2025’s Best Movie Won’t Get a Director’s Cut, Here’s Why

Academy Award nominee Paul Thomas Anderson has debunked the rumored 3-hour initial cut of One Battle After Another, confirming that the Leonardo DiCaprio-led movie won’t be receiving a director’s cut. Since the crime thriller’s theatrical debut, it has already earned a worldwide gross of around $204 million at the box office, making it Anderson’s highest-grossing movie ever.

Why won’t One Battle After Another receive a director’s cut?

According to the World of Reel, One Battle After Another originally had a “3-hour cut” that was used during the movie’s test screenings. However, it was ultimately shortened to around 2 hours and 40 minutes for its theatrical cut, which means that there’s Anderson potentially had to cut down 20 minutes of footage.

In a recent interview with French outlet Kombini, Anderson explained the reason why he won’t be releasing a director’s cut for One Battle After Another, revealing that the footage that was cut wasn’t really that significant to the story.

“No, no. I mean, there were things that were cut,” Anderson said. “There are always things that were cut, but nothing significant or nothing that we would be proud of, I think. Probably things that, you know.”

In addition, DiCaprio also shared his thoughts on the subject, revealing that he agrees with the creative team’s decision to shorten the movie’s final theatrical cut.

“I saw the early cuts, and there was great stuff in it, but look, the film is… how long is the film? Two hours and something? Something, yeah. And there’s not a moment in that film that, you know, doesn’t galvanize you and have the tension of moving forward with supremely high stakes. I think a longer version of it wouldn’t give you that adrenaline rush,” DiCaprio explained. “You know, it wouldn’t have that same feeling of a chase and this impending doom coming towards these characters, you know, especially Willa — it wouldn’t be the same.”

One Battle After Another was written and directed by Anderson. The ensemble cast also features Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Alana Haim, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Benicio del Toro, D.W. Moffett, Chase Infiniti, John Hoogenakker, and more. The movie currently holds a Certified Fresh rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 417 reviews. It recently scored nine major Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Screenplay.

(Source: World of Reel)

Source: Comingsoon.net