Studios Enforce No Intermissions for “Killers of the Flower Moon” in Theaters
According to sources, certain theaters have opted to include an intermission during screenings of “Killers of the Flower Moon.” However, neither Paramount, the film’s theatrical distributor, nor Apple, the producer, approved of this decision.
A few theaters in Europe, along with an independent theater in Amsterdam, as well as one theater in Fort Collins, Colorado, initially offered an intermission during showings of Martin Scorsese and Eric Roth’s 206-minute period drama. The length of these intermissions ranged from a brief six-minute break to a more extended 15-minute pause.
In response to these developments, Paramount and Apple took action to halt the inclusion of intermissions. They have reportedly been in contact with theaters, insisting that the film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone be presented as the filmmakers originally intended.
An insider familiar with the situation explained that “showing this film with an intermission has occurred in a few isolated instances.” They emphasized that this practice contravenes Paragraph 3 of the Domestic Licensing Agreement (MLA), which explicitly states that, unless authorized in writing, the film should be exhibited without alterations or intermissions in the designated auditorium.
Thelma Schoonmaker, the film’s editor and a long-time collaborator of Martin Scorsese, expressed her disapproval, deeming the decision to include an intermission as a “violation.” She addressed this issue during an interview with The Standard and stated, “I understand that somebody’s running it with an intermission, which is not right. That’s a violation, so I have to find out about it.”
“Killers of the Flower Moon” recounts the true story of a series of murders targeting oil-rich Native Americans, perpetrated by avaricious white capitalists. The film achieved a global opening weekend box office gross of $44 million, and it has garnered widespread critical acclaim. Apple invested $200 million in the production, while Paramount was responsible for its theatrical distribution. The film is considered a frontrunner for the Best Picture category at the upcoming Academy Awards.
