Stop saying films are bad: Director fights one after another after BAFTA 2026 win
Paul Thomas Anderson’s action thriller One Battle After Another took home multiple awards at the BAFTA ceremony, with the director making sharp observations about the state of modern cinema and sharing his hopes for fearless creativity.
It was a big night and an even bigger statement for Paul Thomas Anderson at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, where his latest film one fight after another Walked away with the prestigious Best Film trophy. The win marked a milestone in the career of Anderson, who won BAFTA’s top honor for the first time after several years of nominations.
An action thriller written and directed by Anderson, one fight after another It dominated this year’s BAFTA race with 14 nominations and has already emerged as a strong Oscar contender with 13 nominations ahead of the Academy Awards. The film also won Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, cementing its status as the best of the night.
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Accepting the Best Picture award, Anderson gave a particularly articulate and crowd-pleasing speech, which quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the ceremony. Addressing the ongoing debate about the state of modern cinema, he bluntly stated, “Anyone who says movies are no longer good should get urinated on immediately,” to loud applause and laughter from the audience.
“I want to say thank you, and I know there’s a bar somewhere. I think we should all go there. It’s been a long evening, but we have a lot to celebrate,” he said with a smile, before thanking colleagues and the BAFTA jury.
In a reflective turn, Anderson paid tribute to famed musician Nina Simone and admitted that her words inspired the film. “We have plagiarism in our movie,” he said, before quoting her line: “I know what freedom is, there’s no fear.” He urged fellow filmmakers to produce boldly and without hesitation. “So let’s keep making things without any fear. This is a great idea. See you at the bar!” he concluded, earning another round of applause.
Speaking backstage, Anderson elaborated on the film’s themes and its timely title. Reflecting on social change, he said, “We always need change. We just need to have a revolution, hopefully without violence, and do it the proper way. Unfortunately, the title makes sense. It’s starting to feel like one fight after another these days.”
Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vinland, one fight after another It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infinity.
one fight after another Currently running in theaters in India.
