One Battle After Another Is Eliminating Its Only Oscars Liability

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Everything seems to be falling into place for this film. Warner Bros. made a smart decision by avoiding fall film festivals and instead holding press screenings immediately afterward, which quickly generated a lot of buzz. The reviews have been outstanding – currently the highest-rated film of the year according to Metacritic – and audiences are responding positively, leading to growing excitement.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s film quickly became a strong contender for awards, giving both Sinners and Hamnet a run for their money. Hamnet had initially seemed like the frontrunner, but after the Gotham Awards nominated One Battle After Another more than any other film – even though some expected criticism for an independent awards show recognizing a major studio release – it now appears to be the leading choice.

The biggest possible drawback is the movie’s price tag. While a film doesn’t need to be a box office hit to get nominated for an Academy Award, its financial performance can matter, especially now that the film industry is struggling. Several actors nominated this year may face the challenge of promoting their work when the focus is more on how poorly their movie did at the box office than on their acting.

If One Battle After Another becomes a serious contender for Best Picture, any flaws in the film could be used to create negative press at just the right moment. However, the filmmakers are about to disprove this idea.

One Battle After Another Is Changing Its Box Office Story

Early this year, Warner Bros. faced concerns about the high costs of its upcoming films. After Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 (which performed below expectations despite a $118 million budget), studio leaders Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca came under scrutiny for approving large budgets – over $100 million for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and more than $140 million for Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.

Despite initial criticism, Sinners proved successful, though PTA wasn’t as fortunate. A lively discussion began online about whether a movie’s financial success is important – shouldn’t studios use profits from films like A Minecraft Movie and Superman to support ambitious projects by talented filmmakers? – even as reports surfaced that the film was expected to lose $100 million in theaters.

Despite some negative publicity, One Battle After Another is currently doing well and maintaining its popularity. However, it would be even more successful if it didn’t have to overcome those challenges.

A recent report from Deadline suggests the movie needs to earn around $200 million to break even, which is lower than the previously reported $300 million. Considering the film’s budget, this seems surprising, but if accurate, it’s already nearing that goal. With strong international performance, the movie has already grossed over $190 million worldwide, and increasing awards attention should help it continue to succeed. Once available for digital rental or purchase, it’s expected to perform well, with a larger portion of the revenue going directly to the studio. Streaming will likely provide another boost, especially if the film receives multiple Oscar nominations.

It’s not so much about whether One Battle After Another will make a profit – Hollywood’s accounting practices often make it impossible to know for certain. The important thing is how the movie’s box office performance is being discussed, and this report is helping to shift that conversation in a positive way.

When it’s unclear if a film will recoup its costs, the conversation usually shifts to its successes. For example, people are highlighting that this film is PTA’s biggest global hit, earning more than twice as much as any of his previous movies. They’re also pointing out it’s on track to surpass $200 million worldwide, which is impressive for an original, artist-driven film aimed at adults, especially given the current movie market. Ultimately, a film like this is likely to have lasting appeal and be rewatched for years to come, so its success shouldn’t be judged solely on its opening weeks at the box office.

The film One Battle After Another is proving to be a hit, and audiences are hoping its success will be judged on more than just box office numbers. Once it surpasses $200 million in earnings, it should shift the conversation away from financial metrics. It’s also beneficial that Warner Bros. has had a profitable year, allowing them to postpone Mortal Kombat 2 and strengthen their film lineup for 2026.

Once the focus moves away from box office numbers, there’s little stopping this film from becoming the clear favorite. It’s unclear if any controversies will emerge like the one surrounding The Brutalist, but even if the conversation shifts to awards speculation – like whether the director deserves an Oscar or if the film will earn multiple supporting actor nominations – it will likely solidify its position as the leading contender.

While Sinners has been a genuine success, its recent IMAX re-release around Halloween didn’t crack the top 10, coinciding with the lowest-grossing weekend of the year. Hamnet hasn’t been released yet, but surprisingly, strong ticket sales might be what helps One Battle After Another pull ahead in this close competition.

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2025-11-03 21:32