Photo: (Credit: Warner Bros Pictures)
Source: BBC News
DST News: Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller One Battle After Another — starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro — has been hailed as a cinematic triumph by critics, yet the film is falling short financially despite glowing reviews and strong word of mouth.
Praised as both a “masterpiece” and a “terrific ride” by reviewers in Sight & Sound, Baltimore Magazine, and the BBC, the film was expected to be a crowd-puller. However, despite earning $162.5 million worldwide after four weeks in theatres, it remains far from breaking even. According to Variety, the film would need around $300 million to cover its production and marketing costs, putting Warner Bros. on track to lose nearly $100 million.
The studio, which disputes the figures, acknowledged that One Battle After Another was a costly venture, with a production budget of $130 million. Analysts say the high budget makes profitability difficult, though box-office experts such as Charles Gant from Screen International describe the film’s performance as “phenomenal,” citing enthusiastic audiences and positive word of mouth.
While financially underwhelming, the film has nearly doubled the lifetime earnings of Anderson’s previous best-performing movie, There Will Be Blood (2007). Industry watchers expect its revenue to grow during awards season, with Oscar nominations likely boosting reissues, streaming rights, and Blu-ray sales.
Critics note that the movie’s art house tone, political depth, and eccentric narrative style make it a tougher sell to mainstream audiences accustomed to blockbusters. Still, insiders argue that Warner Bros.’ investment in Anderson’s work brings prestige and credibility to the studio.
“It’s what they point at when people criticise them for not doing real films anymore,” said film critic John Bleasdale, noting that auteur-driven projects help attract top creative talent to the studio.
Warner Bros.’ broader 2025 lineup, including Sinners, Minecraft: The Movie, F1, and Superman, has performed strongly enough to absorb the hit. Industry analyst Lucas Shaw told The Town podcast that the film’s critical success and Oscar potential make it “a calculated risk worth taking.”
In the end, One Battle After Another may not be a financial blockbuster — but it cements Warner Bros.’ image as a studio that still values art over algorithms. As Bleasdale quipped, “If you back a Paul Thomas Anderson film, whatever happens at the box office, you’ve still got a Paul Thomas Anderson film — and that’s something to be proud of.”
