Director Paul Thomas Anderson has made a significant splash with his latest film, the comedic action thriller “One Battle After Another,” which topped the box office charts in its opening weekend. The film grossed an impressive $22.4 million from 3,634 North American theaters. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as an ex-revolutionary on the run, the movie also garnered an additional $26.1 million internationally, bringing its total global earnings to $48.5 million.
Despite the strong opening, box office experts express mixed feelings about these initial results. A debut of just $20 million is viewed as disappointing for a film with a production cost exceeding $130 million and marketing expenses around $70 million. To break even theatrically, “One Battle After Another” needs to reach approximately $300 million globally, as ticket sales are typically split evenly between studios and theater operators.
Moreover, this R-rated film faces challenges due to its originality and length, nearing three hours, which means it lacks the built-in audience that blockbuster franchises like “Superman” or “Jurassic World: Rebirth” typically enjoy. Building excitement and convincing audiences to buy tickets may take time.
Warner Bros. has a track record of defying box office expectations, producing hits across various genres, including family films like “A Minecraft Movie” and darker offerings such as “Sinners” and “The Conjuring: Last Rites.” According to movie consultant David A. Gross, “One Battle After Another” could still achieve profitability if it maintains a strong presence in theaters and performs well internationally. While it’s expected to receive numerous award nominations in the coming months, the immediate box office performance remains crucial.
The positive reception of “One Battle After Another” is a promising sign for its theatrical run. The film has received an “A” grade on CinemaScore exit polls and boasts a stellar 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Such acclaim could contribute to its staying power at the box office. Moreover, premium formats such as IMAX, Dolby, and VistaVision, which command higher ticket prices, contributed significantly to its earnings, accounting for 51% of the overall domestic box office total.
This film will also serve as a test of Leonardo DiCaprio’s box office bankability. Although Paul Thomas Anderson is recognized as one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation, his films have not always been commercial successes. For context, Anderson's highest-grossing film, “There Will Be Blood,” earned $76.4 million globally.
DiCaprio, an established A-list star known for blockbuster hits such as “Titanic,” “Inception,” and “The Revenant,” was last seen in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which opened with $23 million and eventually grossed $158 million worldwide. It remains to be seen if “One Battle After Another”, which opened below “Killers of the Flower Moon,” will ultimately prove to be the more commercially viable project.
Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel “Vineland,” “One Battle After Another” features DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson, a washed-up revolutionary living off the grid with his daughter, Willa (portrayed by newcomer Chase Infiniti). Their peaceful existence is disrupted when an enemy, played by Sean Penn, resurfaces and threatens their family unit. The initial audience demographic skews predominantly male (65%) and over the age of 25 (42%).
In its debut, “One Battle After Another” overshadowed two other new releases: Universal’s family-friendly “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” and Lionsgate’s R-rated slasher film “The Strangers: Chapter 2.” “Gabby’s Dollhouse” opened in second place with $13.5 million from 3,500 theaters, aligning with projections and earning an “A+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls that could help extend its theatrical lifespan.
In contrast, “The Strangers: Chapter 2” debuted at No. 5, earning just $5.9 million from 2,650 theaters. This performance falls significantly short of its predecessor, “The Strangers: Chapter 1,” which opened with $12 million in 2024. The sequel, directed by Renny Harlin, was poorly received by both audiences and critics, earning a “C-” grade on CinemaScore and a dismal 18% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rounding out the top five was Sony’s anime hit “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle,” which took third place with $7.1 million from 2,984 venues. This film has become a sleeper hit, grossing $118.1 million domestically after three weekends, making it the biggest anime film ever in North America and achieving $605.4 million globally.
Meanwhile, the Conjuring sequel landed at No. 4 with $6.9 million, breaking records with a total of $161.5 million domestically and $435 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing entry in the franchise.
In contrast, last weekend's new releases, “Him” and “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” saw significant declines in their second weekends. “Him,” a sports thriller produced by Jordan Peele, dropped 71% to earn $3.8 million, totaling $20.9 million domestically. “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, fell to tenth place with $1.2 million, a 63% drop, bringing its total to $5.8 million against a $45 million budget.
As the box office landscape continues to shift, the performance of “One Battle After Another” will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.
