Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film, 'One Battle After Another,' starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has achieved a significant box office success, grossing $48.5 million globally during its opening weekend ending September 29, 2025. This marks the biggest opening weekend of Paul Thomas Anderson's career, surpassing previous successes like 'There Will Be Blood' and 'Licorice Pizza.' The film's strong performance includes $22.4 million from North America and $26.1 million from international markets.
The ensemble cast features prominent actors such as Sean Penn as Col. Steve J. Lockjaw, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, Benicio del Toro, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, and Shayna McHayle. Leonardo DiCaprio leads as Bob, a role that has drawn praise. Despite its 163-minute runtime, the film's deliberate pacing and complex themes, loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel 'Vineland,' have generated considerable industry buzz for its award potential.
The production budget for 'One Battle After Another' was reported to be around $130 million, with marketing costs potentially adding another $70 million. The film was released on September 26, 2025, with a deliberate artistic vision, including its presentation in VistaVision, a higher-resolution widescreen film format developed in the 1950s. This format, which involves orienting 35mm film horizontally to capture a larger image area, contributes to the film's unique visual presentation and has seen a resurgence in recent years.
Critics have noted the film's blend of genres, from dark comedy to political thriller, and its exploration of themes such as activism, consequences, and the cyclical nature of change. While some reviews highlight the film's artistic merits and DiCaprio's performance, others have pointed to its challenging themes and unconventional structure. Word-of-mouth is anticipated to drive further viewership in the coming weeks, with audiences giving the film an "A" CinemaScore.