In a surprising twist at the weekend box office, Terrifier 3, an unrated slasher film from the indie studio Cineverse, is projected to rake in over $11 million, potentially dethroning Warner Bros.’ Joker: Folie à Deux from the top position. Despite the substantial backing and wide release of Joker 2, its performance has been lackluster, with an opening weekend total of $37.6 million and disappointing mid-week earnings of $1.8 million on Monday and $2.6 million on Tuesday.
Directed by Damien Leone and featuring David Howard Thornton as the notorious Art the Clown, Terrifier 3 appears poised to outshine Joker: Folie à Deux, which has garnered a dismal D CinemaScore. Early indications suggest a staggering 70% drop in box office receipts for Joker 2 this weekend, potentially reducing its earnings to between $8 million and $11 million, thus creating an opening for the indie horror film to seize the lead.
This burgeoning success comes on the heels of Cineverse’s profitable venture with Terrifier 2, which grossed nearly $11 million domestically on a modest budget. For Terrifier 3, Cineverse has invested less than $5 million in production and under $1 million in marketing, relying predominantly on word-of-mouth and targeted promotions via its own platforms such as ScreamBox, Bloody Disgusting, and various podcasts. The film is set to screen in 2,300 theaters, with Thursday previews already sold out in multiple locations.
Continuing the chilling saga of Art the Clown, the film depicts his reign of terror over the residents of Miles County on Christmas Eve. With early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes hovering at an impressive 88%, Terrifier 3 has rapidly gained a devoted following within the horror community.
In contrast, other wide releases this weekend are expected to fare less favorably. Sony’s critically acclaimed documentary Saturday Night, offering an inside look at the early days of Saturday Night Live, is projected to earn between $3.5 million and $5 million from 2,300 theaters. Focus Features’ documentary Piece by Piece, chronicling Pharrell Williams’ journey in LEGO form, is expected to generate between $3 million and $5 million from 1,851 locations. Lastly, Briarcliff Entertainment’s biopic The Apprentice, focused on a young Donald Trump, is anticipated to pull in low single-digit millions from 1,740 theaters, despite the controversy surrounding its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
As Terrifier 3 prepares for a significant opening, the indie horror genre continues to demonstrate its formidable box office appeal, standing resilient against the juggernauts of Hollywood.
