An aspiring model, Jesse, is new to Los Angeles. However, her beauty and youth, which generate intense fascination and jealousy within the fashion industry, may prove themselves sinister.
Where to Watch The Neon Demon
- Dustin GravesAugust 20, 2026A gorgeously shot, slow burn journey with a disappointing destination. Just when the actual horror aspects are finally being revealed and things are getting good—the movie just ends. It would've worked better as a 30-45 minute short. I pretty much had cartoon heart-eyes the whole time for Jena Malone's Ruby though.
- CarbonDJAugust 6, 2026Eye candy for days, great soundtrack, but a little thin on plot. This is a movie that is a whole vibe and does it well, especially for the right audience, but probably not for everyone.
- old_computerAugust 6, 2026Lack luster movie with the same amount of IQ as a Marvel movie. Nothing to see here, move along...
- Garrett WilkinsJuly 2, 2026Strip away the blinding lights and intoxicating electronic score, and The Neon Demon is ultimately telling a story we have seen dozens of times before. Director Nicolas Winding Refn targets the superficiality of the Los Angeles fashion industry, delivering a classic cautionary tale about how innocence is corrupted and chewed up by a predatory system. The underlying lesson isn't groundbreaking, and the narrative can be incredibly difficult to follow as it trades linear logic for pure mood. Yet, while the thematic foundation is well-trodden territory, the film manages to feel entirely distinct because of its hyper-stylized, dark fairy tale execution and a phenomenal, magnetic lead performance by Elle Fanning. Fanning brilliantly anchors the film, tracking a subtle, chilling transformation that keeps you locked in even when the plot becomes overly abstract and totally impenetrable. What elevates the experience from a standard industry critique are the elements that are so impressively shocking they completely reframe the narrative. The film slowly builds an atmosphere of suffocating vanity before shedding its glamorous shell to descend into a grotesque, surreal psychological horror. While the shallow supporting cast, glacial pacing, and frustrating script prevent it from earning a high recommendation, Fanning's performance and the sheer audacity of the final act ensure it remains a uniquely memorable visual experience.
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The Neon Demon was released on June 8, 2016.
The Neon Demon was directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.
The Neon Demon has a runtime of 1h 58m.
The Neon Demon was produced by Sidonie Dumas, Lene Børglum, Nicolas Winding Refn, Vincent Maraval.
An aspiring model, Jesse, is new to Los Angeles. However, her beauty and youth, which generate intense fascination and jealousy within the fashion industry, may prove themselves sinister.
The key characters in The Neon Demon are Jesse (Elle Fanning), Dean (Karl Glusman), Ruby (Jena Malone).
The Neon Demon is rated R.
The Neon Demon is a Horror, Thriller film.
The Neon Demon has an audience rating of 5.1 out of 10.
The Neon Demon had a budget of $7M.
The Neon Demon has made $3.4M at the box office.