EXCLUSIVE: Everyone in distribution loves surprises, and what’s causing a lot of talk today is the $2.5 million-$3 million previews for NEON’s serial killer horror film Long legs. This is according to box office sources tonight.
For the specialist distributor with a penchant for Palme d’Or-winning films, that’s the best-ever Thursday night preview haul for its films, surpassing the sub-$1 million Thursday haul of its highest-ever domestic opening title, Sydney Sweeney’s genre film. Spotless ($5.3 million) last spring.
If Long legs remains steadfast, it could predict a $10M-$15M opening; some even say it could outperform Apple Original Film/Sony’s Scarlett Johansson-Channing Tatum romantic comedy, Fly me to the moon, which was predicted to gross $12M. That film is currently being reviewed $800K-$900K after shows that started at 3:00 PM. However, Fly me to the moon is not a Thursday night audience film, more for Friday night and Saturday. Originally, Long legs was projected at a high single-digit percentage.
In Long legs, Maika Monroe plays an FBI agent assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns and reveals evidence of the occult. She discovers she has a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again. Nicolas Cage also stars, and NEON has kept him out of all advertising materials. The distributor rolled out cryptic clips leading up to the first trailer. Check out the film’s latest stunt: In partnership with Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn, NEON gave teens the chance to Long legs on Friday night without parents. Their chaperones at the movies? Don’t worry, Mom and Dad, there will be bloody nuns there to make sure nothing happens to them.
Critics love it Long legs giving the Oz Perkins-written and directed film a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.