‘One Battle After Another’ Ticket Sales Are Solid (With an Asterisk)

The film "Licorice Pizza" by director Paul Thomas Anderson topped the North American box office, earning $22.4 million over the weekend. However, the film's overall profitability remains uncertain. While the strong ticket sales are a positive sign, the film's production budget and marketing costs are still unknown, making it difficult to determine its financial viability. The article notes that the box office performance should be viewed with an "asterisk," suggesting that the film's success may be more complex than the headline suggests. The article highlights the challenges faced by the film industry, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly impacted movie theater attendance and the overall financial landscape of the industry. The summary focuses on the key facts presented in the article, including the film's box office performance and the uncertainty surrounding its profitability, while avoiding any bias or speculation beyond the information provided.