MOVIE NEWS – Longlegs has made a fantastic start at the box office, breaking Neon’s previous preview revenue record. The film is projected to become Neon’s biggest opening week, with forecasts reaching as high as $20 million.

Nicolas Cage’s transformative performance as Longlegs is a key factor behind the film’s popularity. Longlegs has proven to be genuinely terrifying, leading to an excellent start at the box office with $3 million in Thursday previews. According to Variety, the film, directed by Osgood Perkins, following in the footsteps of his father, horror legend Anthony Perkins, set a new record for Neon’s highest preview earnings.

It is also on track to be the biggest opening week for indie distributor Neon, previously held by Immaculate, starring Sydney Sweeney, released on March 22, 2024. Immaculate earned less than $1 million from Thursday previews and $5.3 million in its first week, but with a record-breaking start, Longlegs’ opening week predictions are as high as $20 million.

At this stage, we can expect the film to outperform other theatrical releases, such as Apple’s Fly Me Moon, which earned less than $1 million in previews but is projected to reach $12 million during the week. The film has also received favorable reviews from critics and audiences, boasting an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The deeply disturbing horror film follows Lee Harker, played by Maika Monroe, a semi-psychic FBI agent who finds herself hunting the satanic serial killer, Longlegs (Nicolas Cage). Harker uses her keen intuition to solve cases and uncover clues that no other agents can, but Longlegs’ brutality forces her to confront her own past, making the task much more difficult.

Nicolas Cage Demonstrates His Versatility with Longlegs

Nicolas Cage has played numerous horror roles, from Edward Malus in The Wicker Man to Red Miller in Mandy, but the actor has recently explored new territory, particularly with films like Renfield and Sympathy for the Devil. However, Cage’s role in Longlegs is the main driver behind its popularity and likely success.

In the film, Cage completely transforms into a creepy serial killer whose face is almost unrecognizable, and his voice changes drastically, nearly tricking an unfamiliar audience into thinking the actor did not play the role. In an interview with AP, the actor described his portrayal of Longlegs as liberating. Here’s what he said,

“I have always maintained that horror, when done well, is genuinely surreal. It’s dream logic. Gosh, I channeled my dad for Dracula and my mom for Longlegs. What does that say about my childhood? Everyone else is getting ready to open presents and whatnot, and I’m doing this very dark character and trying to infuse it with love.”

Source: Movieweb