Martin Scorsese’s latest film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” had an impressive debut at the box office, bringing in $23 million from North American theaters and another $21 million from international territories. With a global total of $44 million, it’s already proving to be a success.
Despite coming in second place, “Killers of the Flower Moon” had the best opening weekend of Scorsese’s career since 2010’s “Shutter Island.” It surpassed the opening weekends of his other films, including “Hugo,” “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Silence,” and “The Irishman.” What’s even more impressive is that the film achieved this without the promotion from its stars, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, due to the ongoing actors’ strike.
The film’s critical acclaim and positive audience reception are also contributing to its success. With an “A-” CinemaScore and a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is expected to have a strong theatrical run. The film has attracted a diverse audience, with 44% of ticket buyers under the age of 30.
As a $200 million-budgeted movie, “Killers of the Flower Moon” represents a bold move for Apple, which has focused on streaming rather than theatrical releases. This is also the widest release ever for a film backed by a streaming service. While it’s uncertain when the film will be available on Apple TV+, it won’t happen for at least 45 days.
Industry experts believe that the positive reception and potential awards nominations will contribute to the film’s continued success. David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, highlights the strong international draw of DiCaprio and De Niro as well.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” is based on David Grann’s novel and explores the mysterious murders that occurred when major oil deposits were discovered on the Osage nation’s land in the 1920s. Apple stepped in to fund the film after Paramount Pictures, which distributed it, faced soaring costs.
This film is part of Apple’s new strategy to release high-profile movies in theaters before they appear on Apple TV+. Two upcoming films, Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” and Matthew Vaughn’s “Argylle,” will also test this model. If successful, it could open up opportunities for other streaming services in the exhibition space.
Despite “Killers of the Flower Moon’s” strong start, it couldn’t surpass Taylor Swift’s concert film, “The Eras Tour.” The film remained in first place, earning $31 million in its second weekend and becoming the first concert film in history to reach $100 million at the domestic box office.
Universal’s horror sequel, “The Exorcist: Believer,” came in third place, adding $5.6 million to its total earnings. The film has collected $54.2 million in North America and $107 million globally. While it’s a solid turnout, Universal and Blumhouse will need continued audience interest in the series to justify their massive investment.
Other films in the top five include “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” at fourth place, with $4.3 million, and Disney’s re-release of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at fifth place, with $4.1 million.
As the success of “Killers of the Flower Moon” continues to unfold, it’s clear that it has made a significant impact in the film industry and has the potential to pave the way for new players in the exhibition space.