Neon has given up on Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Her Private Hell,” which lost 500 theaters and plunged 90% from its already abysmal opening weekend, grossing just $50K for a per-theater average of $358.
The budget has not been disclosed by Neon, but I would imagine it’s in the $15-20M range. Hey, listen, you want to see arthouse cinema thrive, but too many moviegoers were turned off by the toxic reviews, including a 43% on RT, a 44 on MC, and a 4.9/10 on IMDb. If the film had been eligible for a CinemaScore, it could have received an F.
Here’s what I wrote last week:
NEON had financed “Her Private Hell,” no doubt believing that Refn would return to Cannes the following year. And he did, but not in his usual Competition slot—instead, he was relegated to an out-of-competition premiere, which was already a sign that this might not be up to the standard of his previous work.
But honestly, as someone who has defended Refn for years—especially “Drive” and “The Neon Demon”—this latest film is not good. There’s only so far gorgeous visuals and an incredible score can carry a movie before you realize there’s barely any story to hold onto, and you completely disengage.
Refn’s highly atmospheric, nontraditional storytelling has become increasingly inaccessible. Sure, the film does have a narrative, but it massively prioritizes mood over storytelling. This is basically Nicolas Winding Refn making a film for Nicolas Winding Refn, and we’re just caught in the crossfire.
Up next for Refn? MUBI is taking the risk by backing his “Maniac Cop” remake, which is supposed to begin shooting in early 2027.