‘Nosferatu’ box office surpasses ‘Longlegs’, secures horror movie milestone

Currently the fourth highest-grossing horror release of the year and the sixth when including hybrid genres, ‘Nosferatu’ is poised to soon surpass ‘Smile 2’ as well

Robert Eggers remake of the classic 1922 vampire tale, Nosferatu, has claimed a new box office record, surpassing Longlegs to become the highest-grossing non-sequel, non-prequel horror movie of 2024. This achievement comes as Nosferatu wraps up its third weekend in theaters with a worldwide total of $135 million, edging past Longlegs’ $127 million global gross.

Longlegs, a suspenseful serial killer thriller directed by Osgood Perkins and starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, captivated audiences with its impressive $127 million gross against a modest sub-$10 million budget. However, Nosferatu, which debuted on Christmas Day, has cemented its position as a juggernaut in the genre of late, achieving $6.8 million domestically and $13.7 million internationally over the weekend.

Despite its $50 million production budget—far larger than Longlegs—the vampire epic has shown remarkable staying power. With glowing reviews earning it an 85% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 73% audience score, strong word of mouth has fueled its continued success. Additionally, accolades like a National Board of Review award for cinematography and four Critics’ Choice nominations have heightened its profile during the 2024-2025 awards season.

Currently the fourth highest-grossing horror release of the year and the sixth when including hybrid genres, Nosferatu is poised to surpass Smile 2 soon, potentially securing the third spot.

Published - January 13, 2025 10:32 am IST