Martin Scorsese has been making movies since the mid 1960s and earning acclaim ever since, but not every film he’s made has been a hit with audiences during their original theatrical runs. Ironically, The Wolf of Wall Street, which stirred controversy with its excessive cursing, nudity, drug use and three-hour run time, has overcome all that to become the highest grossing film of the legendary director’s career.
Wall Street has now made $304.8 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. While its North American total of $107.8 million is lower than Shutter Island’s $128 million total, Wall Street si being fueled by unprecedented success overseas.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film has been a stunning success in Europe, grossing $196.9 million in foreign markets. However, the film might hit a roadblock in Asia, as it may have trouble getting past the censors. The film was infamously chopped up for UAE audiences by a distributor there before it even reached the country’s censors.
Wall Street grossed $25.1 million in France, $29.3 million in the U.K. and Ireland and $23.7 million in Germany.
For the record, Goodfellas, one of Scorsese's most beloved films, only grossed $46.8 million when it was released in 1990.
The movie was completely financed by Red Granite Pictures and is distributed by Paramount in the U.S. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort and is up for five Academy Awards.
image: Paramount