One Battle After Another on OTT in India: Reasons to watch Leonardo DiCaprio’s career-defining performance in this BAFTA-winning masterpiece before the Oscars

Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film, One Battle After Another, is finally making its way to OTT in India after a dominating run at international accolades. As of February 26, 2026, the political action-thriller will be available to stream on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium). 

How has One Battle After Another performed critically and during the awards season?

At the height of its cultural relevance, the picture makes its way into streaming. It has 13 nominations for the next Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won the Best Film award at the 2026 BAFTAs only days ago. Critics have hailed Anderson's latest feature as his most urgent and approachable work to date, and this OTT premiere gives Indian fans a chance to see it for the first time if they missed its limited theatrical release in late 2025.

If you're looking for solid reasons to add One Battle After Another to your weekly watchlist, here we go...

ALSO READ: BAFTA 2026 Full winners list: One Battle After Another takes home most awards; Sinners and Frankenstein in close competition

How does One Battle After Another represent a shift in Paul Thomas Anderson’s directorial style?

One of the most influential figures in modern filmmaking is writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA). His previous works, including Phantom Thread and Licorice Pizza, are intimate historical dramas; in One Battle After Another, he departs from that style to create a huge, dynamic epic.

Anderson sets the story in a hyperrealistic, contemporary America, but otherwise it's a loose adaptation of Vineland by Thomas Pynchon, published in 1990. He expertly combines the high-stakes action of a classic thriller with his distinctive "shaggy dog" storytelling style. The end product is a film that manages to be both raw and refined. Although the themes of counterculture and systemic paranoia are familiar to viewers of Anderson's earlier films, especially Inherent Vice, the scope and complexity of the set pieces in One Battle After Another are significantly larger, and the narrative pace is unrelenting.

What makes Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of Bob Ferguson so unique?

While playing the lead role in One Battle After Another, Leonardo DiCaprio subverts his typical roles. He takes on the role of Bob Ferguson, a former rebel who went as "Ghetto" Pat Calhoun, who is now a recluse in the made-up utopian town of Baktan Cross.

While attempting to bring up his independent teenage daughter, Willa, DiCaprio plays the role of a severely damaged, paranoid stoner named Bob. In order to portray Bob, the actor must delicately balance his high-wire physical humour with the sombre introspection of a man plagued by haunting ghosts. The film's emotional foundation is his chemistry with Willa, played by newcomer Chase Infiniti. People will discuss this performance for years to come, particularly because DiCaprio remains a favourite for the Best Actor Oscar.

How does One Battle After Another explore political ideologies and societal tension?

One Battle After Another takes a sarcastic approach by embracing ideological viewpoints, which is unlike many political thrillers. Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, played by Sean Penn, makes a triumphant return, and the story follows Bob as he is compelled to emerge from hiding.

The film delves into the tensions between the radicalism of the 20th century and the surveillance culture of the 21st century. It paints a picture of a divided America where white supremacist cabals like the "Christmas Adventurers" and underground resistance networks coexist. From daring raids on immigrant detention centers to high-speed automobile chases across the California desert, action sequences are filmed with an intense, visceral quality that makes you pay attention. In contrast to the more theoretical dystopian films of the year 2025, Anderson's films have a more tangible sense of power dynamics and the aftereffects of historical erasures about them.

Which actors bring One Battle After Another's complex antagonists and revolutionaries to life?

The ensemble of the film, which includes DiCaprio, embodies the pinnacle of contemporary acting talent. Lockjaw, the film's antagonist, played by Sean Penn, is somebody whose psychosexual desire for power stems from his fixation with the past. He gives a terrifying and transformational performance as the main villain. Perfidia Beverly Hills, the revolutionary mother, sets the film's events in motion with choices as captivating as Teyana Taylor's performance.

Benicio Del Toro (Sergio St. Carlos), a karate sensei and community leader who helps Bob with his goal, rounds out the supporting cast. Talented actors like Regina Hall and Alana Haim ensure the utmost accuracy in executing every character nuance. With its rich history of characters dealing with personal struggles, the film does a fantastic job of establishing a world that feels real.

Why is the timing of the JioHotstar release so significant for Indian fans?

Strategic planning went behind the release of the film on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium). Viewers in India can get in on the worldwide discussion a few weeks before the Oscars by streaming the film on February 26. Subscribers will get to enjoy one of the most impactful English-language films of the decade on OTT. 

More than simply a thriller, One Battle After Another questions the intertwining of memory and ideology over generations. The platform also offers the film with localised subtitles, making it accessible to a larger demographic across the subcontinent. This film is the season's must-watch on streaming services, whether you're a lover of Paul Thomas Anderson's directing style, Leonardo DiCaprio's acting chops, or you're just in the mood for a high-octane story that plays to your brain.

One Battle After Another FAQs:

Q: When is One Battle After Another releasing on OTT in India?

A: One Battle After Another is scheduled to premiere on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) in India on February 26, 2026. This digital release comes just days after the film's dominant performance at the BAFTA Awards and ahead of the 98th Academy Awards.

Q: Is One Battle After Another based on a true story?

A: No, One Battle After Another is a fictional political thriller. However, it is a modern-day reinterpretation of Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland. Director Paul Thomas Anderson updated the setting to a heightened, contemporary America to explore themes of surveillance and counterculture.

Q: How many Oscars is One Battle After Another nominated for?

A: One Battle After Another has secured 13 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Q: Who stars in One Battle After Another alongside Leonardo DiCaprio?

A: One Battle After Another features an elite ensemble cast including Sean Penn as the antagonist, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, Teyana Taylor as the revolutionary Perfidia Beverly Hills, Benicio Del Toro as Sergio St Carlos, and Chase Infiniti in her breakout role as Willa, Bob’s daughter. Regina Hall and Alana Haim in key supporting roles.