In a surprising box office twist, the low-budget slasher flick Terrifier 3 is poised to topple the much-hyped Joker: Folie à Deux from the top spot this weekend, proving that sometimes the biggest scares come in the smallest packages.
Industry projections show the unrated threequel raking in an estimated $15 million or more, thanks to a strong $7.7 million Friday haul at 2,514 theaters. That’s a remarkable feat for a film that cost Cineverse, the studio behind it, just $5 million to acquire and promote.
“The early box office numbers putting Terrifier 3 at No. 1 after early previews are far beyond our expectations, and we are thrilled to see how strongly the Terrifier fanbase has come out in support of the franchise’s new chapter,” Cineverse Chairman and CEO Chris McGurk said in a statement.
By comparison, Warner Bros.‘ Joker: Folie à Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 blockbuster, is expected to earn $8 million to $9 million in its second weekend, a steep 77% drop from its debut. That’s a concerning sign for the awards season darling, which had been positioning itself as the big box office draw of the fall.
Of course, it’s still early, and Joker 2’s fortunes could turn around when the whole weekend numbers are tallied. But Terrifier 3’s strong opening is a testament to the power of the horror genre, which continues to defy expectations and lure audiences to theaters in droves.
“This success is proof that a quality indie film can hold its own theatrically despite being unrated and going up against big studio features and buzzy festival darlings,” McGurk added, “and is a testament to [producer] Phil [Falcone] and Damien’s vision and connection to those most passionate about the horror genre.”
Directed by Damien Leone, Terrifier 3 follows the bloodthirsty antics of the iconic Art the Clown, portrayed with gleeful menace by actor David Howard Thornton. The film has been generating plenty of buzz, with reports of audience members fainting and vomiting during particularly gruesome scenes.
But the franchise’s appeal extends far beyond just the hardcore horror fans. Art the Clown has become a cultural phenomenon, with the character spawning Funko Pop toys, popcorn buckets, and other merchandise that have cemented his status as a modern horror icon.
“For Art to be accepted as he has been into the cultural zeitgeist has been fantastic for us,” Thornton told EW. “We never imagined this when we filmed the first (‘Terrifier’) in 2015. We were a low-budget independent film: ‘Who knows if anybody’s going to see this thing?'”
While the Terrifier franchise may not be for the faint of heart, its success at the box office is a testament to the enduring power of the horror genre. In a landscape dominated by blockbusters, superhero movies, and awards season fare, sometimes all audiences want is a good old-fashioned slasher flick to scream at.
And with Terrifier 3 delivering the gruesome goods, it’s no wonder the film is laughing all the way to the bank. As for the rest of the critically acclaimed wide-release entries and aspiring awards darlings, they’re struggling to make their mark, with the likes of Saturday Night, Piece by Piece, and The Apprentice all projected to have lackluster openings.
“This speaks to a greater dilemma regarding moviegoers’ immediate want-to-see when it comes to smaller films and what they decipher on a streaming menu,” the report notes. “Not that these titles were meant for streaming.”
For now, the horror faithful have firmly aligned themselves with Art the Clown, proving that sometimes the most terrifying thing at the theater isn’t the big-budget blockbuster but the low-budget slasher that dares to go where others fear to tread. And with Terrifier 4 already in the works, it’s clear that this killer clown’s reign of terror is far from over.