If you’re keen to enjoy one of the hottest titles of this Award Season race on SVOD, you finally have the chance. Apple’s decision to move Killers of the Flower Moon to its streaming service is, no doubt, in hopes of capturing a little more attention ahead of Oscar nomination voting. Here’s what Brandon Blake, entertainment attorney from Blake & Wang P.A., has to share about this stellar contender.
SVOD in Time for the Oscars
Oscar nomination voting opened on January 11 this year. Killers of the Flower Moon is an interesting title for the race, however. As an Apple Original, one has to assume that it was intended for streaming from the start. However, it is one of the first from Apple’s stable that has been handled like a traditional theatrical release (through Paramount) from the get-go. This has also given it an unusually long delay in coming to SVOD screens, with some wondering if it would ever make it.
Ten-Week Theatrical Run
Even more unusually, Killers of the Flower Moon has managed to hold strong in that theatrical run for over 10 weeks, bringing in $156M globally. It went to PVOD about 4 weeks ago for $19.99. Despite what is now a rather hefty price tag, especially for speciality fare, the picture managed to knock Oppenheimer off of its No. 1 PVOD spot in its first week.
This caginess around SVOD release dates seems to be a growing Apple trend for the films it released theatrically. We still don’t know when Ridley Scott’s Napoleon (through Sony) will hit their SVOD streaming, nor do we have a date for Argylle (through Universal). It will be intriguing to see if that trend continues with their 2024 release slate.
Killers of the Flower Moon has been a critical darling, acclaimed by some as one of the best movies of 2023. Given its rather delicate subject matter, that’s quite an achievement. Will it manage to cover itself in Oscar glory too? For now, we can only wait and see.
