One Battle After Another capped off a dominant night at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards, taking home the top prize for Best Film during Sunday’s ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
The action thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Chase Infiniti, prevailed over fellow nominees Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, and Sinners to secure the evening’s most coveted honor. The win marked the film’s sixth award of the night, adding to earlier victories including Best Director and Adapted Screenplay.
Hollywood legend Glenn Close presented the final award, sending producer Sara Murphy, director Paul Thomas Anderson, and members of the cast and crew to the stage. Murphy described the moment as “an honour,” thanking Warner Bros. and longtime collaborators for supporting the project from its earliest stages.
In an emotional portion of her speech, Murphy paid tribute to the film’s assistant director, Adam Somner, who died in November 2024 at age 57 following a battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer. “I wish more than anything that our producing partner, Adam Somner, could be here to accept this on behalf of us on his home turf,” she said, also honoring his wife Carmen and children Olivia and Bosco.
Anderson followed by acknowledging the strength of the other nominees and expressing gratitude for the recognition. “You have given us so much to celebrate tonight. Thank you for rewarding our film in the way that you have. This is a tremendous honour,” he said. Dismissing claims that cinema is in decline, Anderson pointed to the quality of the year’s films and encouraged celebration rather than cynicism.
Quoting Nina Simone, whose words appear in the film, Anderson closed with: “I know what freedom is. It’s no fear.” He added, “Let’s keep making things without fear,” before joking that after a long evening, everyone should head to the bar to continue the celebration.
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