Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t mince words when it comes to cinema she loves, and her latest praise goes to Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.” The Oscar-winning actress declared the action thriller “the best movie I’ve ever seen” during the latest episode of BAFTA and Samsung’s “BAFTA Playback” series.
An Unforgettable Theatrical Experience
In the interview, Lawrence shared meaningful scenes from various points in her career, including her breakout role in “Winter’s Bone” and her latest project “Die My Love,” as well as moments from films that have personally moved her. When introducing a scene from “One Battle After Another”—specifically the moment when Leonardo DiCaprio’s character struggles to remember a password while talking on a payphone at a “rendezvous point”—Lawrence’s enthusiasm was palpable.
“This is the best movie I’ve ever seen. This is ‘One Battle After Another,'” she said, before elaborating on the profound impact the film had on her.
“I can’t remember a time where I ever had an experience like that in the cinema, and it was shared,” Lawrence continued. “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.”
A Visceral Cinematic Achievement
Lawrence emphasized that “One Battle After Another” demands to be seen on the big screen, praising Anderson’s masterful pacing and character work.
“You have to see it in theaters,” she urged viewers. “I think it’s an impossible pace to uphold. There’s not an extra minute in it, at no point does it drag.”
The actress went on to praise Anderson’s ability to create fully realized, breathing characters. “[Anderson] has so many characters inside of him, and they’re all so visceral, so real that you’re, it’s so alive and you’re in it. Every character, you are, you know them and you see them.”
Standout Performances
While DiCaprio’s lead performance has garnered significant attention, Lawrence singled out Sean Penn’s portrayal of Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw for particular praise.
“I mean, Leo, obviously, but I mean, my God,” Lawrence said of Penn’s work in the film, suggesting his performance was a revelation even among an already stellar cast.
About the Film
Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest epic follows an ex-revolutionary, played by DiCaprio, who is forced back into his former combative lifestyle when he and his daughter (Chase Infiniti) become targets of a corrupt military officer played by Penn. The two-hour-and-42-minute film has been widely acclaimed by critics and is considered a strong Oscar contender across multiple categories.
Anderson, known for masterworks like “There Will Be Blood,” “The Master,” and “Phantom Thread,” has crafted what many are calling one of his finest achievements—no small feat given his already legendary status among cinephiles and critics.
The Power of Communal Viewing
Lawrence’s comments highlight something increasingly rare in our streaming-dominated era: the power of a shared theatrical experience. Her description of the audience applauding at the end and her repeated thanks to her husband for securing tickets weeks in advance speaks to “One Battle After Another” as an event—the kind of film that reminds us why movie theaters still matter.
In an age when most films receive simultaneous theatrical and streaming releases, or head to streaming platforms within weeks of their theatrical debut, Lawrence’s passionate advocacy for seeing “One Battle After Another” in cinemas underscores the film’s visceral impact when experienced on the big screen with an audience.
A Ringing Endorsement from Hollywood Royalty
Coming from an actress of Lawrence’s caliber—herself an Oscar winner for “Silver Linings Playbook” and nominee for films including “Winter’s Bone,” “American Hustle,” and “Joy”—such effusive praise carries significant weight. Lawrence has worked with some of cinema’s greatest directors and appeared in countless acclaimed films, making her declaration that “One Battle After Another” is “the best movie I’ve ever seen” all the more meaningful.
Her comments will likely drive even more audience interest in a film already generating substantial Oscar buzz and critical acclaim. For those who haven’t yet experienced Anderson’s latest work, Lawrence’s testimony serves as perhaps the most compelling reason yet to head to theaters.
