One Battle After Another won Paul Thomas Anderson his first Oscar this past Sunday, for directing his tenth film. Along with that award, the movie also won Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 98th Academy Award ceremony. Those accolades are well-earned. I predicted its success in my initial review.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars in One Battle After Another as Bob Ferguson, an ex-revolutionary forced to reckon with the demons of his past when his daughter goes missing. Needless to say, his race against time unveils a crew of interesting characters — played by Sean Penn (who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor), Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall and Teyana Taylor — who all help make this adventure comedy feel grounded and larger than life all at the same time.
If you missed it in theaters, or you just want to watch it again and again, I’ve got good news for you: One Battle After Another is available to stream right now.
Read on for more information about how to watch One Battle After Another and how a VPN might assist you.
How to stream One Battle After Another
One Battle After Another premiered on HBO Max on Friday, Dec. 21, 2025, and is currently available for you to watch again and again.
You’ll need a monthly or annual subscription to HBO Max to watch One Battle After Another. The cheapest plan, which includes ads, costs $11 per month or $110 per year — which is now less than Peacock’s ad-based tier. If you’re looking for extra value, I suggest checking out the Max, Hulu and Disney Plus megabundle.
How to watch One Battle After Another with a VPN
If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with your favorite shows while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins.
VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
ExpressVPN is our current top pick for a reliable and secure VPN; the service is compatible with a wide range of devices. It’s typically $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100, you’ll get four months free and save 70%.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
