DiCaprio's 'One Battle After Another' Tops Debut

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, billed as inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, is a big action thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a former revolutionary protecting his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti), with key roles for Teyana Taylor and Sean Penn. Shot for VistaVision/IMAX, the film opened No. 1 domestically with an estimated $22.4 million and debuted at number one in the UK‑Ireland, where Warner Bros. said it set a record for Anderson releases, totaling about $48.5 million worldwide in its first weekend. Critics and audiences have praised its kinetic, visually striking staging and politically charged imagery, and early awards‑season buzz has emerged for Anderson and DiCaprio. Despite positive reception and an “A” CinemaScore, analysts say the roughly $130 million production cost plus about $70 million in marketing likely requires around $300 million globally to break even, making the opening commercially disappointing. Local markets where the film was shot, including Sacramento, reported enthusiastic audiences and strong turnout that have helped word‑of‑mouth even as industry watchers debate the movie’s long‑term box‑office prospects.