How a viral internet legend became a box office success despite critical failure
In short: The 2018 horror film Slender Man turned a popular creepypasta into a commercial hit, grossing over 51 million dollars worldwide. Yet, the production was plagued by controversy, studio interference, and negative reviews. Behind the scenes, the project struggled to balance its supernatural premise with the shadow of real-world tragedy.
The film originated from an internet urban legend created by Eric Knudsen in June 2009. By May 2016, Sony Pictures began developing a feature adaptation, hiring screenwriter David Birke to translate the myth of the child-abducting entity to the screen. Sylvain White was later tapped to direct, with principal photography occurring in Massachusetts during the summer of 2017. The final cast included Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, and Jaz Sinclair, who would later receive a Golden Raspberry Award nomination for her performance.
The production faced significant external pressure due to the 2014 stabbing in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, which involved the character. Seeking to mitigate public backlash, Screen Gems mandated a PG-13 rating and ordered the removal of potentially controversial scenes. These cuts, which included footage previously featured in promotional trailers, resulted in noticeable narrative and continuity errors. The controversy led some theater chains, such as Marcus Theatres in Wisconsin, to refuse to screen the movie entirely.
Despite these hurdles, the film debuted on August 10, 2018, earning 11.3 million dollars in its opening weekend. While it achieved a total global gross of 51.7 million dollars against a 10 million dollar budget, critical reception was overwhelmingly poor. Critics panned the screenplay and lack of genuine scares, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting an 8 percent approval rating. Audiences were similarly unimpressed, with CinemaScore polling an average grade of D-minus, marking the project as a commercial success that failed to resonate with viewers or critics alike.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Slender Man (film)
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