Jonny Greenwood

Jonny Greenwood, widely considered one of the UK’s most inventive and boundary-pushing musicians, returns with his latest film soundtrack for One Battle After Another, marking his sixth collaboration with director Paul Thomas Anderson. Their partnership has delivered some of the most haunting and memorable soundtracks in recent cinema.

One Battle After Another is a darkly comic action thriller centred on Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), a disillusioned ex-revolutionary on a violent and surreal quest to rescue his kidnapped daughter. The film straddles absurdist humour, emotional weight, and explosive set pieces, all of which suits Greenwood’s unpredictable scoring style perfectly. Drawing from a rich palette of classical, jazz, electronic, and experimental textures, Greenwood crafts a soundscape that is at once tightly woven into the film’s DNA and powerful enough to stand on its own.

The album’s 18 tracks chart a thrilling emotional trajectory. Opener 'One Battle After Another' sets the tone with lush piano and tense strings, laying the groundwork for a journey where optimism constantly wrestles with menace. From there, the jazzy unease of 'The French 75' and the nightmarish string storm of 'Baktan Cross' create a mood of creeping dread. Tracks like 'Baby Charlene' and 'Perfidia Beverly Hills' add a splash of twisted charm and bittersweetness, while 'Mean Alley' and 'I Need the Greeting Code' deliver some of the album’s most intense, horror-inflected moments. 'Ocean Waves' spirals into near-manic jazz, while 'Guitar for Willa' pulls us back with aching intimacy.

Next up, we have the sweeping and cinematic 'Battle After Battle'. 'Sisters of the Brave Beaver' plays like a haunted lullaby with a synthetic edge, and 'Like Tom Fkn Cruise' is a bold, percussive jab of adrenaline. The deeply emotional 'Operation Boot Heel' and delicate 'Avanti Q' offer moments of reflection, while 'River of Hills' brings back suspenseful strings in classic Greenwood fashion. 'Trust Device' is upbeat and has a gorgeous riff, reminiscent of James Mercer’s 'Australia' from Wincing the Night Away. The graceful 'Trio for Willa' ties together the soundtrack’s thematic threads with remarkable precision and heart.

His soundtrack for One Battle After Another is another standout in Greenwood's career already full of them. It’s challenging yet accessible, eclectic yet cohesive. This album mirrors the chaos, comedy, and emotional complexity of the film, which is why this will undoubtedly be an awards contender.

Track list:
1. One Battle After Another
2. The French 75
3. Baktan Cross
4. Baby Charlene
5. Perfidia Beverly Hills
6. Mean Alley
7. I Need the Greeting Code
8. Ocean Waves
9. Guitar for Willa
10. Battle After Battle
11. Sisters of the Brave Beaver
12. Like Tom Fkn Cruise
13. Operation Boot Heel
14. Avanti Q
15. River of Hills
16. Greeting Code Reprise
17. Trust Device
18. Trio for Willa

One Battle After Another will be released digitally via Nonesuch Records from 26 September 2025, and a physical edition will follow on 14 November.