Saagar Kote
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, ‘One Battle After Another’ revolves around the life of Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a former member of the revolutionary group called the French 75. In the past, he fell in love with Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor), a fellow revolutionary, and the two became parents to a little girl. Perfidia goes missing after the intervention of the ruthless military man, Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn). As the French 75 goes quiet for nearly 16 years due to military and political suppression, Bob takes care of his daughter, Willa Ferguson (Chase Infiniti).
Bob and Willa now live a reclusive life away from the chaos of the past. However, due to mysterious circumstances, Lockjaw, who is now a decorated officer, begins to hunt Willa. As the old enemy resurfaces, Bob must find a way to awaken the revolutionary spirit again and save his daughter from danger. What follows in the action thriller-drama film, loosely based on the novel ‘Vineland’ by Thomas Pynchon, is Bob’s desperate attempt, amid the chaos of American streets, to pull off an impossible challenge against a deadly enemy. If you are looking for movies that evoke the same exhilaration amid tense scenarios, we’ve curated a list of movies similar to ‘One Battle After Another’ on Netflix that you would surely enjoy.
8. The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019)
‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’ chronicles the efforts of Ari Levinson (Chris Evans) and other Mossad agents to rescue Ethiopian Jews in 1979. The Jews of Ethiopia face a potential genocide due to the changing political reality of the country. The Israeli Prime Minister wishes to rescue the people in trouble at any cost, owing to shared religious and humanitarian beliefs. Ari and his team decide to set up a fake resort called “The Red Sea Diving Resort” to use it as a cover to smuggle Ethiopian Jews away from the conflict zone to safety in Israel.
However, as the rescue mission is underway, the Mossad agents find themselves facing unprecedented challenges. The only hope for the refugees is the bravery of the agents. Helmed by Gideon Raff, the thriller film is inspired by real events and evokes the spirit of ‘One Battle After Another’ through its political themes, desperate rescue attempts, and unpredictable character arcs. You can watch it here.
7. Cargo (2017)
Netflix’s ‘Cargo’ is set in an epidemic-ridden Australia and centers on Andy Rose (Martin Freeman), his wife Kay Caine (Susie Porter), and their infant Rosie as they flee on a boat after running out of essential supplies and food. When Andy discovers Kay has been infected with the virus, he attempts to cure her, but fails. As Katie becomes a zombie-like creature and attempts to harm him, he loses all hope. He then crosses paths with Thoomi Bell (Simone Landers), an Aboriginal girl, who joins him and baby Rosie on a difficult journey of survival across the country.
Amid the ups and downs, Andy’s only mission is to protect his daughter at any cost. Directed by Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke, and based on their eponymous short film, ‘Cargo’ shares similarities with ‘One Battle After Another’ in terms of its portrayal of the father-daughter relationship in a time of distress and conflict. The Australian thriller film is streaming on Netflix.
6. The Marksman (2021)
‘The Marksman,’ an action thriller drama directed by Robert Lorenz, follows Jim Hanson (Liam Neeson), an aging man with a military past. Jim serves near the US-Mexico border, reporting illegal border crossings for a fee. His monotonous life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a young boy named Miguel (Jacob Perez) who is being targeted by the Mexican drug mafia. Despite their differences, Miguel and Jim develop a strong bond. Jim now finds himself in a situation where he must use his skills to protect Miguel from threats. But Jim soon realizes that being emotional about a mission may be too dangerous. Akin to ‘One Battle After Another,’ the narrative follows a man with a complex past as he tries to protect a young person from dangerous individuals. You can enjoy the action here.
5. Relay (2024)
In ‘Relay,’ Ash (Riz Ahmed) works as a facilitator of communication between threatened people and corporations. His main job is to pick up the phone and discreetly help whistleblowers trying to expose fraud in big businesses by relaying their information. His identity is the one thing he protects and practically lives isolated, without showing his face to interested parties. His whole life turns upside down when a woman named Sarah Grant (Lily James) contacts him about the relay service, at which point he finds himself obsessed with her case.
As Sarah is hunted by the thugs of a corrupt corporation, Ash hopes to save her life at any cost and help her achieve her mission to bring certain truths to light. The aspects of secrets, pursuits, secret communications, and urban battles in the David Mackenzie directorial connect it to the world and characters of ‘One Battle After Another.’ The thriller film is available on Netflix.
4. Don’t Look Up (2021)
Netflix’s ‘Don’t Look Up’ centers on astronomy doctoral candidate Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) and her professor, Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio). Upon discovering a massive comet on a catastrophic collision course with Earth, they try to warn the world, but are treated with ignorance and mockery by the US President and other authorities. Frustrated, the two astronomers turn to the media to alert the public about the impending world-ending event, but they struggle to convince people to take necessary precautions.
While Randall desperately tries to save humanity, the authorities prioritize their own economic agendas. As doomsday nears, the only hope for the astronomers is faith in their own humanity. Directed by Adam McKay, the comedy-drama movie, akin to ‘One Battle After Another,’ is a commentary on social morality, unexpected threats, and the value of saving loved ones. The story unfolds here.
3. Rebel Ridge (2024)
‘Rebel Ridge,’ a Netflix action thriller film, follows Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre), a former Marine who arrives in a small town with a bag of cash to post bail for his cousin. His journey is violently interrupted when a reckless police officer hits his bicycle and, with his partner, wrongfully confiscates the money. This incident forces Terry into a desperate conflict with the town’s Police Chief, Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson), and his brutally corrupt officers.
Initially seeking a simple resolution to reclaim his life and money, Terry quickly discovers the police force is far more corrupt than he anticipated, escalating a simple negotiation into a violent confrontation. Helmed by Jeremy Saulnier, the narrative reflects the spirit of ‘One Battle After Another’ as it comments on systemic issues, corrupt officials, and racial prejudice. You may view the story on Netflix.
2. Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Directed by Spike Lee, ‘Da 5 Bloods’ chronicles the tale of Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), and other veterans of the Vietnam War who live in present-day America. They recall that in the past, a soldier named Norman Earl Holloway (Chadwick Boseman) had helped them hide gold in Vietnam during the war. The veteran team reunites after many years to go to Vietnam and, hopefully, find the gold only they know about. However, once they land in Vietnam and begin the quest, they are challenged by unexpected forces. To find the gold, they are forced to go on an arduous journey where past fears and present insecurities converge. The drama film, like ‘One Battle After Another,’ talks about legacy, race, conflict, and political realities in a similar visual style. It can be enjoyed here.
1. Caught Stealing (2025)
‘Caught Stealing,’ a crime drama thriller film, narrates the life of Henry “Hank” Thompson (Austin Butler). Hank lives an ordinary life in NYC, with not much to be excited about. His world is suddenly upended when a seemingly simple task of caring for his neighbor, Russ Miner’s (Matt Smith) cat, leads to unforeseen circumstances and draws him into confrontations with dangerous gangs, high-stakes chases, and an intense fight for his survival.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the storyline deals with Hank’s actions as he tries to romantically pursue Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz), while also trying to figure out why he is fighting strangers. Based on Charlie Huston’s eponymous novel, the movie captures the spirit of ‘One Battle After Another’ as it focuses on urban chases, survival, and one man’s fight against many dangers. You can find the movie on Netflix.
Read More: Movies Like The Marksman You Must See
