Swift, Scorsese Square Off in Box Office Showdown: ‘Killers’ Debut Boosts Apple Studios, ‘Eras Tour’ Holds Top Spot

75

The cinematic sphere experienced a unique clash of titans over the weekend, as acclaimed director, Martin Scorsese’s, “Killers of the Flower Moon” competed for eyeballs against pop-star Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour”. Undeniably, the box office remained in Swift’s grasp for the second consecutive time, however, Scorsese’s latest release marked a powerful commencement for Apple Studios’ maiden major theatrical venture.

“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour”, following its spectacular opening weekend with record collections of $92.8 million, amassed an estimated $31 million over the weekend from 3,855 locations, as reported by AMC Theaters. The theatre chain holds the exclusive rights to present Swift’s concert film from Thursdays to Sundays in a unique distribution agreement.


While the majority of Swift’s die-hard fans thronged the halls on the opening weekend, led by significant pre-ticketing, the subsequent sales experienced a sharp fall of 67% in the second weekend. This data proposal conveys the idea that “The Eras Tour” may have primarily been a hit as an opening-weekend event.

Still, “The Eras Tour” has solidified its position as a phenomenal movie event, surpassing all accounts to become the highest-grossing concert film ever in North America, disregarding inflation, amassing a total of $129.8 million domestically in a short time.

On the flip side, “Killers of the Flower Moon”, a historical crime saga revolving around a series of crimes against the Osage Nation in the 1920s, carried a weight of expectations. Being the most extensive production of Apple Studios, with a production cost of $200 million, the film was released in 3,628 theatres in collaboration with Paramount Pictures. Moreover, future plans include streaming this Scorsese adaptation of David Grann’s bestseller on Apple TV+, but the release date remains unconfirmed.

Surprisingly, “Killers of the Flower Moon” had a $23 million debut, marking it as Scorsese’s third highest-grossing opening after “Shutter Island” ($41 million) and “The Departed” ($26.9 million). The star-studded cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro anticipates a challenging journey to profitability, but the film’s successful launch certainly establishes its position in the realm of adult-skewing drama.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” continues to shine brightly with ‘”A-” CinemaScore audiences’ approval, increasing global reviews, and bolstered by a solid Oscar campaign. Internationally, the movie added $21 million to its coffers.

The film also engraves a new milestone being the best wide-release debut for a streaming company’s film. Netflix had previously backed Scorsese’s last narrative feature, “The Irishman”, in 2019, primarily focusing on limited theatrical release.

However, other major players like Apple and Amazon have adapted to more extensive theatrical strategies. Further building its portfolio, Apple has announced its intent to invest $1 billion annually into movies that would first embrace theatrical release before transitioning to its streaming service. Upcoming projects include Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon”, featuring Joaquin Phoenix, and partnering with Universal for Matthew Vaughn’s “Argylle”.

Initially, Paramount was signed to produce and distribute “Killers of the Flower Moon,” but the rising costs of the project during the pandemic catalyzed a deal transition to Apple.

The highly diverse premieres of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” have both demonstrated significant success in their extended runtime. A combined viewing of these top two movies would account for an immersive six hours and 14 minutes of cinematic indulgence.

Attracting a younger demographic than anticipated, “Killers of the Flower Moon” succeeded in persuading 44% of its ticket buyers under the age of 30.

Additionally, “Exorcist: The Believer,” directed by David Gordon Green, secured the third position with $6.7 million, followed by “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” and the rerelease of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. The latter collected $4.1 million, three decades after it first premiered in theaters.

The final domestic figures, according to Comscore, are set to be released on Monday with the following estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters:

  • “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” $31 million.
  • “Killers of the Flower Moon,” $23 million.
  • “The Exorcist: Believer,” $5.6 million.
  • “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” $4.5 million.
  • “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” $4.1 million.
  • “Saw X,” $3.6 million.
  • “The Creator,” $2.6 million.
  • “Leo: Bloody Sweet,” $2.1 million.
  • “A Haunting in Venice,” $1.1 million.
  • “The Blind,” $1 million.