DiCaprio in New York as One Battle After Another presses forward with Oscar buzz

Leonardo DiCaprio joined his co-stars in New York City on Sunday for a screening of One Battle After Another, the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed thriller that has generated strong Oscar buzz during its promotional run. The event, staged at The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theatre, came as the cast wraps a Mexico City promo tour ahead of the film’s release. The screening underscored the project’s momentum with a roster that also included Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Regina Hall.

DiCaprio arrived in a gray double-breasted blazer with glossy black buttons, paired with a white button-down shirt and leather dress shoes. He wore a simple lapel pin and carried himself with his usual understated elegance as he posed for photographers with the rest of the ensemble. Taylor drew immediate attention for her bold styling, while the rest of the cast circulated through the venue for a reception following the screening.

Taylor, 34, electrified the room in a plunging, plaid jumpsuit that was braless underneath, revealing a sternum tattoo. She layered a matching, floor-length coat over her shoulders and wore a tie as a scarf, with a chic pixie cut, cat-eye makeup, and a glossy mauve lip completing the look as she walked the red carpet.

Del Toro kept things classic in a black suit and tie, while Penn opted for a casual-cool look in a black T-shirt, a khaki-green bomber jacket, blue jeans and white sneakers. Hall offered edgier flair in an all-black ensemble mixing faux leather and lace, with a trench-coat-inspired dress that flashed a waterfall skirt and black pumps.

The Paul Thomas Anderson-directed film is an action-thriller loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland. DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, described as a disheveled and distraught revolutionary living off the grid with his daughter Willa, portrayed by Taylor. The duo navigates a web of allies and adversaries on a mission to locate Willa, while Del Toro’s character serves as a sensei guiding Ferguson, and Penn appears as the antagonistic Col Steven J. Lockjaw. Regina Hall plays revolutionary Deandra as the narrative unfolds in a high-stakes, darkly comic landscape.

Ahead of the screening, early reviews have poured in with widespread praise. Critics have lauded the film as a standout achievement for Anderson, with five-star notices and celebratory assessments about its ambition and tonal mix of action, humor and social relevance. Spielberg, among those who have weighed in, described the film in terms that underscored its intensity and audacity, saying it contains more action in its opening hour than many films do in their entire runs. A prominent UK outlet echoed those sentiments, praising DiCaprio’s performance within a strong ensemble and calling the film one of the year’s most exhilarating exhibits.

Industry observers have also begun placing bets on the film’s Oscar prospects. Coral bookmakers have One Battle After Another listed at 4-5 to win Best Picture at the 2026 Academy Awards, with DiCaprio favored at 1-2 to win Best Actor. Coral’s John Hill noted that after glowing reviews and robust buzz, the film has become a clear contender for the top prize, while DiCaprio’s presence across the cast remains a driving force behind the momentum.

For fans and observers, the screening in New York added another layer to a campaign that has stretched through major markets and film festivals. The movie’s Mexico City stop helped sustain momentum as the release approached, and the conversation around its blend of thriller mechanics, political edge, and sharp humor continued to grow. DiCaprio, Taylor, Del Toro, Penn and Hall each contributed to a dynamic, star-backed push that has positioned One Battle After Another as one of the year’s most talked-about releases in the culture and entertainment landscape.