I Thought I Had Seen Every Version Of A Movie Car Chase, But One Battle After Another’s Climax Blew My Mind And Stressed Me Out

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For decades, car chases have been a movie staple, and directors have always found ways to make them unique. Paul Thomas Anderson did exactly that in his 2025 film, *One Battle After Another*, and the result is fantastic. The chase scene significantly improves an already strong final act. I thought I’d seen it all when it came to on-screen car chases, but this intense and thrilling sequence is truly something special.

Major spoilers for One Battle After Another lie ahead.

Why Is The Final Car Chase In One Battle After Another So Great?

The story mainly follows Willa Ferguson as she tries to escape her recently found father, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw. Things get complicated when Tim Smith, a member of the Christmas Adventurers Club hired to eliminate the colonel, becomes Willa’s main chaser. Adding to the chaos, Willa’s quirky father, Bob, also ends up on the same road, searching for her.

The story already has a lot at stake, but director Paul Thomas Anderson, working with cinematographer Michael Bauman, heightens the tension through the way they film the car chase. Shot near Borrego Springs, California, at a location known as the “Texas Dip,” the sequence uses three different camera distances to emphasize the road, the surrounding hills, and how the cars appear and disappear from each driver’s view. The shots taken from the front of the cars are especially captivating, creating the feeling that you’re seeing the action *from* the vehicle itself, rather than from inside it.

The road’s natural dips and curves really enhance those shots, creating a captivating visual effect. While the idea of filming there seems simple enough, seeing it done so well is incredible. I was both amazed and on edge while watching, especially during the car drifts – they were genuinely nerve-wracking! So, you can imagine my surprise – and gasp – when Tim crashed into Willa’s car, a trap she cleverly set by using his blind spot.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s *One Battle After Another*, his first real venture into the thriller genre, is packed with impressive moments and stunning visuals. But for me, the car chase sequence stands out as the film’s technical masterpiece – and that’s high praise considering how great the movie is overall.

There’s A Lot To Love About One Battle After Another

Our review of *One Battle After Another* highlights it as a top film of 2025 and a standout work from director Paul Thomas Anderson. The movie tackles important political and social issues without being overly preachy. The acting is superb across the board, with brilliant performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, and rising star Chase Infiniti. The film is also beautifully made, and features an early car chase sequence that’s both realistic and thrilling.

The second car chase is truly exceptional and remains the film’s highlight. Even if you’ve enjoyed similar movies like *Smokey and the Bandit*, *The Italian Job*, or *Baby Driver*, you’ll still find it thrilling. The intense chase leads to a surprisingly satisfying conclusion, and it’s hard to imagine another filmmaker creating a better one. I suspect I’ll be watching this chase sequence from *OBAA* repeatedly for a long time to come.

The new movie, *One Battle After Another*, is out in theaters everywhere. If you can, see it in IMAX or VistaVision – especially for the incredible chase scene, which is worth the price of admission alone!

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2025-10-09 16:08