Strictly Business Daily Variety – Box Office: ‘One Battle After Another’ Banks on Word of Mouth; San Sebastián Film Festival Scene
Sep 29, 2025
Join film experts Rebecca Rubin and John Hopewell as they explore the box office landscape for 'One Battle After Another,' dissecting its $22.4M domestic opening and the impact of word-of-mouth buzz. John shares insights from the San Sebastián Film Festival, highlighting celebrity appearances and profound discussions on U.S. politics, while spotlighting standout Spanish cinema. Discover the festival's unique charm, as well as what makes Jennifer Lawrence's return to the spotlight so relevant.
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Opening Weekend Doesn't Tell The Whole Story
- One Battle After Another's opening is hard to judge solely by weekend numbers because it's an original R-rated, nearly three-hour film without franchise support.
- Its future depends heavily on word-of-mouth and whether it builds audience legs beyond opening weekend.
Prestige Long Films Can Grow Over Time
- Leonardo DiCaprio's opening here is lower than Killers of the Flower Moon but comparable to other long, prestige films that later found legs.
- Historical long-form adult dramas can open modestly and still reach solid long-term grosses.
Premium Formats Drove A Big Share
- Premium large-format screenings (IMAX, Dolby, VistaVision) made up a majority of domestic revenue for One Battle After Another.
- Viewers responded strongly to the film's premium presentation, boosting average ticket value and early grosses.