The 2024 horror film Nosferatu has achieved a significant milestone at the box office, surpassing Longlegs to become the highest-grossing non-sequel, non-prequel horror movie of the year. The film, directed by Robert Eggers, is a remake of the iconic 1922 silent vampire classic. Nosferatu premiered on Christmas Day and quickly gained traction, becoming the highest-grossing new release of the holiday weekend.
As of Sunday morning, Nosferatu is projected to finish its third weekend in theaters with a domestic gross of $6.8 million and $13.7 million internationally. This brings its global total to an impressive $135 million, surpassing Longlegs, a serial killer thriller that grossed $127 million. Directed by Osgood Perkins and starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, Longlegs was celebrated for its $10 million budget-to-revenue ratio after its release on July 12, 2024.
With this achievement, Nosferatu now holds the title of the highest-grossing original horror film of 2024, outpacing other contenders like Exhuma ($93.9 million), The Substance ($79 million), Night Swim ($54.8 million), and Heretic ($51.9 million).
Nosferatu Rises Among the Year’s Biggest Horror Hits
Beyond breaking box office records, Nosferatu has solidified its place as one of the top horror films of 2024. It currently ranks as the fourth-highest-grossing horror movie of the year. When factoring in horror-themed comedy sequels such as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Nosferatu sits at the sixth position on the overall global box office chart. Below is a summary of the top-ranking horror films of 2024:
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – $451.1 million
- Alien: Romulus – $350.9 million
- A Quiet Place: Day One – $261.8 million
- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire – $201.9 million
- Smile 2 – $138 million
- Nosferatu – $135 million (and counting)
However, Nosferatu has a much higher production cost compared to Longlegs. The remake carried a reported budget of $50 million, meaning its current earnings have yet to fully recoup its costs. In contrast, Longlegs earned back more than twelve times its budget. Despite this, Nosferatu continues to perform well, with projections suggesting it will soon surpass Smile 2, likely making it the third-highest-grossing horror film of 2024.
Why Nosferatu’s Success Makes Sense
Several factors likely contributed to Nosferatu’s box office success. The film benefited from glowing reviews, achieving a Certified Fresh rating of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, which likely encouraged early theatergoers. In addition to critical acclaim, Nosferatu has earned strong audience reception, with a 73% score on the same platform.
Moreover, the film has positioned itself as a strong contender during the 2024-2025 awards season, with four nominations from the Critics’ Choice Awards and a National Board of Review Cinematography award further boosting its visibility. These accolades have helped keep Nosferatu in the public eye, contributing to its box office momentum.
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