Killers of the Flower Moon: Scorsese and DiCaprio Soar to Box Office Triumph in 2021

Summary

Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese, has been a major box office success, earning $23 million domestically and $21 million internationally.

Adapted from David Grann's book, the film unravels a string of murders that occurred in Oklahoma during the 1920s. It delves into profound themes of love, betrayal, and homicide. Although it doesn't surpass Scorsese's previous successes like Shutter Island and The Departed, Killers of the Flower Moon secures the second spot in this week's box office, trailing behind Taylor Swift's Era's Tour.

Director Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon is already a tremendous success at the box office. Based on David Grann's book, the film follows a series of murders in 1920s Oklahoma, and the talented ensemble cast explores themes of love, treachery, and murder while avoiding the consequences. Variety reports that the captivating movie has generated $23 million domestically and an additional $21 million internationally over the weekend. This marks Scorsese's biggest opening since his collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio on Shutter Island in 2010, which earned $41 million domestically. While Flower Moon falls behind The Departed, which earned $26 million domestically, it secures the second position in this week's box office, with Taylor Swift's Era's Tour claiming the top spot at $31 million.

Killers Of The Flower Moon Beat The Odds

Despite having a reputable director, Killers of the Flower Moon faced potential challenges at the box office. It was up against strong competition from Taylor Swift's concert movie, making it difficult to capture audience interest upon its release. Compounding the issue, media attention has predominantly focused on Swift, particularly during her recent attendance at Kansas City Chiefs football games.

Scorsese's latest movie faces another setback with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Due to strike rules, the cast of Killers of the Flower Moon has been unable to promote the project. The inclusion of renowned actors such as DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro, and Louis Cancelmi would have greatly benefited the production if they could have participated in the promotional circuit.

Despite these challenges, Flower Moon has managed to find success. Its opening weekend has surpassed Scorsese's previous projects, such as The Wolf of Wall Street and Hugo, which respectively earned $18.3 million and $11 million domestically. The future weeks will determine if Scorsese's newest movie will continue to attract audiences, but the opening weekend of Killers of the Flower Moon has undeniably been a triumph.

Source: Variety