How They Shot That Car Chase in ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER was a major cinematic achievement in 2025 that has since been nominated for all sorts of awards. There are many memorable aspects to the film, but one of the most outstanding sequences is the chase sequence towards the end of the film (spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen it).

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER’s cinematographer, Michael Bauman, sat down with Variety to discuss those scenes and how they were technically achieved and what all went into making it. It’s rather fascinating look at the process that leads to one of the most stirring cinematic sequences of 2025.

The summary:

Cinematographer Michael Bauman breaks down how ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER blends the rich detail of VistaVision with the raw, gritty energy of 1970s cinema. From practical car chases inspired by THE FRENCH CONNECTION to pushing vintage film cameras to their limits, he shares how the film’s most intense sequence came to life in this episode of Inside the Frame.