Can Nicolas Cage’s ‘Longlegs’ Box Office Success Lead to an Oscar Comeback?

Michael Buckner for Variety

Distributor Neon is currently enjoying great success with Osgood Perkins’s “Longlegs.” The serial killer thriller has drawn comparisons to the likes of Jonathan Demme’s “The Silence of the Lambs” and David Fincher’s “Se7en.” It has become Neon’s top-grossing movie ever, outpacing Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning “Parasite,” which earned $53.4 million domestically. As of last Sunday, “Longlegs” had amassed $71.3 million.

The film’s success has sparked speculation about its potential recognition during award season. Nicolas Cage’s performance as the titular character, a serial killer driven by Satan, has received significant praise. Critics have highlighted Cage’s portrayal, adding to the film’s predominantly positive reviews.

Notable mentions include:

Nick Schager of The Daily Beast describes the movie as “[providing] an unforgettable showcase for Nicolas Cage as a zealous maniac unlike any other.”

David Ehrlich from Indiewire noted, “Longlegs is a movie that often feels like it’s actively working against the mannerisms of the planet’s most unmistakable screen actor.”

IGN’s Katie Rife commented, “Cage does his version of warbly-voiced weirdo crooner Tiny Tim — an affectation that would be bonkers coming from anyone else, but is just another day at work for Cage.”

Despite Cage’s limited screen time, his presence is compelling. The Best Supporting Actor category at the Oscars seems open for surprises, making Cage a potential contender. Historically, horror films rarely receive Oscar attention, regardless of their popularity or impact.

However, there are notable exceptions like “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), which won Best Picture and four other Oscars, and William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” (1973), which garnered ten nominations. Ruth Gordon’s award-winning role in “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968) and Mia Farrow’s nominations for the same film further illustrate that exceptions do exist.

Recent horror snubs include Toni Collette’s overlooked performance in Ari Aster’s “Hereditary” (2018), despite widespread acclaim. Collette had previously been nominated for “The Sixth Sense” (1999), M. Night Shyamalan’s horror film that celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Emily Blunt’s SAG Award win for “A Quiet Place” (2018) also didn’t translate into an Oscar nomination.

Nicolas Cage is no stranger to the Oscars. He won his first and only Oscar for “Leaving Las Vegas” (1995) and was nominated again for “Adaptation” (2002). Over the following years, Cage transitioned from one of the biggest action stars of the ’90s and ’00s to frequent roles in direct-to-video productions. Interestingly, reviews for Cage’s films have shown an upturn since the start of the pandemic. His 2021 film “Dream Scenario” received almost unanimous praise but garnered only a Golden Globe nomination.

Cage was also nominated for Best Actor at the Critics Choice Awards for the 2021 revenge thriller “Pig,” another Neon distributed film. Toni Collette received a Critics Choice nomination for “Hereditary,” indicating that film journalists are more open to genre films than the academy.

Promotional campaigns could play a crucial role in Cage’s Oscar bid. Neon may rely on Cage’s quirky character and compelling mannerisms to leave a lasting impression. As film festivals kick off later this month, many other movies will join the Oscar race, so it remains to be seen if Cage will receive the same appreciation from academy voters as he has from critics and fans.

Source: Gold Derby