September 26, 2025

"One Battle After Another" exists on two main planes, and fortunately, they are not mutually exclusive. Each is watchable in its own right. On the one hand, this is a hyperkinetic action-adventure thriller and chase movie, with rich and reverberating production values and strong, convincing performances. On the other hand, it's a snapshot of one of America's most incendiary topics that's helping fuel the ongoing culture wars. There is, of course, a cross-over between the film's two identities, and it's mostly able to weave them together seamlessly so that "One Battle" is not only exciting to watch but also ripe for debate and discussion.