Critics were early in their praise, but it took a while for the general public to catch on. Only after the end-of-year lists did this film truly enter the radar of many viewers. Now, with its streaming release, interest has definitively exploded, and the title tops the HBO Max top ten: One Battle After Another.

The 2025 film is written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the filmmaker behind There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Licorice Pizza. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio alongside Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro, and Sean Penn, the film hit theaters earlier this year and is now available on HBO Max.

Rotten Tomatoes

The critics' rating is exceptionally high. On Rotten Tomatoes, 95 percent of critics give the film a positive review. The audience is also very positive, with 85 percent.

Ty Burr of The Washington Post calls the film "a crazy action movie, an exciting thriller, and various other genres that the director seamlessly blends, complete with an unfortunate hero, a warrior princess, and the most despicable villain seen in the film world in a long time." Katie Walsh from Tribune News Service goes even further, writing: "Anderson has crafted the film of the year with the explosive, sharp, and often quite funny 'One Battle After Another', which just happens to be a cutting critique of this specific moment in American history." The Guardian concurs, labeling the film "a confident and energetic title that justifies its place among the best films of the year."

Streaming Hit

The film's recent breakthrough has everything to do with timing. Thanks to its prominent place on international best-of lists and its recent availability on HBO Max, many viewers are discovering the film for the first time now. While it was primarily picked up by enthusiasts and critics in theaters, it reaches a much broader audience through streaming. Don’t miss it: One Battle After Another is now available on HBO Max.

After three seasons, Amazon Prime Video has put an end to The Wheel of Time. With an estimated total budget of over $360 million, the series ranks among the most expensive fantasy productions ever. Yet, it appears that high costs and a loyal fanbase are not always enough to secure a long-running series.

The Wheel of Time, based on the book series by Robert Jordan, garnered significant attention upon its launch in 2021 as Prime Video's major fantasy offering alongside The Rings of Power. The series received praise for its world-building and visual style, although it faced mixed reviews regarding pacing and character development. Nevertheless, the show eventually became one of the most popular titles available on Prime Video.

An Extremely Expensive Production

The production of the series was nothing short of extravagant. Season 1 was estimated to cost around $140 million, equating to $17.5 million per episode. Costs for season 2 reported a slight decrease, with approximately $124 million for eight episodes, over $15 million each. The third season seemingly cost around $100 million, bringing the total expenditure to more than $360 million. Based solely on production costs, The Wheel of Time thus ranks among the most expensive series ever made.

Amazon invested not just in sets, costumes, and CGI, but also in international marketing campaigns and extensive shooting schedules in locations including the Czech Republic, Morocco, and Italy.

No Room For A Third Season

Although the book series consists of fourteen volumes, there will be no adaptation in the near future. Amazon has confirmed that there will be no fourth season, despite earlier reports suggesting that scripts and production plans were already in place. For fans, this meant an abrupt end to an ambitious project that had only just begun to gain momentum.

The spin-off NCIS: Tony & Ziva will not continue. Paramount+ has decided to cancel the series after just one season. This news ends a brief return of two of the most popular characters from the NCIS universe.

The series focused on Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), both former NCIS agents. They teamed up with a mysterious technology program in an attempt to track down an international criminal group that embezzled money from Interpol.

No Continuation For Beloved Duo

Alongside Weatherly and De Pablo, the cast also featured Isla Gie, Amita Suman, Lara Rossi, Maximilian Osinski, Anne-Marie Waldeck, Julian Ovenden, James D’Arcy, Nassima Benchicou, Terence Maynard, Emmanuel Bonami, and Sean Pertwee. The series consisted of ten episodes and aired from early September to late October.

In a joint statement, the lead actors thanked the viewers, colleagues, and production team for their dedication and commitment. Despite the fanbase's enthusiasm, the decision was made not to renew the series.

Franchise Continues To Thrive

With the cancellation of Tony & Ziva, three NCIS series remain on the air: NCIS, NCIS: Origins (season two), and NCIS: Sydney (season three). Paramount+ continues to focus on the broader franchise, even though this specific spin-off has been terminated.