Leonardo DiCaprio’s next movie, One Battle After Another, is almost here, and it is likely to continue a divisive trend after the actor’s last political thriller movie. Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming dark comedy is one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, and while it will probably be well-received by many, it could be one of DiCaprio’s most controversial movies yet.

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most beloved filmmakers working today, with him being the mind behind hits like Boogie Nights and Punch-Drunk Love. The director’s more recent films, such as Phantom Thread and Licorice Pizza, have proven that he still makes incredible movies, and many are hoping that One Battle After Another continues the director’s H๏τ streak.

One Battle After Another tells the story of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bob Ferguson, an ex-revolutionary who must work with his radical political group in order to save one’s daughter from a recently resurfaced enemy. While the One Battle After Another trailer is comedic, the film will definitely be political, meaning that it will be difficult to make everyone happy.

One Of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Last Movies Was Among His Most Divisive

Don’t Look Up Split Viewers Down The Middle

Leonardo DiCaprio was praised for his performance in Martin Scorsese’s 2023 film Killers of the Flower Moon, which itself was a politically-charged story. However, the movie he was in before that, 2020’s Don’t Look Up, was even more political. The film is still divisive to this day, with it being one of DiCaprio’s most controversial films.

Don’t Look Up tells the story of two astronomers who discover that an asteroid is on a direct course for Earth, with them attempting to get the word out so that the world can be saved. However, the astronomers find difficulty dealing with American politicians and the media environment, as everybody seems to be ignoring the clear threat to continued existence.

The Adam McKay film is an obvious commentary on climate change, which is a controversial issue in American politics despite scientific consensus. The film’s handling of the subject and its discussions of modern politics and the media environment divided viewers, explaining why it has 55% on Rotten Tomatoes as of the writing of this article.

Why One Battle After Another Will Likely Be Divisive

Will It Even Matter?

After the reception of Don’t Look Up, it is likely that One Battle After Another will divide audiences in a similar fashion. This is mainly due to the fact that One Battle After Another is a politically charged story. It will undoubtedly take some stances that viewers find disagreeable, and even those who agree with the positions may not like the film’s presentation of them.

One Battle After Another‘s absurd comedic elements will also divide viewers. The film is clearly a dark comedy, and mixing that genre with politics and a thriller story could be off-putting to some audience members who aren’t familiar with Paul Thomas Anderson’s style.

On top of that, One Battle After Another is based on author Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 book Vineland. Paul Thomas Anderson’s most poorly-received movie so far is 2014’s Inherent Vice, which is an adaptation of a Pynchon novel. This sets the precedent for another adaptational struggle, although the director could learn from the reception of his previous attempt.

Even If It’s Divisive, DiCaprio Will Likely See Success With His Next Movie

Thanks To PTA’s Critical Track Record

One Battle After Another will undoubtedly be divisive, but it is likely that it will also be a success for Leonardo DiCaprio. Paul Thomas Anderson movies almost always get nominated for Oscars, and while they don’t have the best track record of winning, the film could very well see DiCaprio get nominated for Best Actor once again.

One Battle After Another may not be a box office success, but that isn’t all that important for DiCaprio. Don’t Look Up went straight to Netflix, and Killers of the Flower Moon was great for DiCaprio despite its box office failure. One Battle After Another will probably see a similar fate, being a critical hit that doesn’t make tons of money.