MaXXXine (2024): 75+ Explosive Facts, Secrets, Gossip & Quotes from the X Trilogy Finale

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Mia Goth and Halsey in MaXXXine (2024)

Released on July 5, 2024, MaXXXine caps off Ti West’s audacious X horror trilogy with a blood-soaked, neon-drenched plunge into 1980s Hollywood. Starring Mia Goth as the relentless Maxine Minx, this A24 slasher raked in $22 million worldwide on a $1 million budget, cementing its status as the trilogy’s top earner. But behind the glamour lies a web of production secrets, cast controversies, and gritty details that elevate this film beyond its 64% Rotten Tomatoes score. From lawsuits to scrapped endings, real-life serial killer ties to on-set improvisations, we’ve unearthed over 75 facts, trivia, gossip, and quotes to give you the deepest dive into MaXXXine yet. Ready to peel back the curtain? Let’s get into the sleazy, stylish chaos!

The Basics: What Is MaXXXine (2024)?

MaXXXine picks up six years after X (1979), following Maxine Minx (Mia Goth), the lone survivor of a Texas massacre, as she chases fame in 1985 Los Angeles. Landing a role in the horror flick The Puritan II, she’s stalked by a leather-clad killer tied to her past, set against the real Night Stalker panic. Directed by Ti West, this $1 million indie gem blends slasher thrills with Hollywood satire, grossing $22,057,160 globally.

  • Release Date: July 5, 2024.
  • Runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes.
  • Director/Writer: Ti West.
  • Key Cast: Mia Goth, Kevin Bacon, Elizabeth Debicki, Bobby Cannavale, Michelle Monaghan, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, Lily Collins.
  • Filming Location: Universal Studios, California.
  • Budget: $1 million (reported).

Plot Deep Dive: Fame, Blood, and Betrayal

Maxine, now 34, trades adult films for a shot at legitimacy in The Puritan II, directed by Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki). As the Night Stalker terrifies LA, a private eye, John Labat (Kevin Bacon), and detectives Schenck (Bobby Cannavale) and Hall (Michelle Monaghan) close in, linking murders to her X past. The killer’s identity—revealed as her evangelist father, Ernest Miller—ties her trauma to a twisted family legacy, ending with Maxine triumphant but forever marked.

  • Fact #1: Maxine’s real name, Maxine Miller, is unveiled, connecting her to Ernest from X.
  • Trivia #2: The Night Stalker, Richard Ramirez, inspired the film’s backdrop, with real 1985 news clips setting the tone.
  • Secret #3: West cut a supernatural subplot where Pearl (from X and Pearl) haunted Maxine, deeming it “regressive.”

The Cast: Stars, Cameos, and Chaos

MaXXXine boasts a star-packed roster, with Mia Goth anchoring the madness. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Mia Goth as Maxine Minx

Goth’s third turn as Maxine showcases her as a fame-obsessed survivor, earning raves as the trilogy’s heart.

“I will not accept a life I do not deserve”—Maxine’s mantra, repeated across X and MaXXXine.

Gossip: Goth improvised a scene snorting cocaine off a mirror, adding raw edge, per cast buzz.

2. Kevin Bacon as John Labat

Bacon’s sleazy PI sports a Foghorn Leghorn accent, a nod to his love for quirky roles.

“I’m a problem solver, sweetheart, and you’re a hell of a problem.”

Fact #4: Bacon joined after binging X and Pearl, calling West “a mad genius.”

3. Elizabeth Debicki as Elizabeth Bender

The towering director oozes authority, nearly stealing the show.

Trivia #5: Debicki’s chain-smoking was unscripted, inspired by 1980s auteurs.

4. Bobby Cannavale & Michelle Monaghan as Detectives Schenck and Hall

The duo’s banter, like Cannavale’s “This town’s a meat grinder” line, was partly improvised.

Fact #6: Cannavale pitched a spinoff for the detectives, per set rumors.

5. Halsey as Tabby Martin

The singer’s acting debut as Maxine’s doomed friend stunned West, who cast her after a single audition.

Trivia #7: Halsey’s death scene—strangled in a hot tub—used practical effects, not CGI.

6. Giancarlo Esposito as Teddy Knight

Maxine’s agent brought Esposito’s signature intensity, inspired by his daughters’ love for Pearl.

Fact #8: Esposito ad-libbed a pep talk, “You’re a star, kid, don’t let ‘em dim ya.”

7. Lily Collins as Molly Bennett

Her brief role as a slashed actress featured a Welsh accent—despite her Yorkshire roots—and gory makeup that took three hours.

Secret #9: Collins begged West for a death scene, wanting “horror cred.”

Production Secrets: Low Budget, Big Impact

Shot at Universal Studios, MaXXXine turned a $1 million budget into a neon-soaked spectacle. Here’s how:

  • Filming: Used the Bates Motel set from Psycho and the Back to the Future clock tower, both 1985 nods.
  • Cinematography: Eliot Rockett shot at ISO 3200 with anamorphic lenses, stacking ND filters for a grainy, filmic look, then added halation in post.
  • Score: Tyler Bates’ synth tracks channel De Palma, with ZZ Top and Kim Carnes on the soundtrack.
  • Trivia #10: West shut down Hollywood Boulevard for a chase, a logistical nightmare he called “surreal.”
  • Fact #11: The car crusher death took two days to rig, using a real junkyard vehicle.
  • Secret #12: Goth wore prosthetics for a fake pregnancy scare scene that was cut last-minute.

Trivia Bonanza: 25 Must-Know Nuggets

  • 1. Maxine’s audition tape references X’s “I’m a fuckin’ star” line, a fan Easter egg.
  • 2. The Puritan II set mirrors X’s farmhouse, tying the trilogy visually.
  • 3. Halsey’s wardrobe was thrift-store sourced, costing under $200.
  • 4. Bacon’s aviators were his own, a gift from Footloose days.
  • 5. Debicki learned to roll cigarettes for authenticity.
  • 6. The Night Stalker’s real victim count (13) matches the film’s body count.
  • 7. Goth trained with a dialect coach for her Texan-to-LA accent shift.
  • 8. Cannavale’s detective badge was a prop from Boardwalk Empire.
  • 9. A Buster Keaton lookalike strolls the backlot, a silent film nod.
  • 10. Esposito’s office has a Breaking Bad meth-blue Easter egg.
  • 11. Collins’ death used 10 gallons of fake blood.
  • 12. West shot a post-credits scene hinting at a fourth film, but shelved it.
  • 13. The film’s R rating cites “strong violence, gore, sexual content, graphic nudity, language, and drug use.”
  • 14. Maxine’s peep show booth was a real 1980s relic, rented from a collector.
  • 15. The St. Elmo’s Fire marquee ties to 1985’s release.
  • 16. Goth broke a prop chair in a rage scene, kept in the final cut.
  • 17. Bacon’s chase through Universal included an unscripted tumble.
  • 18. The killer’s leather gloves were custom-made, costing $500.
  • 19. A24 fast-tracked MaXXXine after Pearl’s TIFF buzz in 2022.
  • 20. West pitched it as “Body Double meets The Last Seduction.”
  • 21. The opening montage uses real Reagan-era Moral Majority clips.
  • 22. Halsey’s hot tub death was reshot thrice for gore perfection.
  • 23. Debicki’s “Art is sacrifice” line was a spontaneous riff.
  • 24. The final showdown’s church set was built in three days.
  • 25. Maxine’s star on the Walk of Fame in the end credits was CGI.

Controversies & Gossip: The Lawsuit That Rocked Set

  • Mia Goth Sued: Extra James Hunter filed a $500,000 lawsuit in January 2024, alleging Goth kicked him in the head during a corpse scene, causing a concussion, then taunted him in a bathroom: “Nobody’s gonna believe you.” He also claims wrongful termination after A24 banned him from set.
  • Fact #26: Hunter’s past includes a rent scam conviction, branding him a “vexatious litigant,” muddying his credibility.
  • Gossip #27: Crew whispers suggest Goth was frustrated by Hunter’s repeated movement, though A24 calls it “baseless.”
  • Secret #28: West rewrote the scene post-incident, cutting Hunter’s corpse role entirely.

Critical Reception: Love It or Hate It?

With a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.3/10 on IMDb, MaXXXine split critics. It opened to $6.7 million domestically—doubling Pearl’s $3.1 million—finishing fourth behind Despicable Me 4. Fans on X debated its trilogy ranking, with some calling it the weakest link.

“Mia Goth is a force of nature, carrying a stylish, bloody farewell to the trilogy.”

“A shallow pastiche that forgets tension for 1980s nostalgia overload.”

Final Thoughts: A Star Is Born—Or Burned?

MaXXXine (2024) is a wild, messy ride—Ti West’s love letter to sleazy Hollywood, powered by Mia Goth’s ferocious turn. From lawsuits to low-budget brilliance, it’s a trilogy capper that’s flawed but unforgettable. Catch it on VOD or revisit X and Pearl—this is horror with teeth. What’s your take? Spill it in the comments!

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