Even after Warner Bros.’ ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER outsold all other movies in its opening weekend with $22 million in North American ticket sales, a debate ensued as to whether this represented a success. As an original, R-rated film from the critically acclaimed director Paul Thomas Anderson, some argued that it was a success, given the type of movie that it was.
Receiving an “A” audience rating from Cinemascore and 95% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, many expect ONE BATTLE will hold up relatively well at the box office and be a strong contender in the industry’s upcoming awards season.
However, the bean counters point out the $130 million spent to make the movie and another $70 million on its marketing. ONE BATTLE will need to post at least $325 million in global sales to reach profitability from its theatrical window. The film’s focus on U.S. politics has dampened its appeal with certain audiences, further challenging its financial prospects.
Some of the film’s supporters make the argument that it is a statement film for Warner Bros., and that by giving an acclaimed director such as Anderson a blockbuster budget to work with, the studio is signaling that they are uniquely supportive of the industry’s top filmmakers. With the film only 10 days into its theatrical run and awards season still ahead, there will be plenty of time to see which of these stories play out.
