Paul Thomas Anderson Just Released His Tenth Action-Thriller: *One Battle After Another* (2025)

Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) has just unveiled his tenth film, the action-thriller *One Battle After Another* (2025). The near-universal PDA (public display of affection) it has received suggests that this might be his most beloved film yet. But is it really?

Firstly, it’s important to understand that for a writer-director like PTA, there are actually multiple “PTAs”—distinct phases or facets of his career. By this, I mean the expanding scope of his cleverly original writing and filmmaking, incorporating a wider worldview and higher artistic ambitions.

Inspiration and Turning Points

Quentin Tarantino’s *Inglourious Basterds* (2009) was such a pivot for him. For PTA, *There Will Be Blood* (2007) marked that turning point.

I remember walking across Berlin in 2007, surrounded by billboards for *There Will Be Blood,* wondering if it was the only film premiering at that year’s Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival). What explained this blitzkrieg of promotion? Surely, it was PTA’s first film in five years (since *Punch-Drunk Love*), but more so, it starred Daniel Day-Lewis, an actor famously selective about his roles.

Auteurs like PTA achieve scale or crossover into the mainstream when renowned actors invest in their projects. Box office numbers often become secondary. Studios naturally follow the lead of great actors, who are also some of the greatest fans of visionary directors and storytellers. Their involvement is a kind of annual bonus for these auteurs.

For example, Bradley Cooper’s role in PTA’s *Licorice Pizza* (2021) was essentially a masculine monologue—and yet, it made an impact. Similarly, Joaquin Phoenix’s intense, transformative performance in *Joker* (2019) owes a debt to his prior work with PTA in *The Master* (2012).

Global Cinema and Indian Mainstream

The same thought applies to Indian mainstream cinema, though with differences. We’ve gradually consumed every ounce of collective acclaim—press, awards, plaudits, reviews—turning movies into a numbers game. There’s also a noticeable bias toward the types of films from the non-Western world that get accepted at top film festivals, making Indian mainstream actors hesitant to fully commit to that global stage—if at all. Hopefully, this will change, but just not yet.

The Early Works: *Punch-Drunk Love* and *There Will Be Blood*

What did the low-key surreal romcom *Punch-Drunk Love* (2002), about a loser salesman with seven sisters, do for its lead, Adam Sandler? It unveiled his staggering emotional range beyond the lovable clown persona. Even Daniel Day-Lewis could see that.

Where did PTA take things next with *There Will Be Blood*? He narrated the complex history of capitalism, religion, America, and oil—all through three to four main characters, in under three hours. The film is intellectually intense enough to keep your mind off the endless scroll of Instagram Reels for a while. Great cinema is our only protective antidote against senseless scrolling—and the big screen isn’t going anywhere, anyway!

*There Will Be Blood* perfectly fits into PTA’s recurring personal themes: greed, redemption, power, submission, and sexual repression.

Recurring Themes and Influences

PTA established his artistic obsession early on with characters living on the fringes—people who are anywhere on a spectrum between self-absorbed, flawed/frustrated, and fully messed-up “incel losers.” This began with his cult classic *Boogie Nights* (1997), which also syncs well with Martin Scorsese’s work.

San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles—Anderson’s childhood home—is often the backdrop of his films, much like Little Italy in New York City is to Scorsese.

What is *Boogie Nights* if not the porn industry’s version of *Goodfellas* (1990)?

Period as a “Piece de Résistance”

PTA often transports audiences into another world by placing them in a different time period, making the setting his pièce de résistance. Once immersed, viewers often experience sweeping landscapes and profound truths that elevate his fiction without detracting from the story.

For example, *Magnolia* (1999)—possibly PTA’s most personal film about dying fathers—is often remembered for Tom Cruise’s role in the ensemble cast. Viewed through the lens of misogynistic pick-up artist communities that surged in popularity around the mid-2000s (after Neil Strauss’s bestseller *The Game*), that character takes on a new dimension.

Similarly, *The Master* (2012) resonates more deeply when equated to Scientology, which Cruise reportedly follows in real life. Notably, the film’s violence stays off-screen; the cult’s cruelty is conveyed through powerful performances that hit harder than any onscreen bloodshed could.

Recent Work and *One Battle After Another*

PTA’s ninth film, *Licorice Pizza* (2021), about a 15-year-old hustler in love with a 25-year-old woman who’s his groupie, seemed to be his peak in terms of straightforward storytelling—like a novel translated directly to film, without obvious cinematic flourishes.

What about *One Battle After Another* (2025)? The film stars Scorsese’s muse Leonardo DiCaprio, who delivers an unforgettable phone scene—theatre audiences laughed just like they did during *The Wolf of Wall Street* (2013), even as gunfire rages in the background.

The setting of *One Battle After Another* feels both period and present-day. Its wild zaniness recalls PTA’s earlier works, fused with the deep politics that have defined his later films. Sean Penn’s performance as a white supremacist soldier is a standout and deserves the Best Supporting Actor award.

PTA’s latest film is perhaps his most current: a blend of irony and youthful rebelliousness. I interpret it as a love letter to Generation Z, who will hopefully dive into his entire filmography after finishing their praise for what might be his most accessible picture ever.

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*One Battle After Another* reflects Paul Thomas Anderson’s evolution as a filmmaker, balancing his trademark artistic obsessions with a fresh, engaging style—making it a must-watch for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
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