‘One Battle After Another’ Opens to Muted $21 Million Box Office Launch Amidst Critical Acclaim

While it is enjoying some of the best reception any film has earned this year, Warner Bros.’ “One Battle After Another” still faces an extremely long road to profitability after an $8.8 million opening day from 3,634 locations, putting it on pace for a $21 million opening weekend.

That is on the lower end of projections for director Paul Thomas Anderson’s first wide release, though there had been some hopes from exhibitors and rival distributors that the movie would open to $25 million or more. Instead, it is opening a couple steps below the $23.2 million opening for lead star Leonardo DiCaprio’s last film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” in 2023.

“Killers,” which like…