LOS ANGELES, United States — Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest cinematic endeavor, ‘One Battle After Another,’ has made a resounding impact at the North American box office, securing the top spot during its debut weekend. Industry estimates released on Sunday revealed that the action thriller, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as a retired radical fighter thrust back into action to aid his daughter, captivated audiences with its blend of absurdity and gravitas. Critics have lauded the film as a ‘carnivalesque epic’ exploring themes of good versus evil, violence, power, and the relentless fight against injustice. The film amassed an impressive $22.4 million in its opening weekend, according to Exhibitor Relations, sparking early Oscar speculation for both Anderson and DiCaprio. Analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research praised the film’s performance, noting its alignment with the success of an action series launch and its exceptional critical and audience reception. Meanwhile, ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,’ a family-friendly live-action/animation hybrid, secured second place with $13.7 million, while the anime feature ‘Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’ continued its strong run, adding $7.1 million to its North American total of $118.2 million. The horror franchise installment ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ also maintained momentum, earning $6.9 million to reach a cumulative $161.5 million. Other notable entries in the top 10 included ‘The Strangers: Chapter 2,’ ‘Him,’ ‘The Long Walk,’ ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,’ ‘Spider-man Trilogy,’ and ‘They call him OG.’