A series of accolades confirms: 'One Battle After Another' is the top contender for the Oscar

NEW YORK Hollywood's early awards season has quickly highlighted a clear frontrunner: Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another. The film has been dominating critical accolades from the start.

On Monday, the movie earned the Best Film title at the 35th Gotham Awards. The following day, the New York Film Critics Circle also named it Best Film. By Wednesday, it had swept the National Board of Review Awards, taking home Best Film, Best Director for Anderson, and acting honors for Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and newcomer Chase Infiniti. The phrase "one award after another" is now a fitting description of its momentum.

I didnt expect this, actually, Anderson remarked at the Gothams. I started to think I didnt know what was going on. With this recognition, that may be the only moment this season when he can genuinely express surprise.

One Battle After Another tells a father-daughter story set against recurring political oppression. Its opening scene depicts a raid at an immigrant detention center, resonating strongly with audiences and critics alike during the first year of President Donald Trumps second term. Even critics outside the usual fan base, such as conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, have speculated that it might sweep the Academy Awards.

Yet the film is unconventional for an Oscar favorite. It bypassed film festivals, is a large studio production, and has not been a commercial hit. Should it win Best Picture on March 15, it could become one of the few big-budget losses to earn the industry's top honor. Recent Best Picture winners like The Hurt Locker, Moonlight, and Nomadland were indie films with modest box office returns, reflecting Hollywoods growing openness to honoring movies outside mainstream franchises.

Even smaller winners have found some financial success, including the streaming hit CODA. In contrast, One Battle After Another had a production budget of at least $130 million, with marketing adding around $70 million. To date, it has grossed $70.6 million domestically and $131.6 million overseas, which, while impressive for a nearly three-hour R-rated auteur film, may not recoup its full investment. Some estimates suggest a potential $100 million loss, though this figure has been contested by Warner Bros.

Awards season still has several weeks to run, and past wins do not guarantee Academy support. Upcoming contenders like A24s Marty Supreme and Focus Features Hamnet have yet to reach theaters. Ryan Cooglers Sinners, also from Warner Bros., presents significant competition. Both One Battle After Another and Sinners are returning to IMAX screens on December 12.

Despite its high costs, One Battle After Another stands out as a creative triumph this season, thriving where other potential award contenders have faltered at the box office. Its scale and ambition mark it as a rare example of a large-budget, auteur-driven film competing for both critical acclaim and financial survival. As Leonardo DiCaprios character Bob Ferguson exclaims: Viva la revolution!

Author: Riley Thompson