Robert De Niro’s Box Office Streak Hits a Rough Patch: Millions Lost on Latest Films

Robert De Niro, once a guaranteed box office draw, has seen a tough run at cinemas with his last five films struggling to make a profit for their studios.

His 2023 family drama, Ezra, lost $7 million despite receiving generally positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 69% of critics gave the film a favorable review, with an average rating of 6.3/10. Metacritic gave it a 57 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews.

The website consensus noted, “Good performances give Ezra a resonant emotional core even when its script strains credulity, balancing out into a solid family drama.”

The Alto Knights (2025) fared worse, losing $35 million. It grossed just $9.6 million worldwide, with $6.1 million from North America and $3.5 million from other territories. Variety reported that combined losses from this film and Mickey 17 could reach $110 million for Warner Bros.

Opening alongside Snow White and Ash, The Alto Knights debuted at $3.2 million, finishing sixth, with an audience largely over 35. The following week it dropped 65%, and within a few weeks, theaters cut its run almost entirely, marking one of the largest drops in history.

Another 2023 release, About My Father, lost $40 million. The film grossed $18.2 million worldwide but had been projected to earn $5–6 million over its opening weekend in North America alone. It debuted to $4.3 million and dropped 52% in its second weekend, signaling weak audience interest.

Tin Soldier (2025) also struggled, losing an estimated $45 million. Rotten Tomatoes showed only 9% of critics gave it positive reviews, with The Guardian calling it, “a mangled, dreary, unlovely mess and so much less than the sum of its parts – despite relatively blameless supporting turns from Robert De Niro and John Leguizamo.”

Even Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), which received critical acclaim and multiple award nominations, was a financial disappointment in theaters.

It grossed $158.8 million worldwide against an estimated $200 million production budget. Variety noted that a traditional release would have required $500–600 million to break even. While Apple TV+ later recouped some of the losses through rentals, the theatrical run still left a significant gap.

De Niro’s recent box office performance suggests that even legendary actors can face challenges in today’s film market. While critics may still praise his performances, commercial success is no longer guaranteed.

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