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"Scary Movie 'Longlegs' Makes Big Money in Los Angeles"
July 14th, 2024
The cinema landscape is being reshaped by a surprising new frontrunner, as the low-budget horror film "Longlegs" overtakes the high-profile romantic comedy "Fly Me to the Moon" in box office earnings. "Despicable Me 4" retains its position at the top, amassing $44.7 million and surpassing the notable $200 million threshold. However, attention has shifted to "Longlegs," which, with a mere $10 million investment, has garnered an astounding $22.6 million and boasts the strongest debut for a rated-R film this year.
Starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, "Longlegs" delves into the unnerving terrain of a serial killer's world. Neon, the indie company responsible for the Oscar-winning "Parasite," introduced the film to public acclaim and employed a clever advertising scheme, including enigmatic cipher messages in newspapers and a creepy phone message linked to an L.A. billboard. Within two days, the phone line received a staggering 250,000 calls. While critics gave the film a robust approval score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience response was more muted, reflected in a C+ CinemaScore.
Meanwhile, "Fly Me to the Moon" faced a disappointing opening weekend earning just $10 million. Produced by Apple Original Films and directed by Greg Berlanti, the film takes a satirical look at the space race and a backup plan for a counterfeit moon landing. Despite attracting an older demographic and being projected in 3,356 theaters, it failed to achieve the same success as "Longlegs," though its audience reception hinted at a more positive long-term outlook, with an A- CinemaScore contrasting a lesser 67% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
The film industry continues to recover the gaps in box office performance compared to the previous year, now reduced to a 16.1% deficit, but still lags behind pre-pandemic numbers. Amidst an unpredictable summer, hits have emerged, both anticipated and surprising, bolstering this crucial season for the cinema sector.
Elsewhere in the industry, A24 released "Sing Sing," an early Oscar contender, to strong limited release results. Directed by Greg Kwedar and featuring real participants from a prison arts program, the film is set to go nationwide following its initial success. Additionally, the international film market sees "Twisters" gaining traction ahead of its North American debut, with various markets, including Australia, Mexico, and Brazil, contributing to its $11.5 million earnings. The eagerly awaited "Deadpool & Wolverine" is also on the horizon, ready to make its summer splash as the first Marvel offering of the season.
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đ Discussion Questions
1
. What marketing tactics did 'Longlegs' employ that contributed to its surprising box office performance as a low-budget horror film?2
. How does the box office performance of 'Sing Sing' in its limited release reflect on the potential for its nationwide success, and what does its connection to a real prison arts program suggest about the film's content?3
. Considering the current cinematic trend highlighted by the article, how might the industry's recovery from pandemic-related deficits be influenced by the 'unpredictable summer' and the upcoming release of 'Deadpool & Wolverine'?đ Vocabulary
đ Cultural context
US cultural context: Box office earnings are a common measure of success in Hollywood, with R-rated horror and indie films often being surprise hits. Directors and actors like Nicolas Cage have cult followings. Marketing strategies can be unconventional. Oscar buzz and CinemaScore grades are influential.
đ§ Further reading
Independent film
Independent films, often referred to as indie movies, are cinematic works produced and distributed by entities outside of the large, mainstream Hollywood studio system. These films are usually recognized for their unique content, distinctive style, and the particular way in creative expressions are fulfilled by the filmmakers. They typically have smaller budgets compared to major studio movies.
It's not uncommon for famous actors to feature in indie films for much less than their usual rates. Their reasons can vary: they might be deeply moved by the film's message, feel a sense of gratitude to a director who helped launch their career, be looking for work due to a lull in their career, want to demonstrate a side of their acting skills that mainstream films have overlooked, or desire to work with directors they respect. For instance, John Travolta and Bruce Willis accepted lower fees to work with Quentin Tarino on "Pulp Fiction".
The promotion of independent films is often limited, with the releases frequently occurring in independent theatersâthough there are exceptions where they receive substantial marketing efforts and broader distribution. Indie films are typically showcased at film festivals on local, national, or international stages before being released to the public. With adequate funds and distribution, an indie film can sometimes match a mainstream production in scale and impact.
In history, the film landscape was once dominated by the "Edison Trust," also known as the Motion Picture Patents Company, formed in 1908. This consortium included major film companies of that era and monopolized film production and distribution at the time.
Deep Impact (film)
In 1998, the cinematic landscape was graced by the science fiction disaster movie, "Deep Impact," directed by the visionary Mimi Leder. With a script penned by the talented duo Bruce Joel Rubin and Michael Tolkin, the film brought together an ensemble cast featuring the likes of Robert Duvall, TĂ©a Leoni, and Morgan Freeman. The legendary Steven Spielberg lent his expertise as an executive producer. Premiered in the United States by Paramount Pictures and internationally through DreamWorks Pictures on May 8, 1998, "Deep Impact" captivates its audience with a narrative of humanityâs struggle against a catastrophic comet hurtling towards Earth, threatening to eradicate all life.
Despite sharing the summer box office with the similarly themed "Armageddon," which enjoyed more commercial success, "Deep Impact" was commended for its depiction of a celestial crisis, earning praises from astronomers for its relative accuracy. Critics gave a nod to both movies, with "Deep Impact" securing a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, closely behind "Armageddon's" 43%. The film achieved notable acclaim, grossing over $349.5 million globally against an $80 million budget, and was hailed as the sixth highest-earning movie of that year. The film held particular sentimental value as it was the last project of cinematographer Dietrich Lohmann before his passing.
The core of the movie unfolds with a gripping plot that starts with a young Virginia-based amateur astronomer, Leo Biederman, who spots an unknown object in the sky during a star party. After he reports his discovery to Dr. Marcus Wolf, the gravity of the situation is unveiledâa comet is on a direct trajectory with Earth. Tragedy strikes when Dr. Wolf perishes in a car accident before he can alert the world. Meanwhile, a journalist named Jenny Lerner stumbles upon a scoop while investigating a government official, mistaking "Ellie" for an extramarital affair
List of highest-grossing films
Movies have multiple ways of earning money, including box office sales, home releases, TV rights, and merchandise. Among these, box office revenue is regarded as the key indicator for a filmâs success. This measurement preference is due to accessible data and historical norms. Comprehensive lists exist showing the highest earning films, with rankings based on both their initial and inflation-adjusted box office takings. These lists include a yearly breakdown of high-grossers, a historical progression of record-breaking films, and a ranking of lucrative movie franchises.
Certain film genres, like war movies, musicals, and historical epics, were traditionally most favored, but recent decades have seen franchise films becoming major hits. Superhero movies are particularly in demand with the Marvel Cinematic Universe claiming ten spots in the list of top-grossing films. The standout superhero movie, Avengers: Endgame, ranks second in nominal earnings. The Avengers comic book adaptations are notably successful, with four of their movies in the top twenty. Other comic adaptations from Marvel such as Spider-Man and X-Men have also done well, just as DC Comics' Batman and Superman movies have. Star Wars has made a strong showing with five movies in the list, and the Jurassic Park series is also prominent.
The highest-grossing movies are often based on existing properties or sequels, yet Avatarâa unique storyâleads the pack. Animated family movies consistently pull in large audiences, with Disney movies being particularly profitable.