One Battle After Another Tops North American Box Office With $22.4M Debut

Paul Thomas Anderson's film "One Battle After Another," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, opened at number one at the North American box office with $22.4 million, adding $26.1 million internationally for a global debut of $48.5 million. Despite critical acclaim, with many calling it Anderson's finest work and a likely Oscar contender, the film's opening is considered modest given its $130 million budget plus marketing costs. Warner Bros. is banking on strong word-of-mouth, awards buzz, and the film's long theatrical run to achieve profitability. The movie, a 170-minute drama inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel "Vineland," explores themes of rebellion and features DiCaprio as a former revolutionary living off the grid. Audience reception was positive, earning an "A" CinemaScore, signaling potential for sustained box office performance. Other releases included "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" in second place with $13.7 million and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle," which dropped to third.