- Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio del Toro star together for the first time in Paul Thomas Anderson’s acclaimed film One Battle After Another.
- Both actors are drawing strong Oscar buzz after the film swept critics’ awards and led Golden Globe nominations.
- DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson; Del Toro is Sergio St. Carlos, a mentor figure linked to Bob’s daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti).
Thirty years after their breakout moment
Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio del Toro were once photographed together as rising breakout actors in the late 1990s. Now, three decades later, they finally share the screen in One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film that has quickly become awards-season front-runner.
Two veterans, one electric partnership
DiCaprio’s Bob Ferguson is a worn former revolutionary on a desperate mission. Benicio del Toro’s Sergio St. Carlos serves as the calm, experienced sensei who offers a rare link to Bob’s rebellious teenage daughter, Willa, played by Chase Infiniti.
DiCaprio told reporters he’s long admired del Toro and that their shared history helped shape the film’s emotional core. He described the relationship between their characters as one rooted in mutual aid — two flawed men trying to protect something important in a neighborhood under pressure from escalating military forces.
Awards momentum and Oscar buzz
One Battle After Another has swept several major critics’ prizes and won top honors at the Gotham Awards and the National Board of Review. The film also led the Golden Globe nominations this season, propelling both leads into early Oscar conversation.
DiCaprio is already a seven-time Academy Award nominee and a previous Best Actor winner for The Revenant (2015). Benicio del Toro won Best Supporting Actor for Traffic (2000) and earned a Best Actor nomination for 21 Grams (2003). Industry watchers say their pairing in Anderson’s authoritative new work boosts both actors’ chances during the 2026 awards run.
Why this pairing matters
Beyond awards, the cast chemistry resonates because it taps into a shared career arc. The public remembers both actors as breakthroughs from the same era; seeing them act opposite one another now brings a sense of full-circle storytelling. The film’s stakes — personal loyalties, neighborhood survival and moral complexity — shine brighter because of their performances.
Looking ahead
The Academy will announce nominations on Jan. 22, 2026. For now, critics and audiences are praising the film’s direction, narrative depth and the dynamic between DiCaprio and del Toro.
Whether or not the Oscars recognize them, One Battle After Another has already reaped critical acclaim and reignited interest in two of Hollywood’s most respected actors. For fans of DiCaprio and benicio del toro, this film is both a reunion and a reminder of what made them breakout stars three decades ago.
Image Referance: https://www.goldderby.com/film/2025/leonardo-dicaprio-benicio-del-toro-one-battle-after-another/
