Robert Eggers’ reboot of the classic horror treasure, Nosferatu, has made quite the splash at the box office, surpassing an impressive $100 million globally. This makes it the top-grossing film of Eggers’ career, leaving his previous works like The Northman and The Lighthouse biting its dust. Released by Focus Features, Nosferatu reimagines F.W. Murnau’s 1922 classic, bringing Bill Skarsgård into the role of the fearsome Count Orlok, and features Lily-Rose Depp as the object of his vampiric obsession, Ellen Hutter. The film debuted on Christmas Day and since then has raked in $69.4 million domestically, with another $30.6 million coming from international markets.
Nosferatu’s journey at the box office is far from typical for a horror flick. While horror movies tend to experience steep declines after their opening weekends, Nosferatu has shown remarkable staying power. It garnered another $13.2 million in its second weekend across 3,132 theaters, maintaining an impressive stand despite fierce competition. Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King secured the top spot at the box office, boasting $23.8 million in its third weekend. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 zipped into second place with $20.7 million. Nosferatu might not be sitting at the peak, but its consistent numbers are a promising sign of its strong reception.
Speaking of surprises, Nosferatu is outpacing expectations for indie films released this year. According to Variety, it currently ranks third at the domestic box office. Its $100 million turnover against a budget of $50 million is a sure sign of this film’s widespread appeal. This aligns Nosferatu with memorable successes from Focus Features like Coraline (2009) and London Has Fallen (2016). It shards stereotypes of indie films being mere cult classics but never mainstream hits.
Nosferatu rewires the original’s narrative to resonate with contemporary audiences. This time around, we follow Ellen Hutter as she navigates her harrowing entanglement with Count Orlok, played compellingly by Skarsgård. The dynamic cast includes Nicholas Hoult as Thomas Hutter, Ralph Fiennes as Professor Von Franz, and Emma Corrin, ensuring audiences are in for more than just visual frights—they get emotional thrills too.
With these accolades, Robert Eggers is proving that the horror genre knows no bounds—especially when it’s done right. Nosferatu’s performance showcases the potential of mid-budget films to compete on a global stage, possibly inspiring future directors to take creative leaps similar to Eggers.
Closing Credits
Nosferatu’s success underscores the allure of reinventing classic horrors with a modern touch, appealing broadly across markets. It’s a significant win for Eggers and a nod to the market potential of independent productions. As Nosferatu continues to thrive, it sets a benchmark for how indie films can captivate both domestic and international audiences.
