Epic 'Killers of the Flower Moon' flops at the box office

Despite its potentially promising box office takings in its first week in theaters, Apple TV+ movie "Killers of the Flower Moon" dropped 61% in its second weekend.

"Killers" by director/co-writer Martin Scorsese and writer Eric Roth is an epic 3.5-hour movie that was so expensive to make that Paramount couldn't afford it until Apple TV+ stepped in. In the first week of its theatrical release, it came second at the box office, beaten only by Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour."

That opening weekend, usually the most crucial time for any new film, saw it take in only $23 million domestically, though. At the time, Variety said that the lower than normal figure was less of a concern in this case, since the theatrical release was seen as a launch for the later streaming on Apple TV+.

However, once a film has had its opening weekend, the next test is how much less money it takes in its second one. There is almost always a drop off, and it can often be marked, but Variety says "Killers" dropped by 61%.

That means it took in only around $14 million. There are still overseas sales, and the film has yet to open in some territories, but earnings do not go back up after the initial opening. Unless, that is, "Killers" gets strong Oscar nominations or a Best Picture win, in which case it's likely Apple will re-release the movie theatrically and it may perform better.

The fact that "Killers" took in less than expected at first, and then dropped 61%, though, is not unusual. This summer's "Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One" dropped 64% in its second weekend, from almost $55 million down to $19.5 million.

Apple has not commented on the box office figures. It's also not yet set a streaming date for the film to debut on Apple TV+.

35 Comments

williamh 1045 comments · 13 Years

About 1 year ago

I'm looking forward to seeing this on AppleTV.

I only go to a movie theater every few years, even before that multi-year thing that happened. I don't need that experience. I don't know what Apple expected from this movie in the theater but I was under the impression that it was in theaters mostly for eligibility for certain awards that may not be given to streaming-only releases.

jeffharris 838 comments · 22 Years

I’m waiting to stream it.

Apple is saying “maybe February” for a streaming release.

Huh? Why so long?

jeromec 210 comments · 11 Years

jeffharris said:
Apple is saying “maybe February” for a streaming release.
Huh? Why so long?

Regulations are different in every country with regards to mandatory delay between theater opening and streaming release.
If Apple wants to release the movie globally on Apple TV+, it has to follow all those regulations.
Or find a middle ground and publish in February in most countries.

Stabitha_Christie 569 comments · 3 Years

jeffharris said:

I’m waiting to stream it.

Apple is saying “maybe February” for a streaming release.
Huh? Why so long?

Oscar nominations are announced on Jan 23rd and final voiding happens Feb 22. So Feb is great timing if it is nominated.

And another clickbait headline from Apple Insider.

So the move flopped because ticket sales were down 61%... okay... So the Taylor Swift movie that was number dropped 63% from its first week to it's second... So I guess that is a flop as well? Large drops after an initial opening are not terribly unusual and even with the large drop, Killers of the Flower Moon was still the third highest grossing moving in its second weekend. Maybe Apple Insider should refrain from commenting on industries that it really doesn't know much about but at this rate one has to wonder what AI actually has any sort of expertise in.