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Image Courtesy: Gold Derby
With estimates currently aiming for a $21 million opening weekend in the United States, the new release 'One Battle After Another' is off to a good start at the box office. Its performance is being widely studied as it opens in theaters with overwhelmingly positive reviews, both as a possible blockbuster and as a gauge of how well auteur-driven films function in the current market.
High Stakes, Big Cast & Bold Ambitions
The 1990 book 'Vineland by Thomas Pynchon' serves as the basis for Paul Thomas Anderson's writing and directing of 'One Battle After Another.' Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and newcomer Chase Infiniti are among the film's formidable ensemble cast members.
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Image Courtesy: TheWrap
The story revolves around Bob (DiCaprio), a former revolutionary who finds himself dragged back into the fray after his daughter Willa vanishes and an old foe reappears. Its fusion of intense action, high stakes, and political undertones is praised by critics and early viewers. DiCaprio said that his character frequently makes mistakes and fails to execute the tasks, calling Bob "the opposite of Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible." Anderson, meantime, has called working with DiCaprio "amazing," pointing to their mutual enthusiasm and aspirations for the movie.
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The movie debuted on 8th September in Los Angeles and was released in theaters on 26th September. It opened in more over 3,600 cinemas across North America, which was Anderson's most extensive opening rollout to date. With an astounding 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it is now one of the highest rated movies of 2025 on Metacritic.
Box Office Push & Future Ambitions
Positive momentum is evident in the early box office figures: One Battle After Another's ticket sales increased on its first Saturday, suggesting that word-of-mouth may be contributing. According to industry estimates, its local opening price might be between $20 and $25 million, with hopes for considerably larger global totals. The picture has a difficult time recovering its costs with its estimated $130–175 million budget, but it has a chance thanks to its star power and critical acclaim.
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Image Courtesy: The Hollywood Reporter
This is Anderson's most ambitious commercial venture to date, and DiCaprio's first major part since 'Killers of the Flower Moon.' The current goal is to maintain momentum—maintain strong audience interest, reach international markets, and potentially compete during awards season. Instead of being a niche prestige project, the movie is being viewed as a tentpole release, indicating that studios may be increasingly willing to take risks with director-led productions.
One Battle After Another's performance will reveal a lot about risk and ambition in contemporary Hollywood, regardless of whether it turns out to be a blockbuster or a moderate commercial success.
