At Oscars, Jimmy Kimmel says 'Killers of Flower Moon' so long 'you could drive to Oklahoma'

Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel made fun of the length of the past year's top movies in Sunday night's opening monologue for the 96th Academy Awards, singling out Martin Scorsese's made-in-Oklahoma epic "Killers of the Flower Moon."

"When I went to see 'Killers the Flower Moon,' I had my mail forwarded to the theater," Kimmel said. "'Killers of the Flower Moon' is so long, in the time it takes you to watch it, you could drive to Oklahoma and solve the murders yourself."

Filmed in and around Osage County in 2021, the almost 3 1/2-hour "Killers of the Flower Moon" focuses on a dark and often-overlooked chapter of Osage and Oklahoma history: The 1920s "Reign of Terror," a series of ruthless murders of oil-rich Osage Nation citizens.

"There's so many great movies that held audiences captive this year — and I mean that literally; your movies were too long this year," Kimmel said. "The average length of the top 10 movies was two hours and 23 minutes. That's up 30 minutes from three years ago."

Oscars host congratulates Lily Gladstone for her historic Academy Awards nomination

During his monologue, the four-time Oscars host also congratulated "Killers of the Flower Moon" star Lily Gladstone, the first Native American to be nominated for best actress in the nearly 100-year history of the Academy Awards.

"She was riveting. Did you know that before she got this movie, Lily was ready to quit acting and take a job at the Department of Agriculture tracking murder hornets? ... And now she's nominated for an Oscar — which is so great for her, but also makes me worried that no one's tracking these murder hornets," Kimmel joked.

One of the most closely watched categories at this year's Academy Awards, the best actress race is expected to come down to Gladstone and "Poor Things" star Emma Stone. The contest is considered too close to call, although the breakout star of "Killers of the Flower Moon" was thought to have an edge heading into the Oscars.

Who is Lily Gladstone wearing at the Oscars?

As she has throughout the cinematic awards season, Gladstone, who is NiMíiPuu, or Nez Perce, and Siksikaitsitapi, or Blackfeet, is attending the Oscars in a classy designer gown accessorized by a Native American artist.

According to Vogue, Gladstone's elegant deep blue gown is a custom collaboration designed by Gucci creative director Sabato De Sarno and Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain, a Mohawk, Cree and Comanche artist renowned for his quillwork jewelry.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel jokes 'Killers of the Flowre Moon' is too long