📖 Vineland

The book that inspired the 2026 Golden Globes' most nominated film

January 06, 2026

Awards season kicks off this Sunday, Jan. 11 when the Golden Globes air from 8-11 p.m. ET / 5-8 p.m. PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

One Battle After Another leads with 9 nominations. Did you know the film was inspired by a book published 35 years ago?

Thomas Pynchon's novel, Vineland, is a political satire set in California in 1984 that explores the legacy of the 1960s counterculture movement and its clash with the Reagan-era government.

Vineland (1990) by Thomas Pynchon

Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) loved Pynchon’s novel for its deep emotional and political take on the counterculture, finding it so impactful he felt "a high" from reading it.

However, he deemed a direct adaptation too difficult, opting to run with the core ideas and characters instead.

In a conversation with Leonardo DiCaprio for Esquire, Anderson said, “Vineland was always going to be too hard to adapt, so I stole the parts that spoke to me and just started running like a thief. I guess that’s what all us writers do—we’re fucking thieves.”

The film is currently available to rent, buy, or stream on HBO Max.

A NOTE FROM OUR TASTEMAKER

As a movie lover and long-time fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, I really enjoyed One Battle After Another.

It has striking cinematography and weaves together multiple themes, including societal struggles and the impact on future generations. As a new mom, that aspect resonated with me more deeply than I expected.

The film balances those heavier ideas with sharp wit, dark humor, and plenty of action—making it both thought-provoking and genuinely fun to watch.

Nicole