Questions

What is the plot?

The film opens with a flashback to 16 years earlier, showing a group of young revolutionaries led by Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) engaged in a tense confrontation with a violent alt-right white supremacist group led by Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn). The revolutionaries are fighting to protect their community and ideals, but the encounter ends with a brutal crackdown by Lockjaw’s forces, scattering the group and forcing them underground.

In the present day, Bob Ferguson lives a quieter life but is haunted by the past. He receives a distressing message that Willa Ferguson (Chase Infiniti), his daughter, has been kidnapped by Lockjaw’s resurging faction, which has grown more powerful and ruthless. Bob immediately contacts his old comrades, including Sensei Sergio (Benicio del Toro), Deandra (Regina Hall), and Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor), to reunite and plan a rescue mission.

The group meets in a secluded safe house where they review intelligence on Willa’s whereabouts. They learn she is being held in a fortified compound deep in a remote area controlled by Lockjaw’s militia. The ex-revolutionaries debate their approach, deciding on a covert infiltration rather than a direct assault to minimize casualties and avoid alerting Lockjaw prematurely.

Bob and Perfidia scout the perimeter of the compound at night, carefully observing guard rotations and security measures. They narrowly avoid detection when a patrol unexpectedly changes route, forcing them to hide in dense underbrush until the coast is clear. Meanwhile, Sensei Sergio trains the group in hand-to-hand combat and tactical maneuvers, preparing them for the inevitable confrontation.

The team executes their infiltration plan at dawn. Bob and Deandra disable external alarms while Perfidia and Sergio neutralize sentries silently. Inside the compound, they navigate a maze of corridors, encountering sporadic resistance from Lockjaw’s guards. A firefight breaks out when they are discovered, and the group fights their way through with a combination of gunfire and close combat, sustaining minor injuries but maintaining cohesion.

They reach the holding cell where Willa is imprisoned. Bob unlocks the door and embraces his daughter, who is weak but determined. As they attempt to escape, Lockjaw himself appears, blocking their path with a squad of heavily armed men. A tense standoff ensues, during which Bob confronts Lockjaw verbally, accusing him of destroying their lives and ideals.

Lockjaw orders his men to open fire, triggering a chaotic battle. Bob and his team use the environment to their advantage, taking cover behind pillars and overturned furniture. Perfidia disables several attackers with precise shots, while Sergio engages in a brutal hand-to-hand fight with Lockjaw’s second-in-command. Bob faces Lockjaw directly in a fierce duel, exchanging blows and gunfire.

During the fight, Willa manages to free herself and assists by throwing a makeshift weapon at one of Lockjaw’s men, buying Bob crucial seconds. Bob ultimately overpowers Lockjaw, disarming him and forcing him to surrender. The group quickly evacuates the compound as reinforcements arrive, alerted by the commotion.

Outside, the ex-revolutionaries rendezvous with a waiting vehicle. They drive away as Lockjaw is taken into custody by authorities who had been tipped off by an anonymous source within the militia. The film ends with Bob, Willa, and the team reflecting on their victory but acknowledging the ongoing struggle against oppression, setting the stage for future battles.

What is the ending?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

The ending of One Battle After Another (2025) concludes with the ex-revolutionaries successfully rescuing Willa Ferguson, Bob Ferguson’s daughter, from their resurfaced enemy, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw. The final confrontation results in Lockjaw’s defeat, and the group disbands once more, each character facing their own uncertain futures but united by the bonds rekindled through their shared ordeal.

Expanding on the ending scene by scene:

The climax begins in a remote, heavily fortified compound where Willa Ferguson is held captive. Bob Ferguson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, leads the reunited group of ex-revolutionaries, including Sensei Sergio (Benicio del Toro), Deandra (Regina Hall), and Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor), as they infiltrate the enemy’s stronghold. The atmosphere is tense, with the team moving cautiously through dimly lit corridors, communicating silently to avoid detection.

As they advance, flashbacks briefly intersperse, showing the history of their past battles and the personal stakes involved, especially Bob’s deep paternal concern for Willa. The group encounters Lockjaw’s guards, leading to a series of intense, close-quarters combat scenes showcasing each character’s unique fighting skills and teamwork.

Eventually, they reach the central chamber where Lockjaw (Sean Penn) awaits, surrounded by his loyalists. A fierce confrontation ensues. Lockjaw taunts Bob, revealing his motivations rooted in vengeance and ideological conflict from their revolutionary past. The fight is brutal and emotionally charged, with Bob and Lockjaw exchanging blows and verbal barbs that reflect their complicated history.

During the battle, Sensei Sergio intervenes to protect Bob, sustaining injuries but managing to incapacitate several guards. Deandra and Perfidia coordinate to disable the compound’s security systems, allowing the team to access Willa’s holding cell.

Willa (Chase Infiniti) is found weakened but resolute. Her reunion with Bob is brief but poignant, underscoring the emotional core of the story. As they attempt to escape, Lockjaw makes a last desperate attempt to stop them, but Bob ultimately overpowers him, delivering a decisive blow that ends Lockjaw’s threat permanently.

The film closes with the group escaping the compound as dawn breaks, symbolizing a new beginning. Each main character’s fate is subtly revealed: Bob and Willa begin to rebuild their fractured relationship; Sensei Sergio recovers from his wounds, hinting at a quieter life ahead; Deandra and Perfidia part ways with the group, their roles in the revolution concluded but their spirits unbroken.

The ending emphasizes themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the enduring impact of past conflicts on present lives, leaving the audience with a sense of closure yet acknowledging the ongoing struggles the characters face beyond the battlefield.

Is there a post-credit scene?

⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal

The movie One Battle After Another (2025) directed by Paul Thomas Anderson does have a post-credit scene. According to reports from early screenings, there is a substantial mid-credits scene that follows a large time jump, showing where the surviving characters ended up. Additionally, there is a brief end-credits scene after that, described as a nice easter egg, though details on its exact content are limited.

The film is noted for being polarizing and somewhat "messy but purposely so," which may extend to its post-credit content that leaves some viewers puzzled or intrigued. However, no detailed description of the specific visuals or narrative content of the post-credit scene has been publicly disclosed in the available sources.

In summary, One Battle After Another includes both a significant mid-credits scene and a brief post-credits easter egg, but the precise nature of these scenes remains largely undisclosed beyond their function of showing character outcomes after a time jump.

What motivates Leonardo DiCaprio's character Bob Ferguson throughout the film?

Bob Ferguson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is motivated by his commitment as a civil rights activist and his involvement with an anti-government group fighting against a resurging white supremacist enemy. His primary drive is to protect his family and comrades, especially as the group reunites to rescue his daughter, Willa Ferguson, from their evil enemy who has resurfaced after 16 years.

How does Sean Penn's character, Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, function as the antagonist in the story?

Sean Penn portrays Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, an alt-right white nationalist leader who resurfaces after 16 years to pursue the group of ex-revolutionaries. Lockjaw is the relentless villain driving the chase and conflict, leading a white supremacy group that targets Bob Ferguson and his allies, making him the central antagonist whose actions catalyze the reunion and rescue mission.

What role does Regina Hall's character Deandra play in the group of ex-revolutionaries?

Deandra, played by Regina Hall, is a key member of the ex-revolutionary group and serves as a mentor and trainer, particularly to Bob Ferguson's daughter, Willa. She is deeply involved in the group's activism and the rescue mission, providing guidance and support during the relentless chase against their enemy.

What is the significance of Chase Infiniti's character Willa Ferguson in the plot?

Willa Ferguson, portrayed by Chase Infiniti in her film debut, is the daughter of Bob Ferguson and Teyana Taylor's character Perfidia Beverly Hills. Her kidnapping by the resurfaced enemy is the catalyst for the reunion of the ex-revolutionaries and the central rescue mission that drives the film's plot.

How does the film depict the relationship between Leonardo DiCaprio's and Teyana Taylor's characters?

Leonardo DiCaprio's Bob Ferguson and Teyana Taylor's Perfidia Beverly Hills are depicted as a Bonnie and Clyde-like couple, united in their civil rights activism and involvement with the anti-government group. Their relationship is both personal and political, as they fight together against the white nationalist threat while raising their daughter, Willa, who becomes the focus of the rescue mission.

Is this family friendly?

The movie "One Battle After Another" (2025) is not family friendly; it is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for pervasive language, violence, sexual content, and drug use.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers include:

  • Frequent strong language throughout the film.
  • Violent scenes, likely intense given the action and thriller genres.
  • Sexual content and nudity.
  • Depictions of drug use and alcohol consumption.
  • Frightening and intense moments consistent with its dark comedy, crime, and thriller elements.

Because of these mature themes and the R rating, the film is intended for adult audiences and may be unsuitable for children or those sensitive to such content.