Warner Bros. dropped the second official trailer for One Battle After Another, offering the clearest look yet at the film’s scope and intensity. Shot extensively in Northern and Central California, including scenes in El Paso, the trailer opens with Leonardo DiCaprio’s Bob tinkering with explosives alongside fellow vigilantes, then fast‑cuts to a high-stakes manhunt.
The sequence plays dramatically against Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” pairing scenic locales—Humboldt redwoods, Sacramento’s Tower Bridge—with gritty action and emotional chaos as Bob’s daughter is kidnapped.
Characters & Cast
DiCaprio headlines as Bob Ferguson, a disillusioned former revolutionary thrust into action yet again. Sean Penn emerges menacingly as Colonel Steven Lockjaw, while Chase Infiniti plays Bob’s kidnapped daughter. The ensemble also features Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Wood Harris, and Alana Haim in supporting roles.
Regina Hall described the film as blending “laughter, strong messaging, humor, [and] wit,” praising the ensemble and calling it an “incredible group.”
Plot & Premise
This title is a contemporary reimagining of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, featuring ex-revolutionaries rallying to rescue Bob’s daughter 16 years after going underground. The trailer emphasizes Bob’s emotional struggle—he must return to radical roots to protect his family. Scenes toggle between past idealism and present chaos, emphasizing themes of disillusionment and survival.
Del Toro, cast as “Sensei Sergio,” provides mentorship and helps Bob on his mission, while Lockjaw personifies institutional aggression and retribution. Dialog like “You know what freedom is? No fear. Just like Tom Cruise.” punctuates the trailer’s irreverent tone.
Production & Release
Directed and written by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film also marks his first collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio. With a reported budget north of $140 million, it’s Anderson’s most ambitious project to date, filmed in VistaVision across California and Texas. Composer Jonny Greenwood scored the film, continuing his long-running collaboration with Anderson.
One Battle After Another is set to premiere in U.S., UK, and international cinemas on September 26, 2025, including a nationwide IMAX release. The initial release was delayed from August to optimize awards season timing.
TL;DR
The second trailer for One Battle After Another delivers brutal, vivid imagery of revolutionary return, family peril, and cinematic ambition. With DiCaprio on the run, Penn as the pursuer, and an ensemble cast backing PTA’s most expensive film yet, audiences are primed for a September 26, 2025 release that promises to be both visually stunning and emotionally powerful.
