By Editor
In the battle of the box office, Martin Scorsese’s Western crime drama, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” launched with $2.6 million in Thursday previews, while Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” stole the day with $5.9 million, aiming to cross the $100 million mark domestically by Friday.
Scorsese’s film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a Western crime drama, brings together renowned actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, along with Lily Gladstone. It’s based on David Grann’s book about the murders of Osage Nation tribe members in the 1920s, following the discovery of oil on their land in Oklahoma.
Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour,” presented by Apple Original Films and AMC Theatres, previously made a record-breaking debut with $92.8 million in North America and $123.5 million worldwide during its opening weekend. It’s expected to lead this weekend’s box office race, but the competition between the two films may be closer than anticipated. Concert films often experience a significant drop in attendance, and “Eras” could potentially earn $25 million or less, despite some predictions of $30 million to $35 million. The film continues its run from Thursday through Sunday.
The success of “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a bit uncertain. One challenge is its lengthy runtime of three hours and 26 minutes. Moreover, the older adult demographic, a key audience for this film, might not rush to theaters during the opening weekend. Nearly a quarter of the Thursday audience was 55 years or older.
Adding to the complexity, Leonardo DiCaprio and the rest of the cast couldn’t engage in publicity due to the SAG-AFTRA strike since July 14. Apple managed to secure some interviews before the strike, and the film generated significant attention when it was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in late May. However, the final push from the actors for publicity was missing.
Apple and Paramount, the film’s distribution partner, are aiming for a domestic opening of at least $20 million, with some tracking services suggesting it could reach higher, possibly exceeding $25 million. More important than the opening weekend is how “Killers of the Flower Moon” performs in the following weeks as awards season unfolds.
Though there are no direct comparisons, other adult-oriented films like “Ford v Ferrari” earned $2.1 million in Thursday previews and “Elvis” garnered $3.5 million. Both films went on to open with approximately $31 million domestically. The early exit polls for “Flower Moon” are promising, with an 87 percent positive rating and a strong 72 percent recommendation rate. Key theaters include Scorsese strongholds such as Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, as well as areas close to Osage County, including Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
This weekend represents a pivotal moment for Apple’s aspirations in the film industry. “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a $200 million production, is arguably the biggest event film from a tech giant to receive a conventional theatrical release rather than quickly heading to streaming.
Apple Original Films declared its intention to spend $1 billion annually on movies designed for theatrical release earlier this year. Their next major theatrical endeavor, Ridley Scott’s historic epic “Napoleon,” starring Joaquin Phoenix, is set to release in collaboration with Sony on November 22, just ahead of Thanksgiving.
