Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon Confirms Release Date

Apple Studios announced the official premiere date for Killers of the Flower Moon, the upcoming Western crime drama from Martin Scorsese.

The latest feature-length project from Martin Scorcese, Killers of the Flower Moon, gets closer to its debut as Apple Studios announces the official premiere date for the star-studded Western crime drama.

Per Variety, Apple confirmed that Killers of the Flower Moon will hit theaters worldwide on Oct. 20 before landing a streaming debut on Apple TV+ at an undisclosed date. Initially, Killers of the Flower Moon was due for a limited cinematic release. However, Apple scrapped the idea for that release, which would have taken place on Oct. 6. The movie is co-distributed by Apple and Paramount Pictures.

Killers of the Flower Moon chronicles the real-life murders of the Osage tribe, a wealthy Native American group, committed by white settlers in 1920s Oklahoma as they sought possession of their oil fields. The mysterious circumstances of the killings triggered a major investigation led by J. Edgar Hoover and ex-Texas Ranger Tom White (Jesse Plemons). As the official synopsis reads, "The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. Based on a true story… Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal."

Scorsese also acts in Killers of the Flower Moon, appearing as a radio show producer. Based on David Grann's titular non-fiction book, Killers of the Flower Moon sees Academy Award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Ernest Burkhart alongside Lily Gladstone's Millie Burkhart. Acting legend Robert De Niro also features, playing William "King" Hale, who had a key role in the killings. Furthermore, The Whale star and Oscar winner Brendan Fraser plays Hale's corrupt lawyer W.S. Hamilton.

Killers of the Flower Moon Impressed With Early Screenings

Killers of the Flower Moon premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this past May to rave reviews, further attracting major award buzz given its quality and strong cast. Already, the film has a 97% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus calling it "another artistic zenith" for Scorsese. This is the first feature-length title directed by Scorsese since 2019's The Irishman. Time will tell how well Killers of the Flower Moon does in ticket sales after taking $200 million to make, though Scorsese has slammed Hollywood's obsession with box-office numbers.

Filming for Killers of the Flower Moon took place between April and October 2021. However, additional scenes were filmed the following year to capture a traditional community dance in Osage County. The Osage Nation had consistent input in the film, with Gladstone admitting it changed Scorsese's original vision and positively affected the outcome. The film is expected to show in IMAX theaters along with its widespread cinematic release and eventual streaming debut.