Social media has spoken, and it seems audiences are more interested in a low-budget slasher flick about a killer clown than the highly anticipated “Joker” sequel. In a shocking box office upset, “Terrifier 3” has topped the domestic charts, earning an impressive $18.2 million in its debut weekend. Meanwhile, “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Warner Bros.) has suffered a historic 81% drop in its second week, plunging to a likely fourth-place finish.
The third installment in the “Terrifier” horror franchise, produced on a modest $5 million budget, more than doubled pre-release expectations, pegged for a respectable $8 million opening. Cineverse and its distributor, Iconic, pulled off a savvy social media campaign that resonated with moviegoers, especially the nearly 50% Latino audience.
“Terrifier 3” now finds itself in the unexpected position of box office champion, beating out major studio offerings like “The Wild Robot” (Universal) and the Tim Burton-directed “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros.), which continues to impress in its sixth weekend.
What makes this victory all the more remarkable is that “Terrifier 3” managed to pull it off without an MPAA rating, a rarity in the mainstream movie landscape. This shows the power of building a dedicated fanbase through intelligent marketing and social media engagement.
“It’s an impressive achievement, all the more so without an MPA rating, and it could reach $50 million,” says one industry analyst.
Of course, the real story here is the disastrous performance of “Joker: Folie à Deux.” The sequel to the 2019 blockbuster “Joker” fell a staggering 81% in its second weekend, setting a new record for the worst second-week decline for a comic book movie.
To put that in perspective, “The Marvels” previously held the dubious record, dropping 78% in its second outing. But “Folie à Deux” has managed to eclipse even that in what can only be described as a spectacular box office collapse.
Warner Bros. claims the film earned $7.055 million this weekend, narrowly edging “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” for third place. However, other studios have placed the “Joker” sequel closer to $6.6-6.7 million, which would land it in fourth place.
Regardless of the exact figure, it’s clear that the highly anticipated “Joker” follow-up, with its reported $300 million production and marketing budget, is struggling mightily. The film’s global box office total now stands at $165.3 million, a far cry from the original “Joker’s” impressive $1 billion haul.
“Expect ‘Joker 2,’ with $300 million or more in production/marketing expenses, to reach perhaps $225 million worldwide,” one box office analyst notes. “The 2019 ‘Joker’ with lower ticket prices passed $1 billion. That’s another historic drop.”
The rapid rise of “Terrifier 3” and the sudden collapse of “Joker: Folie à Deux” reflect social media’s immense power in shaping audience perceptions and box office outcomes.
While Warner Bros. spent a fortune on premieres, marketing, and other promotional efforts for “Folie à Deux,” that only served to amplify the adverse reaction that ultimately prevailed, meanwhile, the “Terrifier” franchise has built a loyal following through savvy social media engagement, allowing the latest installment to punch above its weight.
It’s a stark reminder that even big-budget, high-profile releases are no match for the collective power of online tastemakers and superfans. In an era where word-of-mouth can make or break a film, the “Terrifier 3” victory over “Joker 2” is a cautionary tale for studios banking on established IP and massive marketing budgets.
As the battle of the killer clowns rages on, one thing is clear: the box office belongs to Art the Clown this weekend. The horror fans have spoken, and they’re more interested in an indie slasher than the latest big-screen outing for the Clown Prince of Crime.
It’s a surprising and somewhat unsettling development that underscores the ever-evolving landscape of the movie industry. In this new era, the path to box office success seems paved with a healthy dose of social media savvy and a willingness to embrace the macabre.