Copyright Screen Rant
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another is one of the biggest films of 2025, with its stellar cast making it a promising prospect for this Awards season. It has been winning over audiences and critics alike since its release, and despite being an auteur film, it has attracted the kind of mass attention we wouldn't probably expect it to. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti in her feature film debut, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and Sean Penn, the movie One Battle After Another has one of the biggest ensemble casts of the year. As is the case with many PTA movies, each cast member gets their moment to shine, as the screenplay gives all characters their due. One Battle After Another also continues a Leonardo DiCaprio character trend, and his star power alone could explain why moviegoers have been filling up the theaters to sit through 2 hours and 40 minutes, which is a considerably long runtime in today's climate. However, One Battle After Another is reporting major box office losses, but the situation's better than suggested. One Battle After Another May Not Break Even Despite the high attendance at One Battle After Another screenings, it has been reported that Paul Thomas Anderson's latest movie might not break even, mostly due to its high budget. The ensemble cast, the extensive car chase sequence, the use of Panavision technology, and the longer runtime have all contributed to making it the acclaimed director's most expensive movie yet. However, the fear around One Battle After Another struggling to break even at the box office is motivated by ambiguous reporting on the studio's part. While the filming budget itself hasn't been confirmed, there have been no confirmed estimates of the movie's marketing budget either, and it may recover its entire budget during its theatrical run, which isn't over yet. It is also important to realize that breaking even has become an increasingly difficult task for high-budget niche movies in recent years. The industry hasn't been the same since the closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the sincere efforts of producers, marketers, and enthusiastic movie fans, a film like One Battle After Another was never expected to break even. One Battle After Another Is Paul Thomas Anderson's Highest-Grossing Movie Apart from not knowing exactly how close the movie is to recovering its budget, we also have more promising news about One Battle After Another. Paul Thomas Anderson has been making movies with a large scope for a while, often starring major industry figures, but only a few of his movies have made a major dent at the box office. Compared with other Paul Thomas Anderson movies, One Battle After Another has made more than twice the amount that his previously highest-grossing movie, Licorice Pizza, had made. Including international earnings, it has made over $190 million globally, and the initial report that it might lose $100 million seems less and less likely with every passing day of its theatrical run. So, while One Battle After Another may not be Paul Thomas Anderson's most profitable movie, it proves that the director deserves to work with a high budget as well. We will have to wait and see if it eventually breaks even, but this is a major, promising development for not just Paul Thomas Anderson's career, but also the film industry. One Battle After Another Could Change The Economics Of Arthouse Cinema Paul Thomas Anderson is known for making arthouse movies with varying degrees of accessibility, and his reputation as an auteur often precedes him and his cinema. It's also important to note that most of his movies made in the 21st century are set in the past, which further contributes to the impression that he's a niche filmmaker without mass appeal. However, One Battle After Another is set in the present, and addresses a major political issue concerning American citizens today. This makes it his most explicitly political, but simultaneously the most accessible movie by him, which would explain its standing as his highest-grossing film. Equally relevant is the fact that the movie has been produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Warner Bros has crossed $4 billion at the box office in 2025 and is the first film studio to reach the milestone this year. Its releases have been balanced between major blockbusters and arthouse movies. One Battle After Another's box office earnings of nearly $200 million proves that such a model is sustainable for a major studio of its kind. One Battle After Another Is A Best Picture Oscar Contender Warner Bros. sanctioning One Battle After Another could prove hopeful for other auteurs and arthouse filmmakers, who might find funding from major film studios in the future. Warner Bros. has produced the most predicted Best Picture Oscar nominees this year, which is a lucrative opportunity for it and other studios to earn more prestige points among moviegoers, who value artistry.
