The Neon Demon

The Neon Demon
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNicolas Winding Refn
Screenplay by
Story byNicolas Winding Refn
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyNatasha Braier
Edited byMatthew Newman
Music byCliff Martinez
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 20, 2016 (2016-05-20) (Cannes)
  • June 8, 2016 (2016-06-08) (France)
  • June 9, 2016 (2016-06-09) (Denmark)
  • June 24, 2016 (2016-06-24) (United States)
Running time
117 minutes[1]
Countries
  • France
  • Denmark
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$7.5 million[2]
Box office$3.6 million[2]

The Neon Demon is a 2016 psychological horror film[3] directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, co-written by Mary Laws, Polly Stenham, and Refn, and starring Elle Fanning. The plot follows an aspiring model in Los Angeles whose beauty and youth generate intense fascination and envy within the fashion industry. Supporting roles are played by Karl Glusman, Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote, Abbey Lee, Desmond Harrington, Christina Hendricks, and Keanu Reeves.

An international co-production between France, Denmark, and the United States, the film competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival,[4][5] the third consecutive film directed by Refn to do so, following Drive (2011) and Only God Forgives (2013). In the United States, the film was released theatrically on June 24, 2016 by Amazon Studios and Broad Green Pictures. It opened to polarized reviews with praise for Refn's direction, Malone and Fanning's performances, Martinez's score and particular praise for Braier's cinematography, with the screenplay and graphic content receiving criticism. It ultimately grossed $3.6 million against a production budget of $7.5 million.[2]

  1. ^ "The Neon Demon (18)". British Board of Film Classification. June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "The Neon Demon (2016)". The Numbers. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  3. ^ Tallerico, Brian (June 20, 2016). "A Horror Film About Beauty: Nicolas Winding Refn & Elle Fanning on "The Neon Demon" - Interviews - Roger Ebert".
  4. ^ "2016 Cannes Film Festival Announces Lineup". IndieWire. April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  5. ^ "Cannes 2016: Film Festival Unveils Official Selection Lineup". Variety. April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.