While Neon’s most successful film of 2024 is “Longlegs,” “Cuckoo” has also made its way onto every horror fan’s watch list. Since its announcement in August 2021, expectations for the picture have steadily risen, and it is poised to become one of the year’s most critically acclaimed releases.
The movie stars Hunter Schafer from “Euphoria” as Gretchen, a seventeen-year-old girl who moves with her father and his new family to a resort in the German Alps. Although the place feels eerie from the start, Gretchen’s growing sense of dread intensifies when she begins to hear strange noises and experience disturbing visions, realizing she is in grave danger.
Having worked with a modest budget of $7 million, many are curious to learn all the details about the numbers that the studio paid Hunter Schafer’s for leading the production. Here, all that is known.
What did Hunter Schafer earn for ‘Cuckoo’?
Despite being early in her career with only six credits to her name, Hunter Schafer has already made a mark in prominent productions like “Euphoria” and “Kinds of Kindness”. This has led to speculation about whether she commands a seven-figure salary yet.
According to Showbiz Galore, Schafer reportedly earned $550,000 for her performance in “Cuckoo,” her first feature film lead. While this may seem modest, it’s important to note that Neon, a growing player in the horror genre, has not yet reached the payment levels of major industry studios.
For instance, Nicolas Cage is rumored to have received $3 million for his involvement as the antagonist in “Longlegs,” even though he typically commands around $10 million per role.
Despite these figures, many actors are drawn to Neon’s projects for the opportunity to be part of innovative and complex work rather than solely for financial gain. As Schafer mentioned to Vogue, after concluding “Euphoria,” she was eager to take on a role that would allow her to move beyond the teen drama genre. “Cuckoo” reignited her passion for horror films, a genre she cherished during her adolescence and which helped her through difficult times.
With her career on the rise, Schafer is likely to see increased salaries in the near future. Her upcoming projects, including “Blade Runner 2099” and David Lowery’s “Mother Mary,” promise to enhance her global profile and boost her earnings.
