Blockbuster Debut: Longlegs Smashes Box Office Records During Premiere Weekend
With the eerie anticipation brewing, Neon's shadowsy thriller, Longlegs, graced the silver screens this weekend. Helmed by Osgood Perkins, this Moviegoers and critics alike have showered the Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage-led horror flick with a ton of positive vibes, and it appears the goodwill has paid off in spades.
According to Deadline, Longlegs torpedoed domestic box offices with a staggering $22.6 million debut, capping it as Neon's highest-grossing opening since their inception 7 years ago, and the best opener for an original horror movie this year. Don't think the studio's leadership isn't patting themselves on the back! In a press release, they noted the movie's performance was reminiscent of the Blair Witch Project, stating the movie came out of nowhere to massively exceed expectations[1].
What's more, Neon pulled out all the stops to make sure you knew about Longlegs. Trailers played ahead of tentpole flicks over the past few months, and a marketing campaign convinced viewers to peel back the layers of potential secrets. Keep in mind, if a movie's already got you freaked out, the only way to see Nic Cage's mug is to steel yourself and snag a ticket. Neon's distribution boss Elissa Federoff had this to say, "We built a movement around this film. When audiences can sense it's going to be fresh and different from what's come before, they'll get on board[1]"[2].
Despite the triumphs of Longlegs, it still wasn't enough to dethrone Despicable Me 4. The Illumination series' latest offering added another $44.7 million to its domestic haul, bringing its total to $211.1 million. An additional $88 million from overseas markets ballooned its global earnings to $437.8 million. With more earnings on the horizon, swap your diapers, because Mi-ning Minions 3 is in 2027[2]. Both Inside Out 2 and A Quiet Place: Day One also hauled in serious cash this weekend, respectively totaling $1.35 billion and $203.6 million globally.
Looking ahead, Universal and Warner Bros' Twisters aims to swirl up some cinematic chaos next weekend, while Deadpool & Wolverine is gearing up to reap some green tickets on July 26, the same day as the San Diego Comic-Con event[2]. After the box office smashes in May, it's hard to believe we were all doom and gloom about theatre movies just a few weeks ago.
Spilling the tea, did Longlegs fulfill the hype, or were the high expectations too much to handle? Sound off in the comments below.
Alright, darlings, if you can't get enough io9 news, check out the latest scoop on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe's movie and TV projects, and everything Doctor Who has in store for us[3].
- The success of the future horror movie Longlegs may be a promising indicator for the future of technology in cinema, as its innovative marketing strategies and unexpected box office performance could set new standards for original thrillers.
- With the recent financial triumphs of movies like Longlegs, studio leaders are reminded of the potential for goodwill and positive attention to translate into significant financial returns, much like the success of the Blair Witch Project.
- Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, the stars of Longlegs, are proving their value in the industry by delivering captivating performances in the top-grossing original horror movie of the year, potentially demonstrating a lucrative partnership for future projects.
- In the rapid-paced world of Twitter, users can easily share their reactions to movies like Longlegs with the help of embedded tweets, contributing to a global conversation about the movie's impact, quality, and lasting legacy.
