Update Sept. 28, 2025: Paul Thomas Anderson scored the biggest box-office opening of his career as One Battle After Another won the weekend with $22.4 million from 3,634 North American theaters. The Leonardo DiCaprio–led action thriller added another $26.1 million overseas, bringing its worldwide total to $48.5 million. That’s a solid start for an R-rated, nearly three-hour original film, even if the $130 million production budget means it still has a long road to profitability.
Industry watchers note the debut landed in the middle of expectations. While some call $22 million underwhelming for a project of this scale, others point to the “A” CinemaScore grade and 96 percent Rotten Tomatoes average as signs of long-term staying power. Premium formats like IMAX, Dolby and VistaVision accounted for more than half of domestic grosses, suggesting audiences are seeking it out as a big-screen event. Initial turnout skewed male (65 percent) and over 25 (42 percent), and Warner Bros. is betting positive word-of-mouth will expand that audience in the weeks ahead.
Elsewhere, Universal’s family-friendly Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie opened in second place with $13.7 millionearning a rare A+ CinemaScore and positioning itself as a sleeper hit for young audiences. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle continued its strong run with $7.1 million, pushing its domestic total past $118 million and its global haul beyond $600 million. Warner Bros.’ The Conjuring: Last Rites ranked fourth with $6.9 million, adding to its record-setting franchise totals. Rounding out the top five was Lionsgate’s The Strangers: Chapter 2 with $5.9 million, a steep drop from the last installment but still likely to turn a profit thanks to its modest $8.5 million budget.
Original story published Sept. 26, 2025: Paul Thomas Anderson is no stranger to Oscar buzz, but he’s never had a box-office breakout quite like the one expected this weekend. His latest epic, One Battle After Anotherstarring Leonardo DiCapriois projected to top the Sept. 26–28 frame with a domestic debut between $20 million and $25 million, plus another $25 million overseas for a potential $50 million worldwide launch. Even a softer start in the high teens would still mark Anderson’s biggest opening, easily surpassing 2007’s There Will Be Bloodwhich ultimately grossed $40.2 million domestically and $76.4 million worldwide.
At a reported $140–$150 million budget, One Battle After Another is the most ambitious project of Anderson’s career. Warner Bros. has positioned it as an event film — shot in 70mm VistaVision and marketed aggressively with trailers across NFL broadcasts, CinemaCon, and tentpole releases like Superman. The studio is fresh off an unprecedented winning streak (A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Final Destination: Bloodlines, F1: The Movie, Superman, Weaponsand The Conjuring: Last Rites) and is now aiming to cap off the year with a serious Best Picture contender.
Positive reviews — it’s sitting at 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes — should only help the film’s momentum. Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s Vinelandthe story follows DiCaprio’s Bob Ferguson, a former revolutionary living off the grid with his daughter (newcomer Chase Infiniti) until an old enemy (Sean Penn) resurfaces. But the film’s overtly political tone, including a provocative opening sequence at an ICE holding facility, may stir controversy in red states.
Rounding out the top five, Universal’s family-friendly Gabby’s Dollhouse is expected to draw up to $17 million, while Lionsgate’s horror sequel The Strangers: Chapter 2 should scare up $7-9 million. Anime holdover Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is projected to land in the $7 million range, with Warner Bros.’ The Conjuring: Last Rites close behind at $6 million.
New releases:
One Battle After Another
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Distributor: Warner Bros.
When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue one of their own’s daughter. The action thriller has a running time of two hours, 41 minutes, and is rated R. One Battle After Another is certified “fresh” with a 98 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; “universal acclaim” reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 96 percent.
Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Director: Ryan Crego
Distributor: Universal
Gabby and Grandma Gigi’s road trip takes an unexpected turn when Gabby’s prized dollhouse ends up with eccentric cat lady Vera. Gabby embarks on an adventure to reunite the Gabby Cats and retrieve her beloved dollhouse before it’s too late. The family adventure has a running time of one hour, 38 minutes, and is rated G. Gabby’s Dollhouse is certified “fresh” with an 80 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes.
The Strangers: Chapter 2
Director: Renny Harlin
Distributor: Lionsgate
On the final day of their cross country road trip, a couple’s vehicle breaks down, forcing them to take refuge in a remote Airbnb. As night falls, three masked strangers terrorize them until dawn. The horror sequel has a running time of one hour, 36 minutes, and is rated R. The Strangers: Chapter 2 is certified “rotten” with a 14 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; “generally unfavorable” reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 33 percent.
Eleanor the Great
Director: Scarlett Johansson
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
After a devastating loss, witty and proudly troublesome Eleanor Morgenstein, 94, tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own. The drama starring June Squibb, Erin Kellymanand Chiwetel Ejiofor has a running time of one hour, 38 minutes, and is rated PG-13. Eleanor the Great is certified “fresh” with a 67 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; “mixed or average” reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 50 percent.
Here are Gold Derby’s predicted box-office rankings for the top five over the Sept. 26-28 weekend:
1. One Battle After Another
2. Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
3. The Strangers: Chapter 2
4. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
5. The Conjuring: Last Rites
Do you agree or disagree with those rankings? Make your predictions right now — it’s fun and easy!
