Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, One Battle After Another, has certainly stirred the pot. It tells the story of activists fighting to free immigration camps, robbing banks to support their mission, while being chased by a villain played by Sean Penn.
This film has made waves at the box office, particularly in blue counties, where ticket sales soared by 13%. In contrast, it saw a decline of 24% in red counties, according to EntTelligence, a company that tracks box office stats. For context, blue counties lean Democratic, while red ones lean Republican, based on the 2024 presidential election results.
One Battle After Another opened with a remarkable $22 million, making it Anderson’s best-ever domestic debut. This brings its global earnings to $48.3 million. Notably, it’s also the 11th film starring Leonardo DiCaprio to surpass $20 million on opening weekend.
When we look at attendance, 72% of moviegoers came from blue county theaters, while just 27% came from red counties. Interestingly, 53% of theaters are located in blue areas, contributing to 66.78% of all ticket sales. This reveals a significant trend: films that resonate with liberal audiences tend to fare better in those regions.
In contrast, family-friendly movies, like Disney’s Snow White, have found success in red counties despite having a larger share of sales from blue areas. This trend shows that family films tend to appeal across the political spectrum, suggesting different genres capture the interests of varied demographics.
EntTelligence data also reveals that One Battle After Another thrived in major cities, with 51% of its audience from urban areas with over a million residents. In these cities, the film outperformed average R-rated films by 14%. Notably, it excelled in cities like New York City (+22%), San Francisco (+21%), Washington, D.C. (+26%), and Toronto (+61%). On the flip side, it struggled in Houston (-30%) and Dallas (-23%).
Comparing this movie to past box office successes, there’s a noteworthy example from 2015: American Sniper, directed by Clint Eastwood, made $350.1 million domestically, striking a chord with audiences in heartland America. Despite its political overtones, it achieved phenomenal success. In the last decade, few films have matched this blend of political themes and box office triumph.
As cinema continues to reflect societal divides, films like One Battle After Another spark conversations about cultural values. The audience’s reaction reveals not just movie preferences but deeper social sentiments. It shows how films can mirror and amplify the current political landscape, forging connections or widening gaps among viewers.
For further insight into box office trends and audience behavior, you can refer to reports from EntTelligence.
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