For Warner Bros., 2025 is already coming to a close. “One Battle After Another” (Jedna bitwa po drugiej) is the studio’s last major release until the end of December. Warner ends 2025 triumphantly. The Paul Thomas Anderson film took the top spot at the box office and sold better than expectations.
“One Battle After Another” is the tenth No. 1 film for Warner Bros. this year. Current estimates suggest an opening of around $22.4 million. Ahead of its release, there was uncertainty as to whether the film would reach the $20 million mark.
This result marks an all-time opening record in Paul Thomas Anderson’s career. Moreover, the film is already effectively his third-highest grossing title ever (his top film is “There Will Be Blood”, with $40.2 million).
These numbers should put creators and producers in euphoria. Yet, that’s not entirely the case — the reason is simple: the budget. “One Battle After Another” was an expensive film. Estimates suggest its budget reached $140 million. With such costs, the opening should have been in the $40–$50 million range; an opening of $22 million, under ordinary conditions, would be considered a disappointment.
To recoup its costs, the film must post small declines in the following weeks. There is some hope: the film received an “A” grade from CinemaScore, which suggests moviegoers will recommend it to friends. On the other hand, October’s competition is fierce. So while this may end up being Anderson’s highest-grossing film to date, it will also need strong digital distribution support to break even.
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