This weekend sees the release of the highly anticipated Killers of the Flower Moon, the latest offering from director Martin Scorsese.
No stranger to long running times, the new film, starring Scorsese regulars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro, clocks in at 3 hours and 26 minutes. That’s just a few minutes short of Scorsese’s longest film ever, The Irishman. It is also the fourth film in a row that he directed and which lasted more than 3 hours.
Add an extra 25 minutes of viewing and that leaves you stuck in your theater for almost 4 hours.
That might not seem like a long time, when you consider that binge-watching habits are ingrained in us. However, the key point of difference is that you’re watching from the comfort of your own home, with the option of a bathroom break or a snack break – all things that aren’t possible without missing out on key parts of the feature if you’re watching at the cinema.
Convenience aside, when it comes to the optimal length of a film for maximum enjoyment – this of course largely depends on the personal preferences of the individual viewer, the pace of the story and the quality of the film itself.
In general, the usual length of feature films is between 90 and 120 minutes. While some moviegoers may relish the opportunity to wait for a long movie, anything past the 2-hour mark can be difficult to concentrate on, thanks to our rapidly shortening attention spans and the impulse to check our phones.
That being said, some of the most popular and award-winning films of all time, both by critics and fans alike, often exceed this range, running up to 3 hours or more. Examples include cult trilogies from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Godfather’ and other much-loved films such as ‘Titanic’, which also happens to star Leonardo DiCaprio.
A quick Google of The Killers of the flower runtime can also tell you when to schedule a possibly much-needed bathroom break, to make sure you don’t miss a crucial moment. In case you’re wondering, many early reviewers suggested that when DiCaprio’s character was arrested and taken into custody might be a good time to relieve yourself quickly.
Others have recommended a return to intermission breaks during movies to combat this need for a quick rest, as we already have for theater plays or football games. While many approve of this idea, if only to be able to refill their snacks or take a break from a particularly intense movie – usually this is intended for live performers, either on stage or on the field, it’s not really for the benefit of the players.
But is this really necessary or is this extremely long duration too indulgent on the part of Hollywood directors?
While Killers of the Flower Moon is the latest film to be criticized for its long running time, many fans have argued that it is vital to give the subject the attention it demands and deserves.
What do you think? What is the optimal amount of time for which you would be willing to give your full attention to the film? Would you be put off seeing Martin Scorsese’s new movie because of its extremely long running time? Join the debate.