One Battle After Another: Plot, Cast and Runtime

What Is One Battle After Another About?

One Battle After Another (2025) follows Bob Ferguson, a former revolutionary who has retreated from political struggle, and his daughter Willa. When a dangerous figure from Bob's past reappears and Willa goes missing, he is forced into a frantic rescue. Paul Thomas Anderson directs Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro and Teyana Taylor in a film that mixes thriller tension, family drama, action and dark comedy. The running time is about 2 hours 41 minutes; some listings round to 162 minutes.

What is the story about?

Bob has spent years living off the grid, trying to avoid the conflicts that once defined him. His uneasy peace breaks when Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw returns. With Willa in danger, Bob must reconnect with people and skills he thought he had left behind. The immediate stakes are personal: protecting his daughter. The larger stakes involve the unfinished consequences of ideological battles and choices made years earlier.

The story moves between suspense and absurd humor, often contrasting Bob's disorganized panic with the severity of the danger. Describing it only as a political thriller misses the father–daughter center; describing it only as an action comedy understates its interest in fear, loyalty and the cost of past decisions.

Main characters and cast

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson and Chase Infiniti plays Willa. Sean Penn portrays Lockjaw, whose return drives the danger. Benicio del Toro appears as Sensei Sergio, one of Bob's important allies, and Teyana Taylor plays Perfidia Beverly Hills, a figure tied to the group's earlier history. These character names are useful when interpreting reviews, but their relationships should not be stretched into unsupported explanations of plot twists.

Anderson wrote and directed the movie, released by Warner Bros. Pictures in US theaters on September 26, 2025. The US rating is R, with language, violence, sexual content and drug use cited in classification information. It is not designed as a children’s adventure despite some farcical moments.

Is it based on Vineland?

The film draws inspiration from Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, originally published in 1990. It is not a movie titled Vineland and should not be presented as a literal page-by-page adaptation. Anderson reshapes themes and narrative material into a separate film with its own characters, action construction and contemporary emphases. Readers searching for the novel should consult a book-focused resource instead of assuming they have found an alternate movie title.

How long is it, and how should you plan to watch?

The most common US display is 2 hours 41 minutes; some institutional listings specify 162 minutes. Either way, plan for a long feature, especially if you prefer to watch without breaks. The pace combines extended action with quieter moments of family tension and political unease. The shifting tone is part of the experience, not a sign that different versions of the film have been mixed together.

For viewers deciding whether to watch, focus on the plot summary, cast and content rating here. Detailed judgments about performances and filmmaking belong in the separate review roundup, while local theatrical schedules require a dated check with a theater rather than a general plot guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is One Battle After Another about?

A former revolutionary tries to protect his daughter after an enemy from his past returns.

Who is Bob Ferguson?

Bob is Leonardo DiCaprio's character, a former radical living an isolated life with daughter Willa.

How long is One Battle After Another?

Approximately 2 hours 41 minutes; some sources round its length to 162 minutes.

Is it based on Vineland?

The film is inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, but is not simply the same story under a different title.

What is its US rating?

The film is rated R for mature content, including violence and strong language.