Paul Thomas Anderson Says 'Piss Off' if You Think New Movies Aren't Good
Variety
by Alex RitmanFebruary 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
After “One Battle After Another” won the BAFTA for Best Film, director Paul Thomas Anderson delivered a fiery response to critics who claim modern movies aren’t as good as they used to be. Anderson, who wrote and directed the action thriller, told the audience, “Anybody that says movies aren’t any good anymore should piss right off,” drawing cheers and laughter. He emphasized the importance of continuing to create films without fear, quoting Nina Simone’s words, “She says, ‘I know what freedom is, it’s no fear,’” adding, “So let’s keep making things without fear.” Anderson’s speech was a rallying cry for filmmakers and fans of cinema, celebrating the ongoing potential of the art form.
The film, loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Vineland,” follows ex-revolutionaries reuniting to rescue a comrade’s daughter after an old enemy resurfaces. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Regina Hall, among others, the movie has been a major contender on the awards circuit. At the BAFTA Film Awards, “One Battle After Another” claimed
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Originally published on Variety on 2/22/2026