NEON’s latest release, ‚The Monkey‘, directed by Oz Perkins, has made a strong debut at the box office, grossing $14 million in its opening weekend. This film, based on a short story by Stephen King, secured the second spot behind ‚Captain America: Brave New World‘, which earned $28.2 million.
Produced on a budget of around $10 million, the film’s financial success comes even before international earnings are accounted for. Despite mixed-to-positive reviews, the low production cost serves as a safety net for future profitability.
This opening marks NEON’s second-largest debut, only behind Perkins‘ previous film, ‚Longlegs‘, which opened to $22.4 million. The performance of ‚The Monkey‘ reinforces the notion that Stephen King’s source material can drive box office success, provided the film is executed well.
The plot follows twin brothers who encounter a cursed wind-up monkey in their childhood, leading to a series of deaths. Years later, they must confront the toy once again as it resumes its deadly spree.
While King adaptations have historically been a mixed bag, with hits like ‚It‘ and misses such as ‚The Dark Tower‘, the recent success of ‚The Monkey‘ illustrates that with the right direction and budget, adaptations of King’s work can still resonate with audiences.
‚The Monkey‘ is currently available in theaters.
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