serious reflection. For many, it marks a new direction for mainstream cinema: bold, provocative, and unafraid to wrestle with uncomfortable truths.

Still, the path ahead is not guaranteed. The film faces stiff competition from other acclaimed works making their legion for Oscar consideration, challenging dramas, inventive indies, and culturally significant pieces. And while critics and early-season awards have delivered strong signals, the commercial performance remains modest compared with blockbuster standards. Some analysts even warn that if the film wins big, it could become one of the few Best Picture winners to do so with a less-than-stellar financial return.

Yet for now the tide is with “One Battle After Another.” Its historic streak of critics-circle and industry wins reminds the awards race that innovation, risk and bold storytelling still matter, even in a franchise-dominated entertainment landscape. For director Anderson, longtime respected but often overlooked by the Academy, this could finally be the moment when craft and courage align with recognition. For audiences, it might mean the revival of a kind of cinema that demands thought as much as attention.