Apple Studios’ ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ opens strongly; second only to Taylor Swift

From left to right: Martin Scorsese’s highly anticipated film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone, premieres in theaters Friday, October 20, 2023.
While the box office belonged for a second time to “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” got off to a strong start in Apple Studios’ first major theatrical debut.
Jake Coyle for Associated Press:
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After a record-breaking opening weekend of $92.8 million, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” took in an estimated $31 million over the weekend from 3,855 locations, according to AMC Theaters… Sales dropped a steep 67% in its second weekend, potentially signifying that “The Eras Tour” was predominantly an opening-weekend phenomenon.
But “The Eras Tour” has still proved to be a movie event unlike any other. Within days, it became the highest grossing concert film ever in North America, not accounting for inflation. It’s quickly accumulated $129.8 million domestically.
More was riding on “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a historical crime drama about a string of murders against the Osage nation in the early 1920s. The film, which cost at least $200 million to make, is the largest production yet from Apple Studios. The streamer partnered with Paramount Pictures to release Scorsese’s adaptation of David Grann’s bestseller in 3,628 theaters, with plans to later stream it on a not-yet-announced date on Apple TV+.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” debuted with $23 million, marking the third best opening for the 80-year-old Scorsese, following “Shutter Island” ($41 million in 2010) and “The Departed” ($26.9 million in 2006). Though Scorsese’s latest opus, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone and Robert De Niro, will have a hard road to reaching profitability, it’s a successful launch for a 206-minute-long adult-skewing drama – a type of movie that, outside “Oppenheimer,” has struggled mightily at the box office in recent years.
And “Killers of the Flower Moon,” with rave reviews, an “A-” CinemaScore from audiences and the backing of a robust Oscar campaign, should continue to play well over the long haul. It added $21 million overseas.

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MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s second Best Picture Oscar win looms.
In March, Bloomberg News reported that Apple plans to spend $1 billion a year making movies that will have theatrical releases before reaching its Apple TV+ streaming service. Apple Studios is also behind Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Napoleon,” with Joaquin Phoenix, which Sony Pictures will distribute November 22nd and has partnered with Universal for Matthew Vaughn’s “Argylle,” due in theaters on February 2, 2024.
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