What is the Killers of the Flower Moon release date? This year, Martin Scorsese took a step back in time to bring us a haunting, relentless three hour+ look at one of the biggest examples of injustice in American history.
For many, Killers of the Flower Moon was one of the most-anticipated new movies of the year, and saw Scorsese bring back the best actors in his arsenal — Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. So, is Killers of the Flower Moon worth the hype? (And the runtime?) Let's get into it.
Who's in the Killers of the Flower Moon cast?
The Killers of the Flower Moon cast is led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and newcomer Lily Gladstone.
Brendan Fraser and Jesse Plemons also starred in supporting roles, with Plemons playing an FBI agent who eventually uncovers the entire seedy operation between DiCaprio's Ernest Burkhart and Robert De Niro's William Hale.
It also featured a large supporting cast of Native American actors, and notably included Martin Scorsese himself in a supporting role in the final, shocking scene.
The Killers of the Flower Moon cast list:
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart
- Robert De Niro as William Hale
- Jesse Plemons as Tom White
- Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart
- Tantoo Cardinal as Lizzie Q
- Brendan Fraser as W. S. Hamilton
- John Lithgow as Prosecutor Leaward
- Cara Jade Myers as Anna Brown
- JaNae Collins as Reta
- Jillian Dion as Minnie
- Jason Isbell as Bill Smith
- William Belleau as Henry Roan
- Louis Cancelmi as Kelsie Morrison
- Scott Shepherd as Bryan Burkhart
- Everett Waller as Paul Red Eagle
- Talee Redcorn as Non-Hon-Zhin-Ga/Traditional Leader
- Yancey Red Corn as Chief Bonnicastle
- Tatanka Means as John Wren
- Tommy Schultz as Blackie Thompson
- Sturgill Simpson as Henry Grammer
- Ty Mitchell as John Ramsey
- Gary Basaraba as William J. Burns
- Charlie Musselwhite as Alvin Reynolds
- Pat Healy as John Burger
- Steve Witting as Dr. James Shoun
- Steve Routman as Dr. David Shoun
- Michael Abbott Jr. as Frank Smith
- Jack White as Radio Show Actor
- Pete Yorn as Acie Kirby
- Larry Sellers as Non-Hon-Zhin-Ga
- Barry Corbin as Undertaker Turton
- Steve Eastin as Judge Pollock
- Katherine Willis as Myrtle Hale
- Gene Jones as Pitts Beatty
- Larry Fessenden as Radio Voice
- Elden Henson as Duke Burkhart
- Martin Scorsese as Radio Show Producer
Killers of the Flower Moon release date and reviews
The Killers of the Flower Moon was released on Friday, October 20, 2023.
After its theatrical run, the movie will debut on the streaming service Apple TV Plus. However, the date for this has not been confirmed. Previously, the Killers of the Flower Moon release date had been set for earlier in October, and the movie was set to roll out with a limited theatrical release, prioritizing its arrival on streaming.
However, things changed to put more focus on the theatrical run, possibly after the success of the likes of Oppenheimer in the summer. Earlier in the year, Killers of the Flower Moon premiered at Cannes Film Festival in France on May 20, 2023, and we were there to watch it.
In our Killers of the Flower Moon review, Luke Hearfield gave praise to the performances, singling out Gladstone, and said that "despite being less established than her screen-giant co-stars, Gladstone manages to shine brighter with a performance of subtlety and grace."
Right now, the movie is sitting at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many reviews admitting that, although the runtime is long, it's justified by the narrative and feels elevated by Scorsese's signature style.
What's Killers of the Flower Moon about?
Killers of the Flower Moon is based on the 2017 novel of the same name following a series of brutal murders of people from the Osage Native American tribe in the 1920s.
From there, a complex story unfolds relating to oil deposits underneath Osage land and the money that the Osage people are owed for selling the oil from the deposits. The movie tells this story though the relationship between Osage member Mollie, and a returning war-veteran Ernest Burkhart.
The two get married, and simple-minded Ernest is convinced by his uncle, the influential William Hale, to assist in the murder of Mollie's family to secure his stake in their fortune. It also follows the newly-formed FBI as it investigates the murders and the subsequent trial of the suspected murderer.
As a Scorsese crime thriller, you're going to want to go into the plot pretty much blind to any details. However, if you're desperate to know what happens before watching the movie, we'd definitely recommend visiting the book for another gripping telling of this awful story.
Is there a Killers of the Flower Moon trailer?
The first trailer for Killers of the Flower Moon was released on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
A second trailer then debuted in July, giving us a better look at Mollie, Ernest, and Hale. It also gave a brief insight into the history of the Osage, and just how impactful the discovery of oil was to their tribe. Naturally, it also felt very much like a Scorsese trailer, dropping looks at the intense violence that bleed through every frame of the movie. Check out the full Killers of the Flower Moon trailer below:
Where can I watch Killers of the Flower Moon?
Killers of the Flower Moon is currently playing in theaters worldwide.
As an Apple TV Plus movie, it will also stream on the platform at some point. However, the date for when it will come to the service is not currently confirmed.
That's it on what to expect from Killers of the Flower Moon. If you loved the movie, you'll want to check out our guide to the best Westerns and best Robert De Niro movies. For more cinematic gold, get to know our list of the best movies of all time.
Or, you can learn more about other anticipated movies with our guide to the Dune 2 release date and all the upcoming Marvel movies.