After playing in theatres for over a month, Neon’s horror hit Longlegs has achieved what might be its final major box office milestone. The film will soon be available on digital platforms, but its longer theater run—different from how Universal handled The Fall Guy and Twisters—has certainly helped it maintain success at the box office.
Initially seen as a competitor to A24’s horror hits, Longlegs has managed to surpass several big studio releases during its time in theaters.
With $71.7 million from the U.S. box office and another $18.3 million from international markets, the film has now grossed over $90 million worldwide. This is a remarkable accomplishment, especially in a year that has been difficult for the horror genre.
Longlegs reportedly had a budget under $10 million, making its profitability even more impressive. Neon’s previous domestic box office record was with Parasite, which ended its run at $53 million in 2020.
During its time in theaters, Longlegs has outgrossed horror films like Hereditary ($81 million globally), Sinister ($87 million globally), 28 Days Later ($82 million), Hostel ($82 million), Candyman ($77 million), Crimson Peak ($74 million), and The Pope’s Exorcist ($73 million).
The film is just $2 million short of surpassing Talk to Me and has established itself as the second-biggest horror hit of the year, behind A Quiet Place: Day One ($260 million), and ahead of Korea’s Exhuma ($86 million).
‘Longlegs’ is not going to hit $100 million, is it?
As Longlegs nears the end of its theater run, it is likely to surpass other horror titles like The Purge, Crawl, and Drag Me to Hell ($91 million each). However, despite being in the same genre, Longlegs stands out with its art-house approach, which makes its commercial success even more notable.
This year has been tough for horror movies, with big studio films like Abigail ($42 million), Imaginary ($43 million), and Night Swim ($54 million) underperforming at the box office.
Directed by Osgood Perkins, Longlegs stars Maika Monroe as a rookie FBI agent trying to catch a mysterious serial killer, played by a nearly unrecognizable Nicolas Cage.
The film has received positive reviews, especially for Cage’s performance and its surprising supernatural twists. You can still catch Longlegs in theaters and soon at home on digital platforms. Stay tuned to Otakukart for further updates.
