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Neon, an independent film production and distribution company, has launched a full-blown Oscar campaign for one of its biggest hits that graced the theaters this year. Of course, we’re talking about Longlegs, a serial killer horror/thriller movie written and directed by Osgood Perkins and starring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe. The movie was a massive and somewhat surprising success both critically and commercially, and the studio is now funding an Awards season campaign in all the major categories. But we’re left wondering: Is Longlegs an actual contender for an Oscar win in 2025?
To be entirely honest, this is a rather tricky question, and answering it requires taking several different factors — such as the genre, story quality, critical acclaim, and star power — into consideration. Oh, and the competition is also a very important factor. The list of next year’s contenders contains some pretty notable titles, including the recently released Gladiator II, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, Malcolm Washington’s The Piano Lesson, and a bunch of other titles Longlegs has to compete against.
For those who haven’t seen the movie, Longlegs follows an FBI agent, Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), who’s tasked with tracking down Longlegs, an elusive occult serial killer responsible for murdering multiple families throughout Oregon. Each of the families had a nine-year-old daughter born on the 14th of the month, and each of them was done in a way that would suggest a murder-suicide in which a father kills his family and then himself. It’s an interesting story if you’re into serial killer horror films.
Normally, horror movies aren’t looked on as Oscar contenders too favorably, regardless of their popularity. There are many reasons as to why that is; the Academy tends to favor dramas, historical films, and biopics rather than horror movies since the latter typically appeals to niche audiences and might not have the broad appeal needed to sway a wide range of voters. There’s also an issue with modern horror movies often prioritizing jump-scares over storytelling, character development, or artistic merit, which affects their chances of being considered for major awards.
Of course, there have been exceptions, like Silence of the Lambs, which won Best Picture and four other Oscars. William Friedkin’s The Exorcist also fared well at the Oscars, with ten nominations and two wins, despite it being a horror film. But those are exceptions and not the rule. Fortunately, Longlegs can be considered an exception among horror, as it features a fantastic story that has been compared positively to the aforementioned The Silence of the Lambs and even 1995’s Se7en — though neither is strictly horror, but psychological crime thrillers with horror elements.
The story quality is reflected in the film’s box office performance. Longlegs became Neon’s highest-grossing movie ever, surpassing the $53 million domestic gross for Bong Joon Ho‘s Best Picture Oscar-winning Parasite. It earned $74 million domestically and another $52 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $126 million. That might not sound as impressive, considering that blockbusters make billions now, but unlike the majority of blockbuster titles, Longlegs earned the aforementioned $126 million against its production budget of $10 million before printing and marketing.
And lastly, let’s discuss star power. It’s been quite a while since we’ve last seen one of Nicolas Cage’s movies earn an Oscar nod — more than two decades, to be more specific. However, the actor himself certainly isn’t a stranger when it comes to earning the prestigious award, having earned an Oscar for his performance as a suicidal alcoholic in 1995’s Leaving Las Vegas. Although Cage’s role in Longlegs isn’t as big, his portrayal of the maniacal killer and his peek-a-boo-styled appearances are borderline unforgettable and bone-chilling.
Perhaps unforgettable enough to earn him a nomination for the Best Supporting Actor category? Well, that’s also subject to further discussion. Though he had been called the planet’s most unmistakable actor (and he is great at what he does), Cage is no longer enjoying the same level of fame he did during the ‘90s and early 2000s. With that said, his more recent films — such as Dream Scenario, Adaptation, and Pig — were all positively reviewed and praised. Maika Monroe will compete in the Best Actress category, while Osgood Perkins will compete for the Best Director award.
In the end, campaigning is among the most important deciding factors when it comes to Academy Awards. In fact, this is common practice, as studios and filmmakers invest significant resources in promotional efforts to ensure their movies stay on the voters’ minds. Campaigns often include screenings and Q&A sessions, as well as advertising, touring, press releases, and FYC (For Your Consideration) campaigns — the latter of which is aimed directly at Academy members.
Given the story quality, the critical reception, and Cage’s memorable performance, Longlegs might enter an Oscars race. However, to win over Academy voters and show them why this movie is worthy of an Academy Award, Neon would have to get Cage to make more promotional appearances as the ceremony approaches.
The post Is ‘Longlegs’ an Actual Contender for an Oscar Win in 2025? appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
Neon, an independent film production and distribution company, has launched a full-blown Oscar campaign for one of its biggest hits that graced the theaters this year. Of course, we’re talking about Longlegs, a serial killer horror/thriller movie written and directed by Osgood Perkins and starring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe. The movie was a massive and somewhat surprising success both critically and commercially, and the studio is now funding an Awards season campaign in all the major categories. But we’re left wondering: Is Longlegs an actual contender for an Oscar win in 2025?
To be entirely honest, this is a rather tricky question, and answering it requires taking several different factors — such as the genre, story quality, critical acclaim, and star power — into consideration. Oh, and the competition is also a very important factor. The list of next year’s contenders contains some pretty notable titles, including the recently released Gladiator II, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, Malcolm Washington’s The Piano Lesson, and a bunch of other titles Longlegs has to compete against.
For those who haven’t seen the movie, Longlegs follows an FBI agent, Lee Harker (Maika Monroe), who’s tasked with tracking down Longlegs, an elusive occult serial killer responsible for murdering multiple families throughout Oregon. Each of the families had a nine-year-old daughter born on the 14th of the month, and each of them was done in a way that would suggest a murder-suicide in which a father kills his family and then himself. It’s an interesting story if you’re into serial killer horror films.
Normally, horror movies aren’t looked on as Oscar contenders too favorably, regardless of their popularity. There are many reasons as to why that is; the Academy tends to favor dramas, historical films, and biopics rather than horror movies since the latter typically appeals to niche audiences and might not have the broad appeal needed to sway a wide range of voters. There’s also an issue with modern horror movies often prioritizing jump-scares over storytelling, character development, or artistic merit, which affects their chances of being considered for major awards.
Of course, there have been exceptions, like Silence of the Lambs, which won Best Picture and four other Oscars. William Friedkin’s The Exorcist also fared well at the Oscars, with ten nominations and two wins, despite it being a horror film. But those are exceptions and not the rule. Fortunately, Longlegs can be considered an exception among horror, as it features a fantastic story that has been compared positively to the aforementioned The Silence of the Lambs and even 1995’s Se7en — though neither is strictly horror, but psychological crime thrillers with horror elements.
The story quality is reflected in the film’s box office performance. Longlegs became Neon’s highest-grossing movie ever, surpassing the $53 million domestic gross for Bong Joon Ho‘s Best Picture Oscar-winning Parasite. It earned $74 million domestically and another $52 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $126 million. That might not sound as impressive, considering that blockbusters make billions now, but unlike the majority of blockbuster titles, Longlegs earned the aforementioned $126 million against its production budget of $10 million before printing and marketing.
And lastly, let’s discuss star power. It’s been quite a while since we’ve last seen one of Nicolas Cage’s movies earn an Oscar nod — more than two decades, to be more specific. However, the actor himself certainly isn’t a stranger when it comes to earning the prestigious award, having earned an Oscar for his performance as a suicidal alcoholic in 1995’s Leaving Las Vegas. Although Cage’s role in Longlegs isn’t as big, his portrayal of the maniacal killer and his peek-a-boo-styled appearances are borderline unforgettable and bone-chilling.
Perhaps unforgettable enough to earn him a nomination for the Best Supporting Actor category? Well, that’s also subject to further discussion. Though he had been called the planet’s most unmistakable actor (and he is great at what he does), Cage is no longer enjoying the same level of fame he did during the ‘90s and early 2000s. With that said, his more recent films — such as Dream Scenario, Adaptation, and Pig — were all positively reviewed and praised. Maika Monroe will compete in the Best Actress category, while Osgood Perkins will compete for the Best Director award.
In the end, campaigning is among the most important deciding factors when it comes to Academy Awards. In fact, this is common practice, as studios and filmmakers invest significant resources in promotional efforts to ensure their movies stay on the voters’ minds. Campaigns often include screenings and Q&A sessions, as well as advertising, touring, press releases, and FYC (For Your Consideration) campaigns — the latter of which is aimed directly at Academy members.
Given the story quality, the critical reception, and Cage’s memorable performance, Longlegs might enter an Oscars race. However, to win over Academy voters and show them why this movie is worthy of an Academy Award, Neon would have to get Cage to make more promotional appearances as the ceremony approaches.
The post Is ‘Longlegs’ an Actual Contender for an Oscar Win in 2025? appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
Thanksgiving is a day for food, family, and films that make you grateful for your own life, no matter how messy it gets. These movies serve up drama, comedy, and heart, all centered around the quirkiest and most chaotic holiday of the year. Grab some sweet potato pie (or a second helping of stuffing) and check out these Thanksgiving classics.
Soul Food
In the movie Soul Food, food is love, even when family is messy.
This iconic drama showcases a Black family navigating their relationships after the matriarch falls ill. Centered around Sunday dinners that feel like Thanksgiving every week, this film beautifully captures how food brings families together — even when things fall apart. Critically acclaimed for its relatable storytelling and strong performances, Soul Food is a poignant reminder of the importance of family, making it a perfect watch during Thanksgiving or any time of the year. The movie inspired a successful TV series of the same name, extending its legacy of celebrating family bonds. And who can forget the Boyz II Men “Mama” track?
Black Friday
Black Friday is a horror-comedy that cleverly blends the chaos of holiday shopping with a zombie apocalypse. Directed by Casey Tebo, the film stars Devon Sawa, Bruce Campbell, and Michael Jai White. It follows a group of overworked toy store employees who must fend off hordes of shoppers transformed into parasitic monsters during the titular shopping event. The film delivers a chaotic blend of holiday satire and campy horror mixed with comedy, making it an entertaining choice for fans of genre mashups.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Prepare for the ultimate travel nightmare in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
Steve Martin and John Candy give us the funniest road trip of all time, as an uptight businessman and an overly friendly shower-ring salesman try to make it home for Thanksgiving. Cue misadventures, hilariously bad luck, and a surprisingly heartfelt ending. It’s like Thanksgiving dinner: frustrating, exhausting, and ultimately worth it. The movie chronicles their misadventures as they try to get Neal (Martin) home to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving.
What starts as a straightforward journey devolves into a chaotic series of mishaps involving canceled flights, wrecked rental cars, and awkward hotel stays. The comedic clashes between Martin’s straight-laced demeanor and Candy’s larger-than-life personality create unforgettable moments, from the iconic “those aren’t pillows!” scene to Del’s hilariously upbeat monologues.
Why Did I Get Married?
Secrets, sex and a little dinner party drama are revealed in Why Did I Get Married?
Tyler Perry’s romantic comedy doesn’t take place on Thanksgiving per se, but with a Thanksgiving storyline of family gathering, contemplation and reunion, it’s a perfect holiday movie. And then there are the cabin retreat moments which just sounds like a family Thanksgiving break scene. One of the movie’s major points is about the necessity of candor and openness in maintaining love. Why Did I Get Married? is a well-done emotional piece mixed with good fun humor which is easy to enjoy for everyone. The film was successful at the box office and launched the sequel Why Did I Get Married Too? Which continued the stories of the characters.
Home For The Holidays
Family dysfunction with an all-star cast is what Home For The Holidays brings to the table.
It’s a Jodie Foster dramedy with Holly Hunter as a widowed woman fighting her family to survive Thanksgiving. This one, with Robert Downey Jr. as her pompous, messianic brother, hits the comedy and awkwardness of family reunions. It isn’t necessarily a Thanksgiving movie but it is family-centric, romantic, and hilarious, so this is a great film to watch around the holidays. Home for the Holidays has a reputation for having great lines, good acting, and its balance between humor and drama.
The Oath
There’s no talk of politics and pie in the wacky comedy The Oath.
Dark comedy about family drama, The Oath shows what happens when Thanksgiving becomes political. It stars Ike Barinholtz and Tiffany Haddish and it’s an icky comedy – and painfully relatable one. The movie takes place in a near-future America in which all citizens sign a government loyalty oath and Chris (Barinholtz) is coerced into doing so even though he believes the government to be highly corrupt. During the festive dinner, which is being held between his extended family, it becomes a theater of political conflict, a spectacle of absurd and perilous madness.
Addams Family Values
Addams Family Values is indeed a Thanksgiving film. Turkey Day, meets Wednesday Addams, here.
The Addams Family fawns over Thanksgiving during a hilariously gory rendition of “The First Thanksgiving” at summer camp. The dark comedy is the sequel to the 1989 smash The Addams Family. This movie picks up where Gomez (Raul Julia), Morticia (Anjelica Huston) left off with their eccentric kids, Wednesday (Christina Ricci) and Pugsley (Jimmy Workman). A Thanksgiving story, Addams Family Values is a Christmas satire. The movie plays a joke between the conventional, clean, Thanksgiving society and the Addams family and their wacky, unconventional lifestyle.
Get your family together this holiday season, get out some leftovers, and put one (or more) of these Thanksgiving specials on the table for an epic movie feast. Remember to watch the classic cable programming year-round shows such as the Macy’s Day Parade and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. I cannot go a day without watching at least one of those shows! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
The post Must-Watch Films for Thanksgiving Chaos and Comedy appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
Composite by India Espy-Jones 
In an industry where there is an overwhelming amount of product launches daily, Product Of The Week helps you cut through the noise. To help you find your new beauty and wellness favorites, this series highlights the tried-and-true products that our writers can’t live without.
2024 has been the year of lip balms and lip oils, with most beauty brands releasing at least one version of these products. The trend in lip balms, however, found a new standard set by indie brand EADEM with its Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm.
EADEM is known for its stellar products and formulas that work for everyone, but specially cater to the diverse needs of BIPOC skin. When the brand released their lip balm, it was only natural to give it a try, as the results were expected to be more than favorable.
At its core, this lip balm is a multifunctional product that combines exfoliation and moisturization. The inclusion of AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) helps to gently remove dead skin cells, addressing the issue of dry, flaky lips.
Meanwhile, the peptides in the formula work to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the lip area, promoting a smoother, more youthful look. Other key ingredients such as lactic acid, African mongongo butter and moringa oil work together to ensure that the lips stay plump, soft and kissable.
One of the standout features of Le ChouChou is its incorporation of signal peptides, which provide a natural plumping effect, enhancing the fullness of the lips without the need for more invasive treatments. This plumping action, combined with the balm’s glossy finish, creates a visually appealing effect that can boost confidence whether worn alone or as a base for other lip products such as lip liners, glosses or lipsticks.
Le ChouChou, offering five universal shades suitable for all lip tones and shapes, stands out for its inclusivity, particularly for those with two-toned lips common among people with melanin-rich skin. Unlike many lip balms that emphasize this feature, EADEM has thoughtfully addressed it during formulation.
Among the range, two shades have captured my attention: “Butter Mochi,” a buttery clear shade perfect for day and night treatment (I literally sleep in the bed with this), and “Bissap Glaze,” a plum color ideal for any season but especially fitting for fall.
The packaging of these products is equally impressive. The beautifully crafted silver tubes are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional. They arerel="tag">eadem Lip Balm Product Of The Week
The post Product Of The Week: EADEM Le ChouChou Lip Balm appeared first on Essence.