Warner Brothers’ box office victories has ended, but that’s why it doesn’t matter

For most of the year, Warner Bros. was unstoppable at the box office. The studio has deployed a series of massive tubes, including A minecraft film,, Sinners,, Final destination: lines,, SupermanAnd Weapons, That everyone took the 40 million dollars mark at the national level during their opening weekends. The sequence gave Warners a boastful that few studios could correspond, cementing its status as current champion of the Hollywood box office.
This race finally slowed down with the exit of Paul Thomas Anderson‘s One battle after another. The film opened up to modest $ 22 million at the national level, short of the figures set by recent studio blockbusters. But while One battle after another ended the Warner Bros monetary sequence, The studio probably does not sweat.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s last victory a different “battle”
Although an inner start of $ 22 million is difficult for a film with a budget estimated at $ 140 million, there is more in history. One battle after another also won $ 26 million abroad, giving Anderson the The biggest world debut in his career; In fact, the opening crude of $ 48 million is almost equal to all world transportation for Ghost. Add a cinemascore note “A”, and the film seems ready to enjoy long legs in theaters. This is particularly true for a director whose works have always been slow burns rather than flash blockbusters in the PAN.
Anderson has never been a mastodon at the box office. His most successful film to date, There will be bloodsupplemented at 76 million dollars worldwide, and One battle after another is already on the way to equalize or lower this. But even if his films never make many bumps at the box office, works like Boogie nights,, Magnolia,, Punch-Dunk loveAnd There will be blood are considered classics by films lovers of years later. PTA films have a long cultural tail. Even if it never approaches brutals of A minecraft film Or SupermanHaving a film with such high public acclaim reinforces the studio catalog and solidifies Warner Bros. ‘The reputation of a house for visionary directors.
There is also delighted critical reception. Anderson has long been a favorite of moviegoers, and One battle after another Take advantage of a “fresh” note of 96% on rotten tomatoes. Critics praised Anderson’s ardent direction and surprising talent for action sequences, as well as the performance of Leonardo DiCAPRI,, Sean Penn,, Benicio Del ToroAnd Infiniti chase. The film is likely to be the best end -of -year lists for many groups of criticism and criticism, and be a favorite of the award season. This will be part of a long conversation that barely begins.
We will talk about the Oscar Season
Oscars, in fact, can be the place One battle after another Offer to Warner Bros. His biggest victory. Get out of the commercial domination of SinnersThe studio now has two very different films to anchor its reward campaign. Ryan CooglerThe Vampire film gives Warner a populist juggernaut, while Anderson’s latest supplies and critical credibility. Warner Bros. probably intends to treat One battle after another As a high -level award player, putting him in front of the voters throughout the season with projections, questions and answers “for your consideration” designed to keep his momentum during the Oscar.
This is a familiar game book for the studio. Warner Bros. Excelled to balance the box office muscle with prestigious offersSince Jokerwhich combined commercial heat with serious aspirations to rewards, to A star was bornWho played in theaters for months and has marked several Oscar price nominations.
With Anderson’s film, the studio gets something similar, but less commercial: a film that might not dominate the box office, but which Enriched Warner Bros. ‘Reputation with criticism, artists and voters. And if the film passes as a real competitor of the best film – maybe even the best rival of Sinners – Warner Bros. Win, it doesn’t matter which one of his films returns home with gold, and the public may be interested in seeing what it is. The studio will also be able to take advantage of this momentum in an HBO Max outing at the end of this year or at the beginning of 2026, taking advantage of the reward buzz to give prestigious films a second life with an audience that jumped them in theaters. Oscar’s attention could turn One battle after another In an essential cultural event. The synergy of theatrical prestige fueling buzz in streaming is more and more how the studios define success in the modern era.
In the long term, a lower opening weekend does not matter
The end of Warner Bros. ‘The hot box office sequence can look like a setback, but He reflects the extent of the studio’s ambitions. Not all films can be a blockbuster. Some are built to dominate cultural conversation for weeks, months or even years. One battle after another is already a conversation starter.
His opening weekend may not have rewritten the records, but The film is already positioned for a strong race ahead. For Warner Bros., it is a victory that goes beyond the box office and proves that their success sequence is very intact.
- Release date
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September 26, 2025
- Execution time
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162 minutes
- Director
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Paul Thomas Anderson
- Writers
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Paul Thomas Anderson, Thomas Pynchon
- Producers
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Adam Somner




