The Neon Demon

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The Neon Demon

R

2016

1h 57m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

264 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles just after her 16th birthday to launch a career as a model. The head of her agency tells the innocent teen that she has the qualities to become a top star. Jesse soon faces the wrath of ruthless vixens who despise her fresh-faced beauty. On top of that, she must contend with a seedy motel manager and a creepy photographer. As Jesse starts to take the fashion world by storm, her personality changes in ways that could help her against her cutthroat rivals.

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Critics Consensus

The Neon Demon is seductively stylish, but Nicolas Winding Refn's assured eye can't quite compensate for an underdeveloped plot and thinly written characters.

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K. Austin Collins

The Ringer

Aug 10, 2017

The Neon Demon is Refn's best movie, or at least the one that best matches his style to his subject.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Mar 21, 2017

D

The photograph is stunning. But the story is a hot mess.

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Adam Nayman

Cineaste Magazine

Nov 8, 2016

That everything is intended in bad taste is one thing; that it's all finally more bland than bitter is another.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 14, 2026

C+

Like the hackneyed runway model, ‘The Neon Demon’ is all external flash, little internal substance. For the most part.

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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 10, 2026

Whether viewers are captivated by the film or enraged by it, Refn has succeeded in everything he sought out to accomplish with The Neon Demon.

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Atreyo Palit

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 9, 2026

4.5/5

With haunting imagery, The Neon Demon meticulously critiques an industry that seems to run on the philosophy that "True beauty is the highest currency we have."

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Liam D

@Mediawatcher2003 Oct 24, 2026

A beautiful nightmare. Nicolas Winding Refn‘s psychological LA set horror is as beautiful as it is shocking with some spectacular performances and an awesome soundtrack and might by my favourite film from the danish auteur

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B P

@Bradster69 Sep 15, 2026

Not Bad, but Not My Favorite

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Griffith J

@griffithxjohnson Aug 6, 2026

Another strange fever dream from Refn that doesn’t quite live up to its own vision & potential. Yet it looks amazing with truly striking visuals & lighting that carry a clearly crafted tone. It’s very uncomfortable with a hostel & unsafe atmosphere at all times as each character feels untrustworthy from the start. There is almost a music video type of approach to some scenes with a score that pops & builds up the glamour of this film’s theme. An interesting idea to showcase the morally bankrupt issues that plague the fashion industry but it’s all heavy handed & underdeveloped.

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Anthony F

@BokehMonster Jul 24, 2026

I dug it. Neon Demon immediately sets a vivid mood of the seductive power of raw beauty and the creatures who feed off of it. I loved the pace of the story, most of the casting/acting (sorry Keanu, not a good role for *anyone*), and each scene seemed to have a very strong direction that was self contained, well executed, and stylish -- sometimes at the cost of making the story feel choppy. And then of course, the whole story falls off the rails and it's never going to be called a great movie, but absolutely worth a watch if you like NWR's other work or stylish genere films in general.

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steven A

@steve395 Apr 3, 2026

one of the worst scripts and convoluted films of all times. the only positive was the cinematography. why would anyone finance this and why would Fanning appear in it?

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Buddy W

@BuddyW Feb 8, 2026

I like crap, but man this thing sucked. I can appreciate art-house movies (look at my review for Jack Be Nimble), but (insert curse word) did this movie suck. And the ending defies head scratching stupidity. I was actually angry that I'd wasted my time watching it.

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Nicolas Winding Refn

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Synopsis

Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles just after her 16th birthday to launch a career as a model. The head of her agency tells the innocent teen that she has the qualities to become a top star. Jesse soon faces the wrath of ruthless vixens who despise her fresh-faced beauty. On top of that, she must contend with a seedy motel manager and a creepy photographer. As Jesse starts to take the fashion world by storm, her personality changes in ways that could help her against her cutthroat rivals.

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Producer: Lene Børglum, Sidonie Dumas, Vincent Maraval, Nicolas Winding Refn
Screenwriter: Nicolas Winding Refn, Mary Laws, Polly Stenham
Distributor: Amazon Studios, Broad Green Pictures
Production Co: Space Rocket Nation, Gaumont, Wild Bunch, Bold Films, Vendian Entertainment
Rating: R (Bloody Images|A Scene of Aberrant Sexuality|Disturbing Violent Content|Graphic Nudity|Language)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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