El Paso Steals the Spotlight in Leonardo DiCaprio’s New Film

The reviews are in and it looks like Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is a hit! Some critics are even praising it’s biggest star, and it’s not Leo or Sean Penn. Hollywood may have rolled out the red carpet for the movie, but let’s be real, El Paso is the one stealing the spotlight, and lots of other critics agree.

Nearly half of Paul Thomas Anderson’s new epic was filmed right here in El Paso, and it shows. From riot scenes that transformed Downtown into the fictional town of Baktan Cross to the everyday shops and storefronts woven into the story, El Paso isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a co-star.

El Paso Gets Its Big Screen Close-Up in One Battle After Another

Even Benicio Del Toro and Leo himself admitted that El Paso was not just a great filming location, but really a great backdrop to the film's story.

The production didn’t just pass through town, it teamed up with locals. Storeowners opened their doors, extras filled the streets, and El Paso actor Gilberto Martinez Jr. skateboarded his way into one of the film’s most memorable scenes.

READ MORE: Downtown El Paso Became the Star of DiCaprio's Latest Film

It wasn’t just filming; it was collaboration, the kind of communal spirit El Paso does best.

Production designer Florencia Martin explained why El Paso was the perfect choice: the historic neighborhoods, the desert landscapes, and the culture woven into every corner. “There’s just a richness there,” she told Conde Nast Traveler. From intergenerational family shops to streets leading right up to the border, El Paso added depth that can’t be faked on a soundstage.

DiCaprio and Del Toro may be the names on the poster, but El Paso is the name people will be talking about when the credits roll. If this is the start of a Hollywood love affair with the Borderland, then we’re ready for our sequel. Interested in some of the filming locations in One Battle After Another? Check out more below.