Killers Of The Flower Moon Could Mark The Return Of Blockbuster Adult Dramas At The Movies

Both are auteur-driven dramas starring Leonardo Dicaprio. It's not a bad recipe for success.

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

The first trailer for Killers of the Flower Moon dropped yesterday and it looks incredible. For years, all we've had of the movie was one production still of stars Leonardo Dicaprio and Lily Gladstone sitting at a table, so finally getting a longer look at the film is really exciting. This is Martin Scorsese's first movie since The Irishman and I also suspect it could be the first adult drama to really break through at the box office since the year of that film's release.

 

Though movies have rebounded in many ways in the past year, the halcyon days of 2019 seem impossibly far away in others. That year gave us several blockbuster hits that weren't franchise movies. Globally, Little Women made $218.9 million, Ford v Ferrari grossed $225.5 million, Hustlers hustled $157.6 million, Parasite took in $263.1 million, and Knives Out slashed its way to $311.9 million. Standing above them all was Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Quentin Tarrantino's alternative history of the Manson murders which rode its director's name recognition and a star-studded cast to $374.6 million. Killers of the Flower Moon is a different, less obviously entertaining beast, but I think it has the chance to get adult moviegoers back to theaters in a way that nothing yet has post-Covid.

 

That's because Killers of the Flower Moon shares two crucial things with Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. For one, it's the long-anticipated next movie from a beloved Hollywood auteur with a history of strong box office performance. Not every Scorsese movie is a hit, but in the 21st century alone, he's scored at the box office with The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Which brings us to the second thing that Killers of the Flower Moon has in common with OUATIH — and with all of Scorsese's blockbusters of the last 20 years — the presence of Leonardo Dicaprio, the biggest American movie star that isn’t Tom Cruise.

 

It can be easy to forget how massive a box office draw Leo is because the man just doesn't do that many movies. You remember The Revenant? The movie that won him the Oscar back in 2015? I saw it when I was 21 and still in college, and now I'm 29 and have been out of college for seven years. Killers of the Flower Moon is only his third movie since then (OUATIH, Don’t Look Up). Dicaprio’s presence made a movie about a guy trying to survive in the wilderness for nearly three hours into a massive ($533 million) hit. If anyone is going to bring the adult drama back, it's him.

 

Of course, Killers of the Flower Moon is going to have to clear a pretty high threshold to be a hit. It cost $200 million dollars to make, so it will need to bring in at least $400 million to begin turning a profit. That's a lot of money, and only superheroes and sequels have made that much since the pandemic began.

 

On the other hand, Killers of the Flower Moon didn't primarily get greenlit to turn a profit. Apple is putting it in theaters, but that's a rare move for a streamer and is likely driven more by Scorsese and Dicaprio pushing for a theatrical release than Apple's own interest. Instead, like The Irishman, it's more likely that Killers of the Flower Moon is Apple's attempt to purchase prestige and awards recognition by writing the most acclaimed living American filmmaker a massive check.

 

So, it doesn't actually need to be a massive box office hit to accomplish the goals that Apple likely has for it. Still, I don't think you can necessarily write it off. Older audiences have been returning to theaters slowly and movies like Book Club: The Next Chapter and 80 for Brady haven't connected nearly as much as their pre-Covid counterparts, but there are signs of life. A Man Called Otto made $112.6 million almost entirely on the strength of Tom Hanks' status as a box office draw among older audiences, and the success of The Whale further shows that there's an audience for star-driven dramas. Moviegoers as a whole got their return to theaters moment with Top Gun: Maverick, so I wouldn't rule out Killers of the Flower Moon as the movie that could bring audiences back for dramas.

 

Source

1 hour ago, Jade Bahr said:

Killers of the Flower Moon Accuracy & Sensitivity Addressed By Descendant Of Murder Victim

Jim Gray, a direct descendent of one of the murder victims that Killers of the Flower Moon portrays, addresses the film’s respect for real history.

 

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Jim Gray, a direct descendant of a murder victim who features in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, addresses the film's historical accuracy and sensitivity to real-world Indigenous cultures. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon chronicles the true story of the FBI investigation into a series of murders of members of the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma after oil is discovered on their land. The film is an adaptation of a 2017 non-fiction book by author David Grann.

 

Ahead of Killers of the Flower Moon's release date later this fall, Gray, a direct descendant of murder victim Henry Roan, takes to Twitter to share his thoughts on Scorsese's upcoming crime epic after his own private screening. Gray, a former Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, shares that Scorsese ultimately made modern-day members of the Osage Nation integral to the creation of the film and took their input into consideration in the crafting of the story. Check out Gray's tweets below:

 

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

full article

 
Thank you for posting this. Reading Chief Gray’s words is comforting in that it appears the film was done “right”. The Osage Nation and other Oklahoma indigenous nations worked very hard on this film.

Can't help but swoon 😍

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Imagine they hold secretly hands while making the most random faces

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

BUSTED

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Nope nothing is happening here

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Leo: KEEP IT COOL BOOBOO

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Lily trying hard to keep things cool

(but damn he smells good)

 

ok maybe this works better

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Marty: nice try children

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Leo: I just look backwards

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

this will be a loooong night

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

but I can handle this

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

I could invite her to my room

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

FOCUS LEO

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

BUT NOT ON HER ASS

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

*damn

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

FOCUS uhm... the sky

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Is she also looking in the sky? We are so the same

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

And straight ending up behind her AGAIN

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

1 hour ago, Jade Bahr said:

Can't help but swoon 😍

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Imagine they hold secretly hands while making the most random faces

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

BUSTED

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Nope nothing is happening here

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Leo: KEEP IT COOL BOOBOO

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Lily trying hard to keep things cool

(but damn he smells good)

 

ok maybe this works better

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Marty: nice try children

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Leo: I just look backwards

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

this will be a loooong night

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

but I can handle this

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

I could invite her to my room

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

FOCUS LEO

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

BUT NOT ON HER ASS

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

*damn

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

FOCUS uhm... the sky

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Is she also looking in the sky? We are so the same

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

And straight ending up behind her AGAIN

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

@Jade Bahr, this made my whole day, lol, love It!!!  ☺️

 

Can't help but ship this two, sorry. 

1 hour ago, Jade Bahr said:

Can't help but swoon 😍

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Imagine they hold secretly hands while making the most random faces

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

BUSTED

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Nope nothing is happening here

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Leo: KEEP IT COOL BOOBOO

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Lily trying hard to keep things cool

(but damn he smells good)

 

ok maybe this works better

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Marty: nice try children

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Leo: I just look backwards

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

this will be a loooong night

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

but I can handle this

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

I could invite her to my room

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

FOCUS LEO

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

BUT NOT ON HER ASS

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

*damn

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

FOCUS uhm... the sky

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

Is she also looking in the sky? We are so the same

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

 

And straight ending up behind her AGAIN

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

haha great post 😄I mean look at them. It's too cute.

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

7 minutes ago, akatosh said:

 

Image hidden for guestsSign in to view

I'm crying. How gorgeous are they??? 😭😍❤️

More crying 😭😍

 

   

🖤🤍

 

 

LOL

 

Love it

On 5/19/2023 at 5:19 AM, Sugarwater said:

Look at all those beautiful indigenous faces! I love it!

Exactly 💯.

.

 

Leo looks relaxed and happy.

 

No wonder after that milestone of a cannes premiere #movie king is back

via Leo

 

   

1 hour ago, akatosh said:

 

Great interview. Damn he looks good 

 

 

I think this is my favorite Cannes look of her 😍

Oklahoma's lieutenant governor attends 'Killers of the Flower Moon' premiere
 

https://www.koco.com/amp/article/killers-of-the-flower-moon-martin-scorsese-leonardo-dicaprio-premiere-cannes/43951722
 

This is like a spit in the face. He and the governor have tried so hard to destroy Osage, Cherokee, and Creek Nations these past four years. 😡 His attendance here is disgusting.

6 hours ago, akatosh said:

 

Love this interview!

5 hours ago, Jade Bahr said:

Great interview. Damn he looks good 

 

 

It is just me or Leo looks quite happy and relaxed this time around in Cannes? it's a big difference from 2019.  

2 hours ago, BarbieErin said:

 

It is just me or Leo looks quite happy and relaxed this time around in Cannes? it's a big difference from 2019.  

I can't compare, but he really looks happy and relaxed. He's definitely comfortable right now❤️

🖤🤍

Source

Hotel Martinez during the 76th Cannes film festival on May 22, 2023 in Cannes, France.