It’s up for several Oscars and now you can watch it at home: ‘One Battle After Another’ confirms its release date

Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film is already shaping up as one of the defining movies of 2025. Now, audiences will soon be able to watch it at home. “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, is set to premiere on HBO Max on December 19, putting an Oscar contender just a click away for U.S. viewers.

The film has quickly earned a reputation as one of the year’s standout releases, and awards season chatter is only getting louder.

A critical darling with awards momentum

The numbers tell a compelling story. “One Battle After Another” earned five stars from MeriStation, an 7.9 out of 10 on IMDb, and a 7.2 on FilmAffinity. That level of critical consistency has positioned it as a serious contender across multiple Oscar categories.

For many critics, Anderson’s latest work stands comfortably alongside the best films of the year, both in ambition and execution.

A bold new chapter for Paul Thomas Anderson

In MeriStation’s review, they wrote the following about the Leonardo DiCaprio–led film:

“It is radically different from ‘There Will Be Blood,’ ‘Magnolia,’ or ‘Boogie Nights,’ yet just as energetic and just as essential. ‘One Battle After Another’ is a force of nature that will be remembered as a major cinematic achievement for years to come. It stands as one of the most powerful portraits ever made of the turbulent times we are living through. There is so much here that it is almost impossible for any viewer to walk away without taking something with them. This is Paul Thomas Anderson’s year.”

Rather than revisiting familiar ground, Anderson pushes into new thematic territory while maintaining the intensity and precision that define his filmography.

What ‘One Battle After Another’ is about

The film stars DiCaprio as a former revolutionary who has spent years removed from the fight. Circumstances force him back into action, confronting old enemies amid a climate of political tension, racism, and militarized violence.

“One Battle After Another” is adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel “Vineland," which explores radical political movements in the United States during the 1960s. Anderson reimagines that material for a modern audience, drawing sharp parallels between past upheaval and today’s social and political divisions.

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