AceShowbiz - Despite a *modest performance* at the global box office, director Paul Thomas Anderson's latest epic, One Battle After Another, is concluding its theatrical run by surpassing one of the biggest *surprise hits* of recent years. Though unlikely to reach the coveted $200 million global or $100 million domestic milestones, the critically acclaimed drama has now officially outgrossed Jason Statham's 2024 success, The Beekeeper, in domestic receipts.

One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has amassed nearly $70 million domestically, eclipsing The Beekeeper's lifetime domestic haul of $66 million. Globally, Anderson's film had already surpassed Statham's, now sitting at approximately $185 million. While the movie comfortably recovered its reported $140 million production budget, it still faces an uphill battle to reach the estimated $300 million global total needed for a film of its scale to break even. This comes after a strong run for Warner Bros. with *blockbusters* like Sinners, Final Destination Bloodlines, and The Conjuring: Last Rites.

The subdued box office for One Battle After Another is significantly offset by its tremendous critical reception. The film boasts a "certified fresh" score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a strong contender for multiple nominations at next year's Oscars. Furthermore, DiCaprio's latest cinematic outing is also poised to overtake the $68 million lifetime domestic gross of his previous collaboration with Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon, demonstrating its strong appeal.

Meanwhile, The Beekeeper remains a significant solo hit in Jason Statham's impressive career, which includes major titles such as The Fate of the Furious and Furious 7. Directed by David Ayer, the film has solidified its status as a *perennial favorite* on home video, largely due to its near-unanimous positive reception from audiences, reflected in its impressive 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Although Statham and Ayer recently reunited for this year's $100 million hit A Working Man, Ayer will not be returning to direct the highly anticipated sequel, The Beekeeper 2. His departure is attributed to *scheduling conflicts* with a new project planned alongside Brad Pitt. Instead, Timo Tjahjanto has stepped in to helm the sequel. For those who wish to experience One Battle After Another, it is currently still available in theaters.