De Niro's gangster film revives on streaming after box office flop
The Alto Knights is a biographical crime drama directed by Barry Levinson, starring Robert De Niro as rival mob bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese.
The film dives into the intense Mafia rivalry in 1950s New York, leading up to the infamous Apalachin meeting that exposed organized crime.
With themes of betrayal and shifting alliances at the heart of the story.
Did you know? The Alto Knights bombed at the box office
Despite a hefty $45 million budget, The Alto Knights only pulled in about $9.6 million worldwide after its release—quickly dropping out of box office rankings.
But on HBO Max, it surprised everyone by shooting to the top as the platform's most-watched film, even beating out fan favorites like How to Train Your Dragon 2.
'The Alto Knights': Worth your time?
If you're into gritty Mafia stories or want to see De Niro take on two roles with his usual finesse, this one's worth streaming—even if it didn't wow theater crowds.
It's especially interesting for fans of true crime history or anyone curious about how films can find their audience outside traditional cinemas.