‘Longlegs’ Becomes Highest-Grossing Indie of 2024, Earns $100 Million

The serial killer thriller “Longlegs” has become the standout film of the year for distributor Neon and the entire independent film landscape. The movie has impressively crossed the $100 million mark at the global box office, with a substantial $72 million coming from North America alone. It is also the highest-grossing R-rated horror film of 2024, second only to Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” in the overall R-rated category.

Starring Nicolas Cage as a serial killer in a gripping narrative reminiscent of “Silence of the Lambs,” and directed by Osgood Perkins, “Longlegs” exceeded expectations from its opening weekend, pulling in $22 million. The marketing strategy, which focused on the eerie and mysterious elements of the story while keeping Cage’s transformation under wraps, played a major role in the film’s success.

“Longlegs” has become Neon’s highest-grossing movie of all time, surpassing the Oscar-winning “Parasite” that earned $53.4 million. It also outperformed A24’s “Civil War,” which stands at $68.6 million to date. Within just three weeks of its U.S. release, “Longlegs” set a new record as the highest-grossing indie horror film in the last decade, outperforming A24’s “Talk to Me” at $48 million and “Insidious: Chapter 3” from Universal’s Focus, which made $52.2 million in 2015.

Director Osgood Perkins is slated to continue his successful partnership with Neon, C2, and Black Bear for his next project, an adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Monkey” starring Theo James, set for release in February 2025. Meanwhile, “Longlegs” star Maika Monroe will also be reuniting with Neon for the sequel to “It Follows,” titled “They Follow.”

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