Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The action and comedy-drama film “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, took the top spot at the North American box office during its opening weekend, according to estimates by the specialized company “Exhibitor Relations” on Sunday.

The film earned approximately $22.4 million in revenue. It tackles strongly relevant themes in the United States today and was described by The New York Times as a “carnivalesque epic dealing with good and evil, violence and power, inalienable rights, and the fight against injustice.”

This film positions its American director Paul Thomas Anderson (known for “Magnolia,” “There Will Be Blood,” and “Phantom Thread”) and star Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays an aging former revolutionary trying to save his teenage daughter, as strong contenders for the Oscars.

David A. Gross, an analyst at “Franchise Entertainment Research,” called it an “excellent start” for the film, comparable to what an action film sequel might achieve, and described it as “amazing.” He noted that “critical responses are great, and audience turnout is exceptional.”

In second place was the children’s film “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,” which combines live action and animation and is based on a popular series on the streaming platform Netflix, earning about $13.7 million.

In third place, the film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle” continued its strong performance, earning an additional $7.1 million, bringing its total revenue in the United States and Canada to $118.2 million.