Leonardo DiCaprio’s One Battle After Another scores a $22 million opening weekend at the box office after critics hailed it as ‘the defining film of a generation

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Leonardo DiCaprio’s new film, One Battle After Another, earned $22.4 million (£16.7 million) in its first weekend in theaters across North America, making it the top-grossing movie. It played in 3,634 locations.

The action-thriller earned an additional $26.1 million internationally, bringing its total worldwide earnings to $48.5 million.

Industry analysts are giving varied reactions to the film’s opening weekend. A $20 million start is generally considered weak for a movie that cost over $130 million to make and an additional $70 million to promote.

This film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, isn’t part of an existing franchise, so it takes a bit more time to draw the audience in compared to sequels or established series.

According to David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research, the film could become profitable if it stays in theaters for an extended period or performs exceptionally well internationally, as he told Variety.

While the film is expected to be recognized with many award nominations, that won’t happen for a couple of months, and it won’t impact how well it does right now.

Leonardo previously said he thinks box-office numbers will always be ‘important’.

The actor, a highly successful and well-compensated star at 50 years old, recognizes that streaming services are becoming more and more important. However, he still thinks going to movie theaters will always be a key part of how films are experienced.

He recently told Variety that while the huge amount of new content being created is positive, box office numbers still matter. He believes going to the cinema is important because it provides a shared experience with others.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film, One Battle After Another, has received incredible reviews and is already being discussed as a potential Oscar contender.

The new Leonardo DiCaprio movie, an exciting thriller inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel *Vineland*, has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with some critics calling it a landmark film for its generation.

Nick Howells of The Standard gave the film a perfect five-star rating, calling it the most stylish and expertly crafted movie of the year, and predicting it’s a strong contender for Oscars.

Although Leonardo DiCaprio usually attracts big audiences, critics were most excited about Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film. Many compared it favorably to his previous acclaimed works like ‘Boogie Nights,’ ‘There Will Be Blood,’ and ‘Phantom Thread.’

The film is generating a lot of buzz, with both critics and betting companies predicting its success. Ladbrokes has dramatically shortened the odds of the movie winning the 2026 Best Picture Oscar, moving from 12/1 last week to even money – a very unusual shift.

In “One Battle After Another,” Leo portrays Bob Ferguson, a troubled and unkempt revolutionary living in seclusion with his daughter, Willa. Bob is constantly paranoid and uses drugs, and Willa’s mother is a woman named Perfidia, played by Teyana Taylor.

The movie centers on Bob’s journey to find his daughter, and he teams up with old friends to help him. Benicio Del Toro plays his mentor, teaching him how to overcome his fears along the way.

This thrilling and darkly funny movie features Sean Penn as the villainous Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, who opposes the main character, and Regina Hall as Deandra, a passionate revolutionary.

Even acclaimed director Steven Spielberg was blown away by the film, exclaiming it was incredibly action-packed. He said the first hour alone contained more action than all of the other movies he’d ever seen combined, and praised the film as truly remarkable.

It’s a really strange but surprisingly relevant mix of ideas, and I think it’s actually become *more* relevant now than it was when the movie was first made.

In a review for The Daily Mail, Brian Viner gave the film a five-star rating and noted that Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance isn’t even the most memorable aspect of Paul Thomas Anderson’s hilariously funny and powerfully exciting movie.

Sean Penn delivers a captivating and unsettling performance as an army officer consumed by desire, which eventually turns to hatred. His character’s dramatic collapse is truly shocking and one of the most memorable moments you’ll witness on screen this year.

Wes Anderson previously created a standout film of the 2000s with 2007’s *There Will Be Blood*, and his latest work is just as impressive. It’s inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel *Vineland*.

He believes the artist is creating something truly remarkable, and predicts we’ll likely hear his name again when he wins an Academy Award.

Robbie Collin of The Telegraph has given the film another five-star review, noting that director Paul Thomas Anderson – known for films like *There Will Be Blood* and *Phantom Thread* – consistently delivers unexpected and impressive work.

It’s difficult to emphasize enough how surprisingly brilliant his new film is. It’s a large-scale, satirical comedy in the vein of ‘Dr. Strangelove,’ featuring characters reminiscent of Antifa activists. The film also feels distinctly like a 1970s Hollywood production, demonstrating a remarkable trust in the audience’s intelligence.

For over two and a half hours, the film keeps you on the edge of your seat, building to a thrilling chase scene on a rough desert road, complete with intense and exciting visuals.

The film ends with a thrilling rush of excitement, leaving you breathless, happy, and wanting to experience it all over again.

Caryn James for BBC comment on how the ‘ambitious film work runs so smoothly’.

Paul Thomas Anderson directs this bold and funny action-drama with incredible skill, while Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a powerfully emotional performance at its center.

Once the influential filmmakers of the 1970s are no longer working, Paul Thomas Anderson could be considered the most important American director still making movies.

Most filmmakers would be satisfied with a single film like *Boogie Nights*, *There Will Be Blood*, or *Phantom Thread*, but Paul Thomas Anderson consistently delivers exceptional work. This new film continues his impressive streak of quality filmmaking.

David Gonzalez of The Cinematic Reel calls this film not just excellent, but a truly significant work – the best movie of the year, and potentially one that will define filmmaking for years to come. He describes it as a major cinematic triumph.

As a film enthusiast, I’m hearing incredible things about Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest, and let me tell you, the buzz is *real*. One viewer on X called it the most daring film to come out of a major Hollywood studio in ages, and even went so far as to say it might be one of the best movies they’ve *ever* seen. That’s a bold statement, but it’s definitely piqued my interest – and I think it should be on your radar too!

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2025-09-29 11:08