Leonardo DiCaprio Named TIME’s 2025 Entertainer of the Year as ‘One Battle After Another’ Dominates Awards Season

Key Points

• Leonardo DiCaprio has been selected as TIME’s 2025 Entertainer of the Year, announced December 8, 2025.
• His film One Battle After Another premiered September 8 and released theatrically September 26 via Warner Bros.
• The film swept the National Board of Review with five major wins, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor.
• Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the 162‑minute action‑comedy is adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland.
• DiCaprio is set to reunite with Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann for upcoming high‑profile projects.

DiCaprio Earns TIME’s Top Honor Amid Career‑Defining Moment

Leonardo DiCaprio has been named TIME Magazine’s 2025 Entertainer of the Year, adding another milestone to one of Hollywood’s most celebrated careers. The 50‑year‑old actor earned the distinction for his commanding performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, a film that has rapidly become a major force in the 2026 awards race.

The recognition arrives as DiCaprio enters his fifth decade in the industry, reaffirming his cultural influence and continued box‑office and critical power.

A Breakout Awards Contender: Inside One Battle After Another

Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland marks a bold new chapter for the filmmaker — and a standout role for DiCaprio. The black‑comedy action thriller follows Bob Ferguson, a former revolutionary living off‑grid with his daughter Willa. When an old enemy resurfaces after 16 years, Ferguson reunites with his former comrades for a chaotic rescue mission.

The film, shot in sweeping VistaVision, runs 2 hours and 42 minutes and features an ensemble cast including Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, and Chase Infiniti.

Critics have praised the film as a “thrillingly unhinged counter‑culture caper,” and audiences have embraced its blend of satire, action, and emotional depth.

National Board of Review Sweep Fuels Awards Momentum

One Battle After Another has already emerged as a frontrunner this season, securing five major National Board of Review awards, the most of any 2025 release.

NBR Wins

• Best Film – One Battle After Another
• Best Director – Paul Thomas Anderson
• Best Actor – Leonardo DiCaprio
• Additional honors contributing to a five‑award sweep

TIME praised DiCaprio’s longevity and reinvention, writing: “The actor has crafted a Hollywood career that’s built to last. One Battle After Another is his latest triumph.”

With Golden Globe and Oscar voting underway, DiCaprio’s momentum is undeniable.

What’s Next: DiCaprio Reunites With Scorsese and Mann

DiCaprio’s upcoming slate suggests his awards‑season dominance may continue well beyond 2025.

Upcoming Projects

• What Happens at Night – A reunion with Martin Scorsese, co‑starring Jennifer Lawrence, adapted from Peter Cameron’s ghost‑story novel.
• Heat 2 – A long‑awaited collaboration with Michael Mann on the sequel to the 1995 crime classic.

These projects position DiCaprio at the center of three generations of auteur filmmaking — Anderson’s contemporary vision, Scorsese’s legendary legacy, and Mann’s action‑driven precision.

What DiCaprio’s TIME Win Means for the 2026 Awards Race

TIME’s Entertainer of the Year honor solidifies DiCaprio and One Battle After Another as major contenders heading into the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Oscars. The film’s early sweep and DiCaprio’s critical acclaim place him at the front of the Best Actor race.

However, competition remains fierce. Timothée Chalamet’s performance in Marty Supreme is gaining traction, and several ensemble dramas are building momentum as year‑end voting intensifies.

The next two months will determine whether DiCaprio’s TIME recognition translates into industry‑wide victories.