MOVIE NEWS – Longlegs, the critically acclaimed horror film starring Nicolas Cage, has crossed the $100 million mark at the box office, making it the highest-grossing independent film of 2024 (per Variety). Directed by Oz Perkins, the film was produced on a modest budget of less than $10 million and has quickly become one of the year’s biggest surprises, solidifying its place as the top R-rated horror movie of the year.

Since its release on July 12, Longlegs has been a consistent performer at the box office, reaching a total of $167,365 domestically on Thursday, August 15 (per The Numbers). The film continues to hold its ground among blockbuster competitors, recently adding another $1.95 million to its earnings. In stark contrast, high-budget films like Borderlands have struggled, with Borderlands making less than $20 million despite its $110 million budget.

Longlegs tells the story of FBI agent Lee Harker, who is assigned to a cold case involving a serial killer. The investigation uncovers disturbing truths linked to the occult, leading to a race against time to prevent further murders.

Although Longlegs never claimed the No. 1 spot at the box office, it debuted strongly at No. 2 with $19.9 million in its opening weekend. The film maintained its momentum, ranking in the Top 5 over the following two weeks. Despite a 54% drop in earnings between its last two weekends, Longlegs still has the potential to add another $1 million to its total as the week concludes.

Nicolas Cage’s performance has been a key factor in the film’s success. His portrayal in Longlegs was highly anticipated and has been praised for its intensity and originality. The film debuted with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and currently holds an impressive 86% based on 280 reviews. Director Oz Perkins has credited Cage’s transformative acting style as a significant contribution to the film’s success.

The achievements of Longlegs could potentially reshape the horror genre, demonstrating that low-budget indie films can compete with big-budget blockbusters. In its third week of release, Longlegs became the highest-grossing indie film of the last decade and NEON’s most profitable domestic release when adjusted for inflation, with $72.2 million (per The Numbers). However, Parasite remains NEON’s top global performer with $253.3 million.

Source: MovieWeb