One Battle After Another: Paul Thomas Anderson’s $200M Box Office Triumph

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The new film, One Battle After Another, is a major success, earning high praise from both critics (94%) and audiences (85%). Many are already calling it one of the best films of 2025, and it’s predicted to be a strong contender for several Academy Awards in 2026.

The film One Battle After Another has now earned a total of $200.3 million around the world. It added $1.9 million to its earnings this weekend, with $1.4 million coming from international showings and $500,000 from domestic theaters. So far, the film has made $130.1 million internationally and $70.2 million in the United States.

With earnings now exceeding $200 million, One Battle After Another is Anderson’s most financially successful film in years. It has also surpassed the worldwide box office totals of his previous four films combined. For comparison, Licorice Pizza (2021) earned $33 million, Phantom Thread (2017) brought in $52 million, Inherent Vice (2014) made just under $15 million, and The Master (2012) grossed $29 million.

Before 2023, Paul Thomas Anderson’s biggest box office hit was There Will Be Blood (2007), which earned $77 million globally. However, One Battle After Another quickly exceeded that amount—during its second weekend in release—and has now made more than twice as much as the film starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

Even though One Battle After Another earned $200 million at the box office – breaking director Anderson’s previous records – the film is unlikely to be profitable. Variety reports the movie cost between $130 and $175 million to make, and with its time in theaters nearly over, it’s projected to earn only about two and a half times that amount, not enough to recoup the production costs.

According to Deadline, the movie One Battle After Another actually needed to earn around $200 million to break even, not $300 million. This suggests the film’s budget was likely lower than what was originally reported. If true, reaching $200 million in earnings is an even bigger success for director James Anderson and the movie.

As a critic, I’ve been following One Battle After Another closely, and it’s become clear this film is a serious contender. Beyond just doing well at the box office, the reviews have been phenomenal – some of the best I’ve read all year. Oscar buzz is already huge, and I fully expect to see it nominated for major awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Anderson. Leonardo DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti are locks for Best Actor and Actress, in my opinion, and the supporting cast – Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, and Teyana Taylor – are all strong contenders in their respective categories.

Unlike many of the other likely Oscar nominees, One Battle After Another has been a commercial success at the box office, adding to the already strong positive reviews it’s received from both critics and viewers.

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2025-11-16 23:28