Title: Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” Makes Strong Box Office Debut Amid Actors’ Strike
Martin Scorsese’s highly anticipated film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” has impressed audiences and critics alike with its stellar box office debut. Despite being unable to promote the film due to the ongoing actors’ strike, the star-studded crime epic managed to rake in an impressive $23 million from North American theaters, while also earning an additional $21 million from international territories, resulting in a robust global total of $44 million.
This outstanding start marks Scorsese’s best opening since “Shutter Island” premiered a decade ago. The film, with its three-and-a-half-hour runtime, is based on David Grann’s novel and is set during the “Reign of Terror” period in the 1920s. Audiences showed their appreciation, giving the movie an “A-” CinemaScore, while critics also praised it, earning an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” faced a unique challenge as it prioritized streaming over theatrical releases. Apple’s involvement in financing the project was crucial, considering the soaring production costs, which amounted to a whopping $200 million. Despite the emphasis on streaming, the movie’s success bodes well for future theatrical runs, given its strong reviews and potential awards nominations.
Box office analysts are more forgiving of the film’s performance, considering that streaming services have different metrics of success. The success of “Killers of the Flower Moon” might pave the way for other high-profile movies backed by streaming platforms.
In other box office news, Taylor Swift’s concert film, “The Eras Tour,” remains in the top spot with $31 million in earnings, showcasing its enduring popularity. It has become the first concert film to surpass the $100 million mark at the domestic box office.
Universal’s horror sequel, “The Exorcist: Believer,” secured the third position with $5.6 million, contributing to its impressive global total of $107 million. On the other hand, “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” landed at No. 4 with $4.3 million and has outperformed its predecessor in terms of box office earnings. Disney’s re-release of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” rounded out the top five, adding $4.1 million to its earnings.
Overall, the standout success of “Killers of the Flower Moon” demonstrates the resilience of the film industry amid challenges such as actors’ strikes and changing distribution methods. As streaming platforms continue to invest in high-profile projects, the future of theatrical releases remains promising, with strong reviews and potential awards driving audiences to theaters once again.
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