’s highly anticipated crime epic “Killers of the Flower Moon” made an impressive debut at the box office, raking in $23 million from 3,628 North American theaters over the weekend. The film also earned $21 million from 63 international territories, resulting in a global total of $44 million.
Despite securing the second spot, “Killers of the Flower Moon” marks Scorsese’s best opening since 2010’s “Shutter Island” ($41 million debut) and is the third-best debut of his career, following 2006’s “The Departed” ($26.9 million debut). Notably, the film managed to make a significant impact even without the promotional efforts of its stars, and Robert De Niro, due to the ongoing actors’ strike.
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Despite its lengthy three-and-a-half-hour runtime, the R-rated “Killers of the Flower Moon” has garnered praise from both audiences (earning an “A-” CinemaScore) and critics (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), indicating a promising theatrical run. Adapted from David Grann’s 2017 novel and featuring Lily Gladstone and Jesse Plemons, the film delves into the dark period known as the “Reign of Terror,” which refers to the series of mysterious murders that occurred after significant oil deposits were discovered on the Osage Nation’s land in the early 1920s. The film attracted a wide range of age groups, with 44% of ticket buyers under the age of 30.
With a budget of $200 million, “Killers of the Flower Moon” represents a bold venture for Apple, which has prioritized streaming over theatrical releases until now. This marks the widest release ever for a film backed by a streaming service. While the film’s arrival on Apple TV+ is yet to be determined, it will be at least 45 days until the film is available for streaming.
“Reviews and audience scores are superb. And Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro are strong draws overseas,” says David A. Gross, a movie consulting firm owner. “Between word-of-mouth, press coverage, and potential awards nominations, the film is expected to have a successful theatrical run.”
An expensive production like “Killers of the Flower Moon” was made possible by a company like Apple. Unlike traditional theatrical players, Apple has a different metric for success and emphasizes streaming over box office performance. Paramount Pictures, the film’s distributor, initially planned to finance the project but brought in Apple to fund it after costs escalated to $200 million. Despite the high price tag, Scorsese’s films tend to have long-lasting box office appeal.
Apple is testing a similar model with two other high-profile movies, Ridley Scott’s historical drama “Napoleon” and Matthew Vaughn’s spy thriller “Argylle.” The success of these films could pave the way for new players in the exhibition space, according to box office analysts.
Despite its solid start, “Killers of the Flower Moon” couldn’t surpass ’s “The Eras Tour,” which remained in first place with $31 million. It is the first concert film in history to secure the number one spot for two consecutive weekends and has surpassed $100 million in domestic box office revenue. In just five days, the film has generated $131 million. Despite a significant 66% drop in ticket sales from its debut, “The Eras Tour” is already a massive commercial success. The self-produced film by Swift, with a budget of around $15 million, required a smaller marketing spend compared to other blockbusters of its scale.
In third place, Universal’s horror sequel “The Exorcist: Believer” earned an additional $5.6 million in its third weekend, bringing its total to $54.2 million in North America and $107 million globally. Considering its $30 million budget, it’s a solid performance. However, Universal and Blumhouse made a whopping $400 million investment for the rights to the property, making it crucial for moviegoers to remain invested in the series beyond this installment.
At number four, Paramount and Nickelodeon’s animated kids’ film “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” grossed $4.3 million in its fourth weekend, reaching a total of $55.9 million in North America and $148 million worldwide. The sequel, with a budget of $30 million, has outperformed its predecessor, 2021’s “PAW Patrol.”
Disney’s re-release of Tim Burton’s 1993 classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas” rounded out the top five with an additional $4.1 million. The beloved musical tale of Jack Skellington and Halloween Town provides an extra boost for exhibitors at this time of year.
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