“That’s a violation”: Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Blasts Theaters for Allowing Fans Bathroom Breaks in Intermission for 3.5 Hours Long Movie

Killers of the Flower Moon is a crime drama film that was officially released in theatres on October 20, 2023. It is a pure Scorsese film — intense, heavy, and dark because it portrays the horrors faced by the Osage Tribe.

No doubt, the film is great and even received a 93% critics score and an 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. But it has a hefty runtime (206 minutes).

Due to its runtime, some theaters have added unauthorized intermissions to this long film. These breaks’ built-in intermission ranged from six to 15 minutes, which caused the film’s distributor to take action against these theatres.

Also read: “It was really important for both of us”: Leonardo DiCaprio Reprised His One Feature from ‘The Revenant’ for Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon 

Killers of the Flower Moon Faces Controversy Over Intermissions

Martin Scorsese’s recent release doesn’t have any intermission. The director chose this because he didn’t want to disrupt the movie’s flow. That’s why many theaters have started the practice of applying intermission on their own between the film.

According to the report by Variety, several European theaters have included intermissions during screenings of Killers of the Flower Moon. For instance, The Lyric, a theater in Fort Collins, Colorado, also showed the film with intermission, but it also faced issues with the film’s distributor, Paramount, and producer, Apple Original Films. As the outlet wrote:

“The companies have been contacting theaters that have violated their contract by splitting up the film and telling them to show Killers of the Flower Moon as intended, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation.” 

“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,” the editor of Killers of the Flower Moon,” Thelma Schoonmaker, told The Standard.

While the execs are expressing concerns about theatres allowing intermission, some X user thinks it’s a bizarre decision taken by Apple and Paramount to screen the movie without any breaks. Read some of the comments below:

Bizarre move by Apple and Paramount

— 3rd (@3rdoffthelayoff) October 28, 2023

JESUS CHRIST !

Let the people pee !!!!!!!!!!!

— Peter Rabbit Defending WGA & SAG (@PeterRabbit_4DX) October 27, 2023

Listen, if you're going to make movies bordering on 4 hours, I need to take a piss at some point, so let's bring back intermissions for movies like this.

— Mike Castle (@realsonofgod23) October 27, 2023

> 3.5 hour running time
> legally required to not have an intermission

Ngl it would be stupid not to have an intermission

— Clossington🏴‍☠️ (@Chossingstone1) October 28, 2023

This is disgusting. Theaters should be allowed to put an intermission if they see fit. It gives people a chance to go to the bathroom and you know… buy more concessions because without the concessions, theaters go under and then where will Paramount and Apple show films?

— Brandon M. Prosek (@BrandonProsek) October 28, 2023

Despite all the ongoing concerns, the director defended the movie’s runtime and asked people to “give cinema some respect.”

Also read: “One of the worst acting performances”: Brendan Fraser Falls from Grace as Fans Turn on Oscar Winner After His Controversial ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Performance

Martin Scorsese Defends Killers of the Flower Moon Runtime

Speaking to Hindustan Times, the director, Martin Scorsese, defended the movie’s runtime. He emphasized the importance of experiencing Killers of the Flower Moon on the big screen. He believes that the movie is not intended to be a blockbuster but a cinematic experience, and it’s best appreciated in a theater. The Hugo director continued:

“People say it’s three hours, but come on, you can sit in front of the TV and watch something for five hours. Also, there are many people who watch theatre for 3.5 hours. There are real actors on stage, you can’t get up and walk around. You give it that respect, give cinema some respect.”

Scorsese has a point here. And there’s no doubt that Killers of the Flower Moon is better when viewed in one complete, uninterrupted sitting.

Killers of the Flower Moon is screening in theaters now.

Also read: “Watching this movie was f—king hellfire”: Lily Gladstone’s ‘Reservation Dogs’ Co-Star Blasts Martin Scorsese Despite Director’s Best Efforts That Included Rewriting ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Script