'One Battle After Another' pushes back on claim about movies in 2025

Some critics say 2025 is a weak year for movies, but Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed One Battle After Another, a critically acclaimed film this year, disagrees.

“The whole industry is constantly complaining. The sky is always falling,” he tells Le Monde, sharing a list of movies he says are daring and original that arrived this year. 

“But let’s take a look at this year: Eddington, Weapons, Bugonia, two Richard Linklater films (Nouvelle Vague and Blue Moon), Sentimental Value, Marty Supreme, which is coming out."

"Whoever wants to start complaining about movies right now needs to cool it. Where’s Sinners? You have to mention that one, otherwise you’re a criminal."

But Paul does voice frustration that films on streaming are dropping too quickly. “Do I think things get put on streaming too fast? Yeah, I do. I think that’s a drag. I think a lot of things that happen in Hollywood are self-inflicted wounds.”

Meanwhile, One Battle After Another is gaining much praise. Jennifer Lawrence also recently raved about it, noting the scene in the movie where Leonardo DiCaprio struggles to remember a password while talking on a payphone. “This is the best movie I’ve ever seen. This is ‘One Battle After Another.'"

She further added, “I can’t remember a time where I ever had an experience like that in the cinema, and it was shared.”

“When it was over, everyone applauded. I just kept thanking my husband over and over and over again because he had booked the tickets, like two weeks in advance, and I just couldn’t say anything else other than just like, thank you for that experience," Jennifer concluded.