Here is some very good news for Martin Scorsese and Apple. “Killers of the Flower Moon” is long-range tracking to earn $30-36 million in the film’s opening weekend.
This is much higher than initial projections. ‘Killers’ is also said to be tracking very well overseas. I can believe this. The trailers are incredible and Leonardo DiCaprio is still a draw. There’s also plenty of Oscar buzz for this film.
Apple must be ecstatic about these early numbers. This is a 3 and a half hour, R-rated historical drama, but if “Oppenheimer” has taught us anything it’s that mainstream audiences still crave smartly crafted, adult-oriented storytelling on the big screen.
Apple spent $200 million on ‘Killers,’ mostly for the prestige, Oscar noms and the fact that it could bring in big numbers on their streaming platform. Breaking even was an added bonus, although now it might just happen, and then some.
A new trailer for “Killers of the Flower Moon” was released last week. The film, a great American tragedy, premiered at Cannes to rave reviews, including my own. It’s easily one of the best films you’ll see this year.
Scorsese’s last two films barely made any money. 2016’s “Silence” grossed $22 million, on a $50 million budget, and 2019’s “The Irishman,” which was produced by Netflix, had only been granted a brief, and limited, 2-week theatrical release by the streamer.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone and Jesse Plemons. It will be released theatrically on October 20th, via Apple and Paramount.
Netflix and Skydance Animation have also called it quits. The two sides announced Monday that they're ending the animated film deal struck back in 2023, framing it as a mutual decision.