Leonardo DiCaprio has surpassed Liam Neeson in the all-time box office rankings following the successful launch of the film One Battle After Another. The movie’s strong domestic debut on release week contributed significantly to DiCaprio’s rising career gross, marking a notable shift in the competitive standings of leading Hollywood actors.
Impact of ‘One Battle After Another’ on DiCaprio’s Box Office Status
The recent release of One Battle After Another has enhanced Leonardo DiCaprio’s position among top-grossing actors. The film opened domestically with $22 million, pushing DiCaprio’s total box office earnings to $2.739 billion. This milestone allowed him to overtake both Denzel Washington, who earned $2.732 billion, and Liam Neeson, with $2.665 billion, according to latest figures. This marks DiCaprio’s 11th film to debut with more than $20 million at the domestic box office, providing a boost for Warner Bros., which heavily backed the project in the hope of leveraging Paul Thomas Anderson’s directing skills alongside DiCaprio’s star appeal.
Among the 45 highest-grossing movie stars, DiCaprio now stands out with remarkable hits throughout his career. Although he has avoided franchise-driven projects, his major domestic successes include Titanic, Inception, The Revenant, Catch Me If You Can, and Django Unchained. Worldwide, his films have accumulated about $7.5 billion in total revenue since his debut in the mid-1990s.
High Stakes and Critical Praise for ‘One Battle After Another’
The production of One Battle After Another involved significant financial risk, given its estimated $140 million budget, making it the most expensive film Paul Thomas Anderson has ever directed. Comparatively, Anderson’s previous movie, Killers of the Flower Moon—a period Western produced by Apple—cost around $200 million but earned approximately $150 million worldwide. Despite these challenges, One Battle After Another has become a front-runner for the Best Picture Oscar, holding an exceptional 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, Regina Hall, and Teyana Taylor, and is currently showing in theaters.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Selective Career Path
Since winning an Academy Award for The Revenant, DiCaprio has taken a more cautious approach to his movie choices, appearing in just three theatrical releases alongside the Netflix original Don’t Look Up. His ability to draw audiences without relying on franchise films highlights his unique position within the industry, especially when compared to actors like Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Downey Jr., whose box office achievements have been significantly aided by their Marvel Cinematic Universe roles.
With the success of One Battle After Another, DiCaprio’s standing in the box office race is poised to grow even further, as the film continues to attract viewers and generate revenue. The development marks a key moment not only for his career but also for Warner Bros., which has bet heavily on this original production during a period when such high-budget films are increasingly rare.
“One Battle After Another is about as risky a bet as his last movie, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, the Apple period Western that grossed around $150 million worldwide against a reported budget of $200 million.” ?Unnamed source
