“One Battle After Another” is a recent Paul Thomas Anderson film, and the phrase in your question is most likely referring to the movie’s title and setting rather than to a generic phrase.

In the story, much of the “one battle after another” drama takes place in and around the fictional town of Baktan Cross in California, a sanctuary city where the main character Bob lives with his daughter Willa. On screen, Baktan Cross is created by blending several real locations across California and the U.S.–Mexico border region, so the battles and confrontations you see actually unfold across multiple real-world places.

Key places where “one battle after another” plays out in the film’s world:

  • The fictional town of Baktan Cross, California , where Bob has gone off‑the‑grid and where raids and confrontations erupt as the authorities close in.
  • A tense border‑camp / detention‑center environment at the U.S.–Mexico border, where an early raid and action sequence happen.
  • A desert region used for chases and stand‑offs, echoing the idea of ongoing pursuit and conflict “one battle after another” as characters move across the state.

If you were instead asking in a more abstract sense (outside the movie), the phrase “where does one battle after another take place?” is often used metaphorically to describe:

  • War zones or conflict regions where clashes are frequent.
  • Political arenas or courtrooms where disputes follow one after another.
  • A person’s life when they face constant emotional or practical struggles.

But given current context and timing, it almost certainly points to the movie’s setting around Baktan Cross and the border/desert landscapes where the story’s repeated battles, raids, and chases occur.

Quick Scoop: SEO‑style overview

  • Focus keyword: where does one battle after another take place
  • Main answer: In the film context, it takes place primarily in the fictional Baktan Cross, California, plus border‑camp and desert locations that stand in for modern American conflict zones.
  • Latest news angle: The film has drawn attention for using lesser‑seen California towns and border landscapes to stage its many “battles,” both literal and symbolic.
  • Trending/forum vibe: Discussions often revolve around how these locations turn the film into a road‑movie of escalating confrontations, with viewers debating whether Baktan Cross feels like a stand‑in for real sanctuary cities and border tensions in today’s politics.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.