Receipts: 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Has a Long Road Ahead, 'Leo' Breaks Records
Domestic: The nearly three-and-a-half-hour Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon debuted at $23 million, bringing in a total of $31.7 million domestically in its opening week. With an estimated production budget of over $200 million, Killers of the Flower Moon has a long way to go towards profitability, but has been well-received by critics and audiences. It currently holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 84% audience score. The film represents the third best opening for Scorsese, following The Departed’s $26.9 million and Shutter Island’s $41 million. Set in Oklahoma, the lengthy Western follows Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone), a member of the Osage Nation, as she endeavors to rescue her Indigenous community from a string of murders motivated by oil production. The film finds its basis in David Grann’s 2017 eponymous non-fiction book. With Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in starring roles, the film also features Tantoo Cardinal as Lizzie Q, Talee Redcorn as Non-Hon-Zhin-Ga, Yancey Red Corn as Chief Bonnicastle, and Tatanka Means as John Wren.
A24’s irreverent musical film Dicks: The Musical had one of 2023’s best limited openings, grossing nearly $221,000 on seven screens in three major cities. As it expands into more theaters, Dicks has a promising future. Starring recording artist Megan Thee Stallion, the musical is based on a stage show from Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson, who also star in the film. It follows two egocentric businessmen who find out they are identical twins. Together, the twins attempt to reunite their divorced parents (Nathan Lane and Megan Mullally.) The film’s soundtrack features an original song from Megan Thee Stallion, “Out Alpha the Alpha,” as well as several songs written for the original stage play F***ing Identical Twins. Dicks: The Musical also stars Bowen Yang as God and Sonya Eddy as herself.
International: Tamil-language action thriller Leo (Leo: Bloody Sweet in some territories) saw a nearly $3.5 million opening weekend in the United Arab Emirates, for a $5 million gross worldwide. Starring Vijay, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun, Trisha, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Mysskin, Madonna Sebastian, George Maryan, Mansoor Ali Khan, Priya Anand, and Mathew Thomas, Leo is the third film in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe. The film was inspired by a 2005 eponymous adaptation of the graphic novel A History of Violence. It tells the story of Parthi, a an animal rescuer who owns a café in the Indian town of Theog. Parthi is hunted down by a pair of gangsters who believe him to be their long-lost son. Despite mixed critical reception, Leo has set multiple box office records for a Tamil-language film, and is the fifth-highest-grossing Indian film of this year.
After a disappointing initial box office gross of $360,000, Ganapath A Hero Is Born continues to see a decline in earnings. With an estimated production budget of $24 million, the Hindi-language apocalypse film may well flop in theaters. It follows a vigilante named Ganapath who must take down an expansive criminal empire to save his downtrodden city. Ganapath stars Tiger Shroff in a dual role as Ganapath and Dalini, and also features Amitabh Bachchan, Kriti Sanon, Elli AvrRam, Rahman, Gauahar Khan, Jameel Khan, Girish Kulkarni, and Shruthy Menon.
Streaming: The 2023 comedy Old Dads sits at #1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for the first week, with 23.1 million hours viewed. The film was a flop with audiences and critics – currently holding a 26% on Rotten Tomatoes – but has fared well in the streaming space. The film stars Bobby Cannavale, Bokeem Woodbine, Reign Edwards, and Erin Wu, and follows a middle-aged dad, Bill Burr, and his two lifelong friends, who sell their successful company to a handful of young millennials but stay on as employees. When their new boss spares the three friends in their firing of all employees over 35, they must reckon with the changing landscape of their company and of the times. Old Dads is comedian Bill Burr’s directorial debut, and despite poor ratings, its popularity on Netflix may indicate more to come.
2019 drama Gemini Man, starring Will Smith, is holding strong in third place on the Top 10 for the fifth week in a row. With 14.3 million hours viewed this week, the Will Smith film has remained strong in its popularity for more than a month. Gemini Man follows Henry Brogan, Will Smith, a 51-year-old hitman who’s ready to retire after his 72nd hit. When Brogan finds himself the target of a frighteningly savvy operative, he must get back in the game and soon discovers that his new rival is in fact a clone of his younger self. Gemini Man has a 26% rating on Rotten Tomatoes but shows no signs of departing from the Top 10 as its popularity with streaming audiences holds strong.