Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedic action thriller “One Battle After Another” led the U.S. box office in its opening weekend, collecting $22.4 million from 3,634 North American theaters. Adding another $26.1 million internationally, the film reached a global total of $48.5 million in its first three days, marking a strong start for the auteur-driven release.
The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as ex-revolutionary Bob Ferguson, tells the story of a man living off the grid with his daughter until an old enemy reappears, threatening to tear the family apart. The R-rated title runs for 2 hours 41 minutes and premiered in premium formats, including IMAX, which contributed 51% of the domestic gross. Audience response has been positive, with the film scoring highly in exit polls.
While the opening numbers are solid, box office experts note that the film’s high production and marketing costs—$130 million and $70 million respectively—mean profitability depends on strong sustained performance, both domestically and internationally. Word-of-mouth and critical reception will be essential in extending the film’s theatrical run.
DiCaprio and Anderson: Star Power vs. Original Content
Though Paul Thomas Anderson is celebrated for films like Boogie Nights and The Master, his projects rarely open with franchise-level numbers. Leonardo DiCaprio’s involvement adds weight to the release, though this R-rated, original story with no pre-existing audience presents a challenge for broad appeal. The first weekend results reflect both the allure of the director-actor collaboration and the cautious pace at which audiences are approaching the film.
Family-Friendly Success: Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Following closely, Universal’s “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” debuted at $13.7 million from 3,500 theaters, securing the No. 2 spot. The G-rated film, based on the hit preschool Netflix series, earned strong audience marks and demonstrates the continued draw of family-friendly content. With production costs at $32 million, the film has a clear path to profitability, aided by repeat viewings from its core young audience.
Horror Entries: Hits and Misses
Lionsgate’s “The Strangers: Chapter 2” opened in fifth place with $5.9 million from 2,690 theaters, significantly below the previous installment’s $12 million debut. Critical reception has been weak, and audience grades indicate the film may have a limited hold at the box office.
Conversely, Warner Bros.’ “The Conjuring: Last Rites” continued its strong performance in fourth place with $6.86 million, despite being in its fourth week. The paranormal thriller has amassed $161.5 million domestically, proving the franchise’s staying power.
Anime Phenomenon: Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Sony’s anime hit “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle” ranked third with $7.1 million, marking a steep –59% decline from the previous weekend. After three weeks, the film’s domestic total stands at $118.1 million, confirming the franchise’s stronghold in the North American market.
Second-Weekend Slumps
Two of last weekend’s new releases saw sharp drops:
“Him” earned $3.65 million, a –72.5% decline, bringing its domestic total to $20.8 million.
“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” dropped to $1.25 million, down –61.6%, with a cumulative $5.9 million domestic total.
These declines highlight the challenges for non-franchise films to maintain momentum beyond their opening weekend.
Top 10 Weekend Grossers
Rounding out the weekend, the full U.S. top 10 :
One Battle After Another — $22.4M | 3,634 theaters | IMAX | Opening
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie — $13.7M | 3,500 theaters | UPI | Opening
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle — $7.1M (–59%) | 2,984 theaters | Sony | Week 3 | Total: $118.1M
The Conjuring: Last Rites — $6.86M (–44.1%) | 3,083 theaters | WB | Week 4 | Total: $161.5M
The Strangers: Chapter 2 — $5.9M | 2,690 theaters | Lionsgate | Opening
Him — $3.65M (–72.5%) | 3,168 theaters | UPI | Week 2 | Total: $20.8M
The Long Walk — $3.4M (–45.4%) | 2,297 theaters | Lionsgate | Week 3 | Total: $28.8M
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale — $3.3M (–48.5%) | 2,829 theaters | Focus | Week 3 | Total: $38.9M
Spider-Man Trilogy (Fathom 2025) — $2.25M | 1,485 theaters | N/A | Opening
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey — $1.25M (–61.6%) | 3,330 theaters | Sony | Week 2 | Total: $5.9M
The weekend highlighted a mix of commercial outcomes: Paul Thomas Anderson’s auteur-driven release dominated in buzz and critical acclaim but faces a high bar to break even; family content proved reliable; horror continues to maintain solid performance; and anime remains a strong, sustained draw.
For One Battle After Another, the key will be sustained audience turnout, strong word-of-mouth, and global performance, which will determine whether the film’s ambitious budget and long runtime can be justified at the box office.
Read More:
Note: Box office numbers are based on estimates and can change with more updates.
