‘One Battle After Another’ Charges Into Box Office Glory, Becomes Paul Thomas Anderson’s #2 Hit
One Battle After Another opened at number one this weekend, making $22.4 million in the U.S. and Canada.
Around the world, it pulled in $48.5 million in its first few days. According to industry analysts, the movie was expected to make between $20 million and $25 million in its U.S. debut, while some thought it might go as high as $30 million.
Studio insiders told reporters that they were aiming for about $20 million in its opening run, so the movie landed right in line with those numbers.
Here's the official trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," in theaters September 26. Learn more about the film: https://t.co/qRTPic058K pic.twitter.com/Aplndoxxbe
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) March 27, 2025
The film was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, known for his unique style and long list of acclaimed work. This time he worked with DiCaprio on a story about a former revolutionary who teams up with his old friends and neighbors to save his daughter from a past enemy.
The project was inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland. The cast also includes Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and newcomer Chase Infiniti. Warner Bros. Pictures produced the movie with a budget of $130 million.
One Battle After Another first premiered in Los Angeles on September 8, and then hit theaters across the United States on September 26. Critics have responded with excitement. Rotten Tomatoes reports that 96% of 270 reviews are positive. The site’s summary reads, “An epic screwball adventure teeming with awe-inspiring action set pieces, One Battle After Another is Paul Thomas Anderson’s most entertaining film yet while also one of his most thematically rich.”
Metacritic has also given it a score of 95 out of 100, which signals what they call “universal acclaim.” Audiences seem to agree. CinemaScore shared that moviegoers gave it an average grade of “A.”
With strong reviews and a big opening weekend, One Battle After Another is already the second most successful film in Paul Thomas Anderson’s career when it comes to box office numbers.
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