10 Movies You Should Watch If You Enjoyed One Battle After Another

10 Movies You Should Watch If You Enjoyed One Battle After Another

If you left the theater after Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another feeling both exhilarated and a little emotionally wrecked, you’re not alone. The film is layered, intense, and packed with moments that linger long after the credits roll. But what do you do when you’re craving more of that same energy — the mix of ambition, tension, and raw humanity?

1. There Will Be Blood (2007)

Power, greed, and ambition all collide in this masterpiece from Paul Thomas Anderson. Daniel Day-Lewis’s unforgettable performance as Daniel Plainview makes this film essential viewing for anyone who appreciates morally complex characters.

The movie explores how obsession with success can consume a person’s soul, leading to both triumph and devastation. Its scale feels massive, yet it never loses its intimate focus on the dark corners of human nature.

If One Battle After Another kept you glued to your seat with its intensity, There Will Be Blood will do the same. It’s a slow burn, but every frame pulls you deeper into a story about ambition at any cost.

2. The Battle of Algiers (1966)

This landmark film feels as relevant today as it did nearly six decades ago. Shot in a documentary style, it immerses you in the struggle between French colonial forces and Algerian revolutionaries.

The raw, realistic depiction of urban warfare and resistance movements makes it a powerful companion to One Battle After Another. It doesn’t romanticize violence but instead shows the brutal reality of people fighting for liberation.

Anderson even nods to this classic in his film, making it a perfect follow-up for viewers who want to see how cinema has long explored the themes of rebellion and sacrifice. The Battle of Algiers isn’t just a movie — it’s a history lesson that feels alive.

3. Inherent Vice (2014)

Beneath its hazy, stoner-detective exterior, this film offers the same sense of paranoia and chaos that made One Battle After Another so gripping. Joaquin Phoenix plays Doc Sportello, a private investigator who stumbles through a web of corruption and conspiracies.

It’s quirky, funny, and strange, yet also surprisingly profound. The messy, winding narrative mirrors the confusion of trying to find truth in a world full of half-answers and hidden motives.

For fans of Anderson’s ability to blend absurdity with depth, this movie is a goldmine. It may feel more playful than his latest work, but its underlying themes of distrust and disillusionment make it a natural companion.

4. Z (1969)

Political thrillers don’t get much sharper than Z. Directed by Costa-Gavras, this film delivers a pulse-pounding mix of suspense and biting political commentary.

The story centers around the assassination of a prominent politician and the attempt to cover up the truth. What follows is a riveting examination of corruption, justice, and the resilience of those who fight back.

If you were drawn to One Battle After Another for its exploration of power and resistance, Z is an absolute must-watch. It manages to be both thrilling entertainment and a bold political statement — proof that movies can make you think just as much as they entertain.

5. No Country for Old Men (2007)

Few films capture tension like this Coen Brothers classic. Javier Bardem’s portrayal of Anton Chigurh is chilling, making every scene he’s in unforgettable.

At its core, the movie is about morality, fate, and the randomness of violence. The sparse dialogue and long silences heighten the suspense, creating an atmosphere that lingers long after the credits.

Just like Anderson’s latest film, No Country for Old Men demands patience but rewards viewers with an experience that’s haunting and deeply affecting. It’s not about neat resolutions — it’s about the unsettling sense that the world doesn’t always bend toward justice.

6. Nightcrawler (2014)

Creepy, dark, and addictive, this film dives into the seedy underbelly of modern media. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Lou Bloom, a man willing to cross any line to capture the “perfect” news footage.

As with One Battle After Another, the story digs deep into moral compromise and the hunger for power. Watching Lou descend further into manipulation and exploitation is equal parts fascinating and horrifying.

It’s a modern parable about ambition gone wrong and society’s obsession with sensationalism. If you were captivated by Anderson’s exploration of people pushed to extremes, Nightcrawler will keep that same unsettling energy alive.

7. A Prophet (Un prophète) (2009)

French prison dramas don’t usually make it to everyone’s must-watch list, but this one absolutely should. It follows Malik, a young Arab man navigating the brutal politics of prison life.

Over time, he evolves from an outsider struggling to survive into a powerful figure who learns how to play the system to his advantage. The transformation is gripping and echoes the kind of character arcs Anderson often loves to explore.

A Prophet is gritty, emotional, and unforgettable. Much like One Battle After Another, it forces you to question what survival really means and how ambition can reshape a person’s soul.

8. Children of Men (2006)

Bleak yet oddly hopeful, this dystopian thriller imagines a world where humanity has lost the ability to reproduce. Clive Owen stars as a reluctant hero tasked with protecting the one woman who might save humanity.

The film is visually stunning, with long, continuous shots that make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the chaos. Its mix of action, politics, and raw emotion mirrors the intensity Anderson brings to his storytelling.

What makes it stick, though, is the emotional core — even in the darkest times, there’s still space for hope. If One Battle After Another left you shaken, this one will leave you inspired.

9. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Gorgeous cinematography and slow-burn storytelling define this haunting Western. Brad Pitt plays the legendary outlaw Jesse James, while Casey Affleck shines as the troubled Robert Ford.

The movie explores fame, obsession, and betrayal in a way that’s both poetic and tragic. It’s less about shootouts and more about the psychology of its characters, which makes it stand out among Westerns.

If you loved the way One Battle After Another balanced spectacle with introspection, this film will resonate. It’s patient, layered, and filled with moments that demand your full attention.

10. Snowpiercer (2013)

Director Bong Joon-ho crafts a wild ride through a frozen, dystopian world where humanity survives on a train divided by class. The visuals are striking, and the social commentary is razor-sharp.

Each train car tells its own story, building a microcosm of inequality and rebellion. It’s thrilling, unpredictable, and full of the kind of allegorical weight Anderson fans will appreciate.

At its heart, Snowpiercer is about survival and the price of revolution. If you walked away from One Battle After Another hungry for more stories about people fighting impossible odds, this is the perfect follow-up.