Paul Thomas Anderson’s upcoming film, One Battle After Another, set for release in fall 2025, is drawing significant attention as Warner Bros. positions it as a major blockbuster. This marks Anderson’s largest-scale project yet, blending elements of action, black comedy, and thriller, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite the studio’s push for a mainstream, spectacle-driven film, Anderson’s reputation as a challenging auteur suggests a more complex and layered experience.
Anderson’s Film Recommendations Offer Clues Ahead of Release
In the lead-up to One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson has shared a curated list of films that influenced his work, inviting audiences to explore them before his new movie opens in September. These selections, revealed through his role as a guest programmer for Turner Classic Movies and during Warner Bros.’ promotional campaign, include notable classics such as The Battle of Algiers, The French Connection, The Searchers, Midnight Run, and Running on Empty. The choice of these films reflects the tonal and thematic layers Anderson intends to weave into his latest project.
The story of One Battle After Another involves ex-revolutionaries coming together to save one of their own’s daughter, a premise that hints at the tense political atmosphere of The Battle of Algiers and the rugged storytelling of The Searchers. The film promises dynamic action reminiscent of The French Connection paired with the comedic elements seen in Midnight Run. However, the most revealing comparison comes from the family-centered drama Running on Empty, which echoes Anderson’s interest in generational conflict and political legacies.
The Emotional Impact of ’Running on Empty’ and Its Relevance to Anderson’s Film
Running on Empty is set against the backdrop of the late 1960s Vietnam War protests, telling the story of Arthur (Judd Hirsch) and Annie Pope (Christine Lahti), radical left-wing activists who bombed a weapons laboratory. Decades later, their son Danny (River Phoenix) lives as a fugitive, struggling with the consequences of his parents’ decisions. The film captures the tension between a youthful desire for independence and the burdens of family loyalty, themes that resonate in Anderson’s One Battle After Another through the character of Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a former radical reflecting on the legacy he leaves his daughter.
Director Sidney Lumet, known for iconic works like 12 Angry Men and Network, brought a nuanced and actor-focused approach to Running on Empty. Despite a modest visual style, Lumet crafted an intimate family drama filled with political and emotional complexity. Written by Naomi Foner, the story deftly balances adolescent experiences—such as Danny’s piano ambitions and first love—with the heavy reality of being fugitives during the Reagan era.
River Phoenix’s portrayal of Danny Pope remains a powerful testament to his talent and troubled soul. His performance embodied the disaffected youth caught between personal growth and family responsibility, becoming an emblematic role for American youth grappling with inherited trauma and societal pressure.
The film offers a compassionate portrayal of Arthur and Annie Pope, despite how their radical past adversely affects their son’s future. Lumet’s story conveys the hardship of maintaining idealism in the face of harsh consequences, capturing the counterculture rebels’ struggle as they confront the results of their activism decades later.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s endorsement of Running on Empty sheds light on the quieter, reflective humanism expected in One Battle After Another. Although Anderson’s film may boast more intense visuals and action sequences, this influence signals a depth and emotional core that will distinguish it from typical blockbuster fare.
Main Cast of ’Running on Empty’
The cast of Running on Empty features Christine Lahti as Annie Pope, River Phoenix as Danny Pope, Judd Hirsch as Arthur Pope, and Jonas Abry as Harry Pope, showcasing a deeply connected family dynamic shaped by political resistance and personal sacrifice.
