Bret Easton Ellis Critiques Leonardo DiCaprio’s “One Battle After Another”
Bret Easton Ellis, known for his novel “American Psycho,” has criticized Leonardo DiCaprio’s film “One Battle After Another,” claiming it received undue praise due to its alignment with leftist ideals.
On his podcast, Ellis shared his views on the film, which has garnered a remarkable 95 score on Metacritic, making it the highest-rated film of 2025. Its reception, he suggested, seems heavily influenced by political sentiments.
Although Ellis has expressed admiration for director Paul Thomas Anderson, he voiced disagreement regarding the overwhelming acclaim for Anderson’s recent work, stating, “It’s kind of shocking to see praise like this because of the political ideology — sorry, it’s not a very good movie — and it’s obvious that they’re reacting to that.” He seems to believe that the film’s high ratings don’t reflect its actual quality.
He further questioned the film’s status as a “masterpiece” and argued, “The best movie of the decade, the best movie ever made, is because it aligns with exactly this kind of left-wing sensibility.” This narrative, according to Ellis, is rather dated and does not resonate with the current cultural landscape.
He painted a rather grim picture of the film’s legacy, suggesting it might eventually be viewed as a “kind of musty relic of the post-Kamala Harris era.” He characterized the film as feeling “very outdated” and failing to capture the broader atmosphere in America, only reflecting “the little corner of the room.”
Ellis was vocally dismissive of those labeling “One Battle After Another” as an “important” film, emphatically stating, “No, it’s not.” He admitted, “I really don’t read the air. I don’t read the air at all what’s going on in America,” which perhaps hints at his own struggles to understand contemporary cinematic trends.
In the film, DiCaprio portrays a revolutionary forced out of hiding when a villain threatens him and his daughter. The cast also features notable names like Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor.
Released on September 26th, “One Battle After Another” has already grossed over $114 million globally, marking an achievement for Anderson, as it’s his first film to cross the $100 million threshold.
