Despicable Me 4 Leads Box Office; Longlegs Surprises

Despicable Me 4 continues to dominate the box office, with Longlegs making a notable impact in its opening weekend. Universal’s beloved animated franchise follows the successful path paved by Inside Out 2. The Minions are expected to bring in $44 million this weekend domestically, pushing Despicable Me 4 to an impressive $210 million in the US alone. This surge has propelled the Illumination franchise past the $5 billion mark worldwide. This summer has seen animated features enjoy remarkable success, with audiences repeatedly returning to theaters for films like Inside Out 2. This trend could define a peculiar blockbuster season.

Longlegs, however, has emerged as the standout story of the weekend. Directed by Osgood Perkins, this low-budget horror film has been generating buzz on social media. With a modest budget of under $3 million, Longlegs is poised to rake in up to $22 million during its first weekend. For its distributors, Neon and A24, this development is a significant victory. Initially, even $9 million would have been considered a strong start, but achieving double that with relative ease is extraordinary. This success follows Neon’s recent triumph with Immaculate, which set a studio record by grossing $5.3 million, starring Sydney Sweeney. The momentum for Longlegs looks promising as the weekend progresses.

Prompting the internet to rally around this smaller-budget horror film, Longlegs has sparked widespread conversation and reviews. In a review for ComicBook, Patrick Cavanaugh expressed high praise for Osgood Perkins’ work, awarding the film 4 out of 5 stars. Cavanaugh noted the continuation of Perkins’ unique approach to horror, which began with The Blackcoat’s Daughter and continued with I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House and Gretel & Hansel.

Cavanaugh described the film’s marketing campaign as highly effective, suggesting that the movie’s terrifying nature is not easily forgotten. He mentioned that while the final resolution may not fully meet the expectations set by the film’s first two acts, the experience remains unconventional, ambitious, and uncompromising. This achievement feels particularly significant within the genre of murder mystery.

So, are you planning a trip to the theater this weekend?

Source: ComicBook