What is the budget of Killers of the Flower Moon?

"Killers of the Flower Moon," a crime released in 2023, was directed by Martin Scorsese and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro. The production budget was $200,000,000, placing it in the blockbuster range for crime productions of its era.

Key Budget Allocation Categories

While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a crime production like this include:

Talent & Director Compensation: Thrillers depend on compelling lead performances to sustain tension, making cast compensation a primary budget concern. Directors with proven thriller credentials command premium fees.
Cinematography & Location Photography: Thriller aesthetics demand specific visual languages , surveillance-style photography, claustrophobic framing, or expansive location work across multiple cities or countries.
Editorial & Sound Post-Production: Precision editing , controlling information flow, building suspense through pacing, and orchestrating reveals , requires extended post-production schedules.

What were the major cost factors in Killers of the Flower Moon?

Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Talent: Talent & Director Compensation is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
Cinematography: Cinematography & Location Photography is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.
Editorial: Editorial & Sound Post-Production is one of the primary cost drivers in crime productions of this scale.

How Does Killers of the Flower Moon's Budget Compare to Similar Films?

At $200,000,000, Killers of the Flower Moon sits in the blockbuster range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:

2012 (2009): Budget $200,000,000, Worldwide Gross $791,217,826
Alice in Wonderland (2010): Budget $200,000,000, Worldwide Gross $1,025,467,110
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023): Budget $200,000,000 , Gross $476,071,180
Argylle (2024): Budget $200,000,000, Worldwide Gross $96,221,061
Black Adam (2022): Budget $200,000,000, Worldwide Gross $393,452,111

The median budget for wide-release crime films in the 2020s ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.

Killers of the Flower Moon Box Office Performance

"Killers of the Flower Moon" earned $68,035,488 domestically and $158,722,599 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $200,000,000, the film faced challenges in theatrical release. Home video, streaming, and ancillary revenue may have contributed to its overall performance.

A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Killers of the Flower Moon," that break-even threshold was roughly $400,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $158,722,599, the film did not reach break-even in theatrical release.

Production Budget: $200,000,000
Worldwide Gross: $158,722,599
Net Return: −$41,277,401
ROI: approximately -20.6%

At -20.6%, "Killers of the Flower Moon" did not recoup its production budget through theatrical release alone.