He debuted director Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedy action thriller, “A Battle One after another,” and raised $22.4 million from 3,634 North American theatres over the weekend. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a former revolutionary running around, adding another $26.1 million internationally with a global tally of $48.5 million.
Box office experts are mixed about what to do with these first results. The low $20 million debut costs more than $130 million, and is a disappointing addition to the $70 million market. And “One Battle” requires a huge turnout of around $300 million worldwide to even theatres break.
However, R-rated films are original (and nearly three hours) and don’t enjoy built-in audiences that benefit franchise fares like “Superman” and “Jurassic World: Rebirth.” Building excitement (and getting people to buy tickets) can take time. Additionally, Warner Bros. has continued to violate box office expectations, producing hits in all shapes and sizes since April, from the child-centered “Minecraft Films” and “Superman,” to the less-so-comfortable “Sinner,” “Weapons,” and “Summon: The Last Ritual.”
Positive reviews are key to inspiring the level of sustainability needed to justify the height of the studio’s sky. In that respect, “One Battle is a Battle After a materialss” were received enthusiastically by the audience (earning the “A” grade in the Cinemascore exit vote) and critics (96% rotten tomato average). Premium large formats like IMAX, Dolby, Vistavision are more expensive than the average ticket and help you to boost your revenue. According to Warner Bros., these larger-than-life screens contributed to a massive 51% of the country’s overall tally.
“Fighting after battle” tests DiCaprio’s box office banking traits. (The director of “Boogie Night,” “Magnolia,” and “Master,” is considered to be one of the biggest filmmakers of his generation, but his films aren’t usually commercial draws. For context, Anderson’s best films won globally $76.4 million. “Inception” and “The Revenant” were most recently on the screen of “Killers of the Flower Moon” in 2023. The film, directed by Martin Scorsese and co-star Robert de Niro, opened for $23 million and finished its run with $68 million domestically and $158 million worldwide.
Will the “Fighting after Fight” opened under “Flower Moon Murderer” ultimately prove to be a more commercial product? Luggagely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel “Vineland,” DiCaprio will star in “One Battle andally” as Bob Ferguson, a bathroom revolutionary who lives from the grid with his daughter Willa (newcomer Chase Infinity). The first ticket buyers were primarily males (65%) and 25 years old (42%).
“One Battle” approaches the two new releases of Universal’s children’s “Gabby’s Dollhouse: Movie” and Lionsgate’s R-Rate Thrasher “The Strangers: The Strangers: Chapter 2” and “Fighting after Battle.”
“Gabby’s Dollhouse” debuted second in second place from 3,500 North American theatres at $13.5 million, straightening along the forecast. The G-rate film based on the hit Netflix series targeted for Pre-Schoolers has achieved the coveted “A+” grade in the Cinemascore exit poll. Universal spent $32 million on production costs.
“The Strangers: Chapter 2” landed at $5.9 million for $5.9 million from 2,650 theatres on the first weekend of its release. This is far below the previous articles in the 2024 series The Strangers: Chapter 1. The first Thrasher reboot was launched in 2024 to $12 million and ended up winning $48 million worldwide. While sequels are rarely near those box office revenue, the film costs a modest $8.5 million production.
It’s a relief for Lionsgate, as reviews and word of mouth cannot help a movie stick to the big screen. “The Strangers: Chapter 2” was panned by audiences and critics. Audiences added the film in the “C-” grade and added the film in the brutal grade of 18% with rotten tomatoes. Renee Harlin oversaw the follow-up. When they discover that one of the victims (Madeleine Petsch) is still alive, they return to finish their work.
Sony’s anime smash “Demon Slayer: Kimett No Yaiba Infinity Castle” and “The Conjuring: Lastity” concluded the top five.
Third place was to “Demon Slayer” from 2,984 venues over the weekend for $7.1 million. It became a big sleeper hit, generating $118.1 million domestically three weeks later. It is already the largest animated film in North American box office history.
“Conjuring” landed in fourth place with $6.9 million. The paranormal sequel also breaks records at $161.5 million domestically and $435 million worldwide, the largest installment of the long-term franchise.
Meanwhile, last weekend’s newcomer Universal’s “he” and Sony’s “bold, beautiful journey” collapsed on their second outing. The sports thriller “He” produced by Jordan Peele raised $3.8 million, down 71% since his debut. Ticket sales amount to $29 million domestically and $21 million worldwide. The romantic drama Big Bold Beautiful Journey starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell fell to No. 10 with $1.2 million, winning 63% since last weekend. So far, “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” has won $8 million overseas against a $5.8 million budget in North America and $45 million.
More coming…
