'One Battle After Another' triumphs at US box office

"One Battle After Another," Paul Thomas Anderson's widely acclaimed American epic of rebellion and resistance, opened with $22.4 million in ticket sales from North American theaters over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

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Anderson's ultracontemporary opus signifies a major gamble by Warner Bros. With "One Battle After Another," the studio is making a $130 million-plus bet that audiences would come out for a 170-minute-long powerhouse drama from one of cinema's most celebrated auteurs, the way they usually only turn up for a franchise or superhero movie.

Anderson, many critics said, delivered the movie of the year. "One Battle After Another," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, and Sean Penn, has been hailed as a film brimming with many of the political conflicts of today. Oscar prognosticators have pegged it as this year's best-picture frontrunner. Aided by DiCaprio's drawing power, the film added $26.1 million overseas.

But good reviews, star power, and a marquee filmmaker are nowadays often insufficient to make a hit. For a movie that cost at least $130 million to make, plus many millions more to market, "One Battle After Another" will have a long road to reach profitability. For most releases with such a high budget, a $22.4 million start would be a disappointment.

Executives for Warner Bros. declined to be interviewed about the opening.