“The Alto Knights,” a highly anticipated crime thriller featuring the dual roles of Robert De Niro, has failed to impress moviegoers, making a disappointing debut at the box office. The film, released by Warner Bros., raked in a mere $3.2 million domestically over its opening weekend, marking one of the worst starts for a major studio release in recent years. Adding to the bleak outlook, the film only managed to earn $1.8 million internationally, bringing its total worldwide gross to just $5.1 million.
With a production budget exceeding $45 million, excluding marketing costs, “The Alto Knights” is already being labeled one of the biggest box office failures of the year. Analysts in the industry suggest that the film's struggles stem from its positioning within a genre that has long since faded from popularity — the classic mobster movie. Critics have also weighed in, giving the film a lackluster rating of just 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. Although audiences who did see the film were slightly more forgiving, awarding it a “B” grade on CinemaScore, these mixed reviews are unlikely to generate the positive word-of-mouth needed for a film in such a precarious position.
Industry experts, including David A. Gross of FranchiseRe, argue that the film's outdated crime narrative is ill-suited for today’s theatrical landscape, especially under current market conditions. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Barry Levinson and adapted by Nicholas Pileggi, known for his work on classics like “Goodfellas” and “The Irishman,” the film features De Niro as both Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, two childhood friends who ascend to infamy as notorious crime bosses in New York City.
Nevertheless, the casting choice of having De Niro play dual roles has drawn criticism. Reviews from outlets like The Washington Post and The New Yorker have described the dual casting as distracting and unnecessary, with critics questioning the creative decision. The film's trajectory was already complicated by the fact that mob movies have not resonated with audiences for decades.
Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav greenlit “The Alto Knights” back in 2022, a decision that raised eyebrows even then given the waning popularity of gangster films. Levinson noted in an interview that his collaboration with Pileggi and producer Irwin Winkler began before the pandemic, and Zaslav’s interest in the project stemmed from his long-standing relationship with Pileggi. The studio initially hoped that the film would add to De Niro's legacy of beloved gangster films, including “Casino” and “Mean Streets.”
For De Niro, “The Alto Knights” was a chance to return to a genre that had significantly contributed to his rise as a cinematic icon. However, critics point out that the gangster genre has not been successful for over 30 years, even impacting other recent releases like Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which also struggled at the box office despite critical acclaim.
Interestingly, the demographic data for “The Alto Knights” indicates that its audience primarily consisted of older white males, with 60% of viewers identifying as Caucasian and 90% being over the age of 25. The film found some success in Canada, where theaters like Cineplex Queensway and Cineplex Winston Churchill reported stronger ticket sales than major cities like New York and Los Angeles, which typically dominate the North American box office.
This underwhelming performance follows another recent misfire for Warner Bros. with Bong Joon Ho’s sci-fi comedy “Mickey 17,” which also struggled to find its footing despite featuring a lead actor named Robert playing multiple roles. The studio hopes to rebound with upcoming releases, including a film adaptation of the popular video game “A Minecraft Movie,” set to debut in April, as well as several highly anticipated sequels and new projects from renowned directors.
As the film industry continues to navigate these challenges, Levinson remains optimistic about his career and the stories he has been able to tell, acknowledging the inherent volatility of the business. “There are a lot of obstacles in this business, and you just have to navigate it as best you can,” he stated. “But there are the moments when you say, ‘Look, I’ve been able to do a lot of stories that interested me.’”
