One Battle After Another (2025) Review | MovieTalk+

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

One Battle After Another is one of those movies where you sit down expecting a solid thriller… and end up getting an absolute rush from start to finish. I didn’t feel a single second of the runtime. Not one. It just moves.

The story follows a chain-reaction conflict that keeps escalating — personal grudges turning into something much bigger, alliances shifting, and tensions boiling over in ways that constantly keep you guessing. I won’t say too much about the plot because this is absolutely a “just watch it” kind of movie. The less you know, the better. What I will say is that it balances intensity and humor in a way that makes it wildly entertaining without undercutting the stakes.

The acting across the board is fantastic. Every performance feels committed and lived-in, which is crucial for a film that relies so heavily on tension and character dynamics. But the real standout here is the villain, played by Sean Penn. I haven’t seen a villain pulled off this well in a while. He’s somehow the most pathetic, degenerate person in the room — insecure, impulsive, and morally hollow — yet still completely intimidating. You’re not watching a mastermind. You’re watching someone unstable with power, and that’s way scarier.

The pacing is relentless in the best way. Scenes don’t drag. Dialogue is sharp and fast. When things explode — emotionally or physically — it feels earned. There are multiple moments that had my heart racing, and not because of cheap thrills. The movie builds tension properly and then lets it snap.

The soundtrack deserves serious credit too. It’s fun, creative, and used in ways that elevate the mood without feeling overbearing. Some scenes hit even harder because of the music choices, giving the film an extra layer of personality that makes it stand out from similar genre entries.

Is it reinventing the wheel? Not necessarily. But it doesn’t need to. It understands exactly what it is — a high-energy, character-driven thrill ride — and executes it with confidence and style.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

One Battle After Another is intense, funny, and ridiculously entertaining. With fantastic performances and a villain I won’t forget anytime soon, this is the kind of movie that reminds you how fun a tightly made thriller can be.