A new wind is being felt in the film industry. A24’s 2024 release, Heretic, achieved a miraculous milestone within a week. The film, which has earned more than its budget at the box office in a single week, proved that the challenges this year were even tougher for horror films, but the film has managed to overcome those challenges. Heretic’s success is not just a coincidence, but the result of the right story, excellent acting and strong direction. However, there is a lot more behind it.
A promising start: Week 1 at the box office
When Heretic completed its first week at the box office, it was nothing short of a historic moment. With a worldwide gross of $15 million, the film earned $5 million more than its budget. This success surprised Hollywood’s big producers. It is believed that a film needs to earn two and a half times its production cost to make a profit, and Heretic crossed that mark without any problem.
Heretic had a budget of around $10 million, and it has collected $11 million from the domestic market alone. This is surprising, because this year, the big horror releases with big budgets did not do very well. For example, films like Imaginary and Night Swim were also average.
Reviews and Critics: Audience and Critic Trust
I think another big reason for Heretic’s success is its great reviews. While horror films sometimes struggle with negative feedback among critics, Heretic received a good response from both critics and audiences. The film has become one of the highest rated horror films of 2024 on sites like Rotten Tomatoes. What makes it special is that it is not just scary, but also a mind-blowing thriller.
The plot of this film, which is the story of a dangerous game of two Mormon missionaries, has gone in a new direction. And Hugh Grant has not only brought life to his role, but has also taken the film to another level. The praise he has received proves that a great actor with a good role can make a horror film even more memorable.
Tough Year for Horror Films: How Heretic Still Performed Better
2024 has been quite challenging for horror films. Many big horror films have failed to meet expectations. Films like The First Omen, Abigail, and Tarot did not perform well at the box office. This means that this year was not as successful for horror films as was expected earlier.
But still, Heretic proved that a select few films can write a success story. Indie films in particular, such as Terrifier 3 and Longlegs, have done well at the box office. This is a sign that horror films cannot be run solely by big studios, but need good direction, amazing scripts and the right acting.
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A New Era in Horror Films?
The good performance of Heretic at the box office is a sign that a new era in horror films may now begin. If this film continues to be successful, it may be a lesson for the big studios to not only rely on big budgets in their releases but also focus on new and creative stories. Also, films made on smaller budgets may now do better, especially when the story and acting are excellent. This may be a new trend where independent makers get more freedom and are able to show something new to the audience.
So, is Heretic setting a new definition of horror film success? Only time will tell the answer to this, but this film has definitely proved that good content, be it a big budget film or a small one, always finds its way to the audience.
Source: Collider