Barry Levinson’s 'The Alto Knights' Faces Grim Box Office Projections

The mob drama starring Robert De Niro in dual roles has received harsh early reviews and is expected to underperform financially.

Robert De Niro portrays both Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, a casting choice widely criticized as a distracting gimmick.
Critics have panned the film for its poor pacing, excessive exposition, and lack of emotional depth, though supporting performances have been praised.
The screenplay, written by Nicholas Pileggi of 'Goodfellas' fame, and Barry Levinson's direction failed to deliver the gravitas of earlier mafia classics.
The film dramatizes the real-life rivalry between Costello and Genovese, culminating in the 1957 Apalachin meeting, but lacks narrative cohesion.
Box office projections estimate an opening weekend gross of $2-3 million, far below the $45 million production budget.