- Benicio Del Toro and Leonardo DiCaprio reunite on screen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.
- Both actors are receiving strong awards season momentum after wins and nominations from critics’ groups, Gotham and the Golden Globes.
- DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson; Del Toro is Sergio St. Carlos — two men who help each other amid chaos.
Stars reconnect three decades after breakout buzz
Thirty years after sharing a magazine cover as Hollywood’s breakout actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro finally share the screen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. The film has swept critics’ awards and pushed both performers into heavy awards-season conversation.
On-screen relationship at the film’s core
DiCaprio portrays Bob Ferguson, a washed-up former revolutionary. Benicio Del Toro plays Sergio St. Carlos, a sensei and moral anchor for Willa, Bob’s rebellious teenage daughter. Their partnership — equal parts mentorship and mutual reliance — drives the emotional center of the film.
“You admire actors your whole life, and Benicio has been one of them,” DiCaprio told Gold Derby, recalling the April 1996 Vanity Fair cover that featured them both. He credits Del Toro’s character with grounding his own role: “[Carlos] is the only person in this chaotic neighborhood… that he can go to, that has a link to his daughter, that he knows will give him guidance.”
Oscars and awards season momentum
One Battle After Another has earned top prizes from the Gotham Awards and the National Board of Review, and leads Golden Globe nominations — results that have amplified Oscar talk around both actors. Industry watchers point to the film’s awards haul as proof of its staying power heading into the Academy Awards race.
DiCaprio is a seven-time Oscar nominee and won Best Actor for The Revenant (2015). Del Toro won Best Supporting Actor for Traffic (2000) and received a Best Actor nomination for 21 Grams (2003). With Oscar nominations announced Jan. 22, 2026, both performances will be watched closely.
Why critics and audiences are responding
Reviewers praise the chemistry between DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro, saying their history and mutual respect deepen every scene. The film’s portrayal of community, guidance and unlikely alliances resonates amid its larger political backdrop, giving both actors textured moments to showcase range and restraint.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s direction, combined with strong supporting performances, has turned One Battle After Another into a critical favorite and stoked conversations about awards and legacy for two of Hollywood’s most enduring stars.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on awards-season announcements and early 2026 festival screenings. With major critics’ groups already recognizing the film, Benicio Del Toro and Leonardo DiCaprio could see their performances land on many ballots when the Academy nominations are revealed.
Follow official pages for updates: Gold Derby on X, Instagram and YouTube for interviews and clips from the film.
Image Referance: https://www.goldderby.com/film/2025/leonardo-dicaprio-benicio-del-toro-one-battle-after-another/