Summary
Nicolas Cage’s recent horror movie,Longlegs, broke a 12-year streak for his career, setting the stage for a new era for the actor. The actor rose to prominence in the 1980s with classic films likeMoonstruckandRaising Arizona. But many ofNicolas Cage’s best moviescame from the 1990s, including his Academy Award-winning role inLeaving Las Vegasand action star characters in movies likeFace/OffandCon Air. This popularity continued through the 2000s, butCage saw a notable dip in the 2010s when he largely stopped appearing in mainstream movies.
Recent years have seen a return to form for Cage, with leading and supporting roles that have allowed him to truly demonstrate his chops. He’s been celebrated consistently for his role in the 2021 moviePig, the 2018 horror filmMandy, and most recently, for his supporting role in theLonglegscast. In the film, he plays the titular character, a horrifying, nightmare-like serial killer with a strange connection to the movie’s lead detective. While he may not be the lead star, the movie has been an enormous success for him.
Longlegs Is A Great Reminder To Watch Nicolas Cage’s Scariest Performance From 35 Years Ago
Longlegs may feature a very good scary performance from Nicolas Cage, but the actor’s best horror performance is still in this undersung classic.
Longlegs Is Nicolas Cage’s First Live-Action Movie Since 2012 To Make Over $100 Million
Ghost Rider 2 Was The Most Recent Nicolas Cage Movie To Gross $100 Million
Nicolas Cage movies have struggled at the box office over the last decade, excluding animated movies likeThe CroodsandSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.Specifically referring to live-action films, Cage’s highest-grossing movie since 2012 wasSnowden, which only made $35 million at the box office.WithLonglegscrossing the $100 million mark in August 2024, it’s his first film to reach that milestone sinceGhost Rider: Spirit of Vengeancein 2012. This is a massive accomplishment, even if Maika Monroe is the headlining actor.
In recent years, Cage’s critical success has been referred to as a renaissance for his career, but his best movies have been quietly successful.Piggrossed under $4 million,Dream Scenariogrossed roughly $9 million, andMandybarely surpassed the $1 million mark. Meanwhile,Renfield, which had the most potential for commercial appeal in recent years, was a critical and commercial letdown with only $26 million.Longlegsmay not have fully lived up to expectations, but it’s an extraordinary step in the later stage of Nicolas Cage’s career.
Longlegs' Box Office Success Is Great For Nicolas Cage’s Future
Longlegs Shows There’s Still A Desire For Unique Nicolas Cage Movies
As mentioned,Maika Monroe is the star ofLonglegs,who controls most of the screen time. It’s her movie, and it’s nothing to discredit the excellence of her performance to make clear how impactful Nicolas Cage’s contribution to the movie was. The idea of a horror movie withNicolas Cage as an otherworldly serial killer, primarily kept out of the film’s marketing, was a genius method of luring audiences to the theaters. It just goes to show there’s still a desire for unique Nicolas Cage performances decades into his acting career.
Cage is still a marketable star at 60 years old, and he’s just as compelling and distinct as he’s always been.
Longlegs may not be his bestperformance, but it’s undoubtedly one of his most unique and engaging characters. His character is one of the best elements of the film, and he’s so concealed in makeup and prosthetics that he’s barely recognizable. As a precedent for his future movies, it can’t be understated how vitalLonglegscould be. Cage is still a marketable star at 60 years old, and he’s just as compelling and distinct as he’s always been.
15 Best Movies Like Longlegs
There are many horror-mystery films Longlegs fans will enjoy, with similar plots, characters, casts, and directors.
Upcoming Nicolas Cage Movie Sequel Can Continue His Box Office Renaissance
Face/Off 2 Could Be A Huge Return To Form For Nicolas Cage
Over 25 years after the original film’s release,Face/Off 2is finally in production. The original was directed by John Woo, with the sequel set to be directed byGodzilla x Kong’sAdam Wingard, with both Cage and co-star John Travolta reportedly interested in returning. Who knows what type of sway this pairing will have in the late 2020s butthe original movie grossed over $241 million, and it’s not impossible that the sequel could continue Nicolas Cage’s successat the box office.
After all,Face/Off 2would be an action movie and compelling action movies with older stars can often be surprise hits at the box office. Consider the financial success ofBad Boys: Ride or Die, for example, another title that’s been on and off since the 1990s. Travolta and Cage may not be at the peak of their fame, but they’re still well-known enough that their return to the screen together could be an interesting narrative, generating hype. Unique marketing is a significant part of what madeLonglegswork, and it can be repeated for future Nicolas Cage films.
Longlegs
Longlegs is a horror thriller film by writer-director Osgood Perkins. When FBI agent Lee Harker is assigned to a serial killer cold case, their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole riddled with disturbing discoveries and the occult at the center of it all. When the trail of evidence reveals a personal connection, it becomes a race against time to prevent another murder.
