One Battle After Another has been turning heads across the film world, and for good reason. Despite receiving critical acclaim, generating Oscar buzz, and going viral on social media, the film finds itself teetering on the edge of a $100 million loss. For a studio like Warner Bros, which has enjoyed a dream run this year, this is an unexpected curveball.
2025 has been historic for Warner Bros., with blockbusters like Minecraft, Conjuring: Last Rites, Weapons, Companion, Superman, Sinners, and F1 collectively grossing over $4 billion worldwide. They became the first studio in history to achieve such a feat, balancing both high-quality storytelling and massive box office returns—a remarkable accomplishment in global cinema. Naturally, the studio wouldn’t have wanted the year to close with a film underperforming financially.
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While Warner Bros. hasn’t issued a public statement about the film’s box office struggles, industry insiders suggest the studio remains fully supportive. The film’s rave reviews, combined with the star-studded cast—Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Chase Infiniti—and the masterful direction of Paul Thomas Anderson, make it impossible to ignore. Critics and audiences alike are already placing the film in the Oscar conversation, with many considering it one of the frontrunners for awards season.
Ironically, despite its financial challenges, One Battle After Another is now the highest-grossing film of Anderson’s career, surpassing his iconic works like Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, and The Master. The film had a reported production budget of $130–175 million, with an additional $70 million spent on marketing, meaning it would need around $300 million globally to break even. So far, it has earned approximately $142.5 million, including $57.4 million domestically and $85.2 million internationally.
Critics have praised the film for its ambitious storytelling, nuanced performances, and striking cinematography. RogerEbert.com called it “a fun time at the theater,” highlighting its mix of humor, intensity, and a poignant father-daughter narrative. While the numbers may not yet reflect the film’s artistic success, One Battle After Another is proof that critical acclaim and cultural impact don’t always align immediately with box office performance—and that sometimes, the true value of a film is measured in influence, artistry, and the conversations it sparks
