Nosferatu’s Huge Christmas Box Office: Why It Matters

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As a lifelong cinephile and critic, I can confidently say that the success of Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” is a breath of fresh air for both moviegoers and filmmakers alike. Having followed Eggers’ career since his breakout hit, “The Witch,” I have witnessed firsthand the struggle of talented artists who are unable to translate their craftsmanship into box office success.

Eggers’ prior films, while critically acclaimed, failed to resonate with audiences in terms of box office performance. With a domestic box office of only $25M for “The Witch” and a paltry $10M for “The Lighthouse,” it seemed that the industry might have written off Eggers as another auteur whose work would be appreciated by critics but not by the masses.

However, the success of “Nosferatu” has proven that audiences are indeed receptive to both form and function, especially in the realm of mid-budget genre films. The film’s impressive $40.8M five-day haul and potential crossing of the $100 million domestic threshold is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of giving visionary directors like Eggers the opportunity to showcase their talents.

I find myself hopeful for the future of cinema, knowing that the success of “Nosferatu” paves the way for other auteurs to follow in Eggers’ footsteps and create art that resonates with both critics and audiences. And as a bonus, it seems that Hollywood might finally start prioritizing form over function – though I wouldn’t hold my breath!

In the spirit of Eggers’ darkly humorous style, I can’t help but joke that maybe they should have titled “Nosferatu” “The Accountant,” and it would have made a killing at the box office!

Nosferatu has surprised everyone with a ferocious box office haul.

On its debut on Christmas Day, the Robert Eggers vampire movie has shown impressive performance. Over the weekend domestically, it earned $21.6M, making it only slightly behind the opening of Smile 2‘s $23M. Currently, Smile 2 ranks as the third highest-grossing horror film of the year. This is a promising start.

However, it’s important to note that the weekend earnings for Nosferatu don’t account for Christmas and the day after. This adjustment raises its 5-day total to an impressive $40.8 million, according to Variety. Interestingly, this ticket sales figure also surpasses the previous record for both the biggest Christmas Day launch and weekend earnings for a genre film. The record was previously held by Robert Rodriguez’s high school sci-fi story, The Faculty, which earned $4.4 million on its opening day and $11.6 million over the traditional weekend back in 1998.

The head of distribution for Focus Features, Lisa Bunnel, told Variety:

When we scheduled the release of the film for Christmas, many weren’t immediately convinced, “Wow, that sounds appropriate.” Instead, exhibitors were surprised by our decision to show a gothic story on Christmas Day. However, we managed to make it a special event and it proved to be a huge success. Ultimately, what matters most is that the movie delivers, which it certainly does.

It seems quite likely that the movie “Nosferatu” will surpass the $100 million mark in domestic earnings, a significant triumph for film enthusiasts.

Why The Success Of Nosferatu Matters

Robert Eggers, a highly skilled visual artist known for his cult popularity, wrote and directed Nosferatu. His initial work, The Witch (2014), together with The Babadook and It Follows, significantly impacted the horror genre by shaping the “elevated horror” trend that has been prevalent in recent years.

Despite the high praise it received, The Witch managed to earn just $25 million at the domestic box office. Following this, Eggers created another critically acclaimed film and cult hit, The Lighthouse in 2019. This movie featured Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, but only grossed a modest $10 million.

Instead of Focus Features, they found Eggers’ work appealing, and granted him a budget between $70 million and $90 million to create a Viking saga based on the Amleth legend (similar to Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Disney’s The Lion King). The cast included Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, and Willem Dafoe. The fight scenes are widely regarded as among the most intense in cinematic history, with such violence that Gladiator seems tame by comparison.

But the domestic box office? A mere $34M. Worldwide only hit $69.6M.

If an artist like Eggers fails to turn skill into movie ticket sales, this might not be a good sign for Hollywood. Studios might view it as a poor investment in creativity and may keep focusing on practicality rather than aesthetic value.

It’s fortunate that the film “Nosferatu” demonstrates that viewers appreciate both style and substance, particularly in mid-priced genre productions. This success of Eggers opens up a chance (and platform) for future directors to achieve similar results.

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2024-12-30 22:09