One Battle After Another does not feature a post-credits scene. So if you’re headed to watch Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest epic, don’t expect a Marvel-style tease at the end. Once the film concludes, there is no additional footage, but something much more heartfelt: a tribute to one of the most respected behind-the-scenes figures, the late Adam Somner.
One Battle After Another was his final work, which also stars Hollywood heavyweights such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall. The action thriller is inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel, Vinel and,
Here’s an overview of the movie:
Now, let’s take a look at Somner’s legacy and why he was such a revered man in the industry.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another Honors Late Crew Member in the Credits
Adam Somner served as a First Assistant Director and producer on the movie, and he sadly passed away on November 27, 2024. Somner was battling with anaplastic thyroid cancer and left us at the age of 57 (via Variety).
He’s been a force to reckon with in the world of filmmaking and has collaborated with some of the most iconic directors for decades. His early career took off after working alongside Steven Spielberg as third assistant director on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
That led to his long-standing partnership with Spielberg, and Somner went on to work on other projects by the acclaimed directors, such as West Side Story, Ready Player One, Lincoln, Munich, and War of the Worlds. Paul Thomas Anderson’s tribute perfectly captured Somner’s essence (via Variety):
Adam loved making films more than anyone else ever in the history of the movie business. It was food and drink to him. He made everyone who worked with him feel safe. He saw everything from all sides at once and had a back up plan to the back up plan to the back up plan. He moved mountains and trucks and people like he was moving a salt shaker across a table.
Apart from One Battle After Another, Somner has previously worked on several movies by Anderson: Licorice Pizza, Phantom Thread, Inherent Vice, The Master, and Daniel Day-Lewis’ starrer There Will Be Blood. He also contributed to movies by other legendary directors such as Ridley Scott, Alejandro Iñárritu, and Martin Scorsese.
One Battle After Another’s tribute to Somner is a reminder of our unsung heroes who work behind the scenes of the films we love. The credit doesn’t just list his name, but honors his artistry, which made the movie possible!
So which of these movies with Somner’s creative touch did you enjoy the most?
One Battle After Another is currently playing in theaters (USA).
