‘One Battle After Another‘ Projected to Lose $100 Million, Highlighting Risks for Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.isโฃ bracing for a significant loss onโ its recently released film, โฃ”One Battle After Another,” โคwith current projections estimating theatrical losses reaching $100 million.โ The underperforming film arrives as Warner Bros. boasts a strong 2025 box office, generating roughly $600 million in theatricalโค profits year-to-date before the releaseโ of “The Conjuring: Last Rites.” The $4โข billion inโข overall box office revenue for Warner Bros. represents gross revenue, not profit.
Despite the anticipated โฃloss, Warner Bros. anticipates offsetting factors, including the potential for awards โคrecognition for another film and theโข overall success of its 2025 slate. The studio source indicated the $600 millionโข figure was calculated before factoring in the performance of both “The Conjuring: Last Rites” and “Oneโข Battle After Another.”
The โsituation also underscores a broader trend โฃof risk in the film industry, especially for original content.Analysts suggest revenues remain approximatelyโ 20% below pre-pandemic levels (2019), andโ audiences tend to favor established franchises.
“Consumers go to the theater a few times a year at most. They gravitate towards what they know; sequels, prequels and spinoffs where they’re less likely to walk away disappointed,” said Eric Wold, a Texas Capital securities analyst.”It’sโข always โคbeen tough for studios to put a lot into original IP. Risk of failure is higher.”
The financial setback comes as โฃA24, another studio taking on increased risk with larger budgets, faces scrutiny following โขthe disappointing performance of “The Smashing Machine.” A24’s valuation reached $3.5 billion โขafter a recent fundingโ round, and the studio is โคbacking pricier films, such as “The โฃSmashing Machine” ($50 million โคbudget) andโ “Marty supreme” ($60 million to โ$70 million budget).
