As a horror enthusiast who has braved countless chilling cinematic experiences, I must say that “Terrifier 3” has left me utterly astounded. This film, with its formidable gore and nerve-wracking suspense, is not for the faint-hearted or the weak-willed. It’s a testament to the power of a small budget spent wisely, much like a well-cooked meal made with simple ingredients.
So far, the October box office is looking rather frightening to some. However, for Art the Clown, it’s almost like a festive wonder, similar to Christmas.
Last week, I found myself back in theaters, facing off against the terrifying character brought to life by David Howard Thornton in “Terrifier 3.” This festive sequel to the 2022 blockbuster “Terrifier 2” was written and directed by the series’ creator, Damien Leone. In this chilling continuation, my character, Art, rises from the dead, teaming up with Victoria Heyes (Samantha Scaffidi) after the ending of “Terrifier 2.” The story unfolds as I seek vengeance against Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her brother Jonathan (Elliott Fullam), all set during the Christmas season.
Considering the remarkable performance of “Terrifier 2” at the box office, considering its budget was only $250,000 from crowdfunding, the third installment of the slasher series had a significant burden to meet in terms of financial achievement, cultural influence, and gory intensity. As it stands now, early box office figures hint that it outperformed its predecessor in the first two areas – and accounts of the opening scene in “Terrifier 3” causing nausea among viewers imply it excelled in delivering on that final aspect as well.
How did the little-known independent film manage to reign supreme amidst a bustling week featuring a new DC Comics sequel and a LEGO movie? To find out, we turned to Ryan Scott, our trusted box office expert at /Film.
How much did Terrifier 3 make at the box office?
Currently, the horror film “Terrifier 3” has earned approximately $18.9 million at U.S. and Canadian box offices, securing it a leading position in the North American Top 10. This surpasses Universal Pictures’ family-friendly sci-fi animated feature “The Wild Robot,” which made $14 million domestically this week, coming in second place. In third is Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” with $7.3 million, followed by the unexpected underperformer “Joker: Folie à Deux,” a DC Comics sequel that saw an 80% drop from its debut and grossed only $7 million. Closing out the top five is “Piece by Piece,” the biopic about musician Pharrell Williams, which has been disappointing despite positive reviews, earning just $3.8 million in its opening week.
In summary, box office earnings have been disappointing across all sectors this year, with 2024 falling significantly behind both pre-pandemic years, specifically 2019, and even 2023. The absence of blockbusters like the Taylor Swift concert film, which earned $93.2 million during its October release last year, has been noted by analysts as a contributing factor. For now, it appears that only Art the Clown is showing holiday cheer.
The success of Terrifier 2 built a cult following
As a die-hard fan, I’ve been thrilled to witness the meteoric rise of the “Terrifier” series. While the original film managed a modest few hundred thousand dollars since its release in 2016, even accounting for multiple re-releases, “Terrifier 2” has undeniably secured the franchise’s future with an impressive $800,000 opening and a staggering worldwide total of $15 million. With “Terrifier 3” surpassing its predecessor’s total worldwide gross in the U.S. alone, it’s clear that Art’s reign is just getting started. As Ryan Scott, who shared insights with Looper, puts it, this level of success translates not only to box office receipts but also to heightened visibility. Over the last two years, “Terrifier” has truly established itself as a recognized gem in the horror genre, and “Terrifier 2” was one of the most surprising financial success stories of 2022.
The unique narrative and underdog success tale portrayed in the film have fueled the series’ devoted fanbase, propelling it into mainstream popularity, despite initial Hollywood rejection. Remarkably, there was still significant studio interest in creating more “Terrifier” films, as evidenced by the sequel’s cultural influence. As Scott observes, “Art the Clown is ubiquitous now,” even among individuals who don’t typically watch these movies.
The streaming platform Screambox, managed by Cineverse (the company behind the distribution of “Terrifier”), announced a threefold increase in subscribers following the sensational launch of “Terrifier 2”. This surge in viewership might not come as a shock to individuals like Scott, who have observed the expanding fanbase. As Scott puts it, the acclaim that the films have earned for pushing boundaries, specifically with “Terrifier 2”, has boosted the franchise’s popularity. Now, people are actively seeking out these movies, and this is evident in the surge of interest for the latest installment. It seems the franchise has hit a critical point where it’s gaining significant traction.
Art the Clown is a movie star in his own right
It’s reasonable that some analysts might have underestimated “Terrifier 3” due to the absence of mainstream stars. However, Damien Leone, David Howard Thornton, and Lauren LaVera may be well-known among hardcore horror enthusiasts, but they might not ring a bell for casual moviegoers who are often drawn by A-list pairings like Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in “Deadpool and Wolverine.” But as Ryan Scott pointed out, Art the Clown’s rising status as a horror icon and symbol of Halloween has made him recognizable and potentially profitable as a leading figure. For a movie in this particular sub-genre, this recognition could be more crucial than having a big, costly star attached to the poster.
According to Scott, movie stars can significantly boost a film, as demonstrated by Tom Cruise and Glen Powell. However, when it comes to horror films, especially slashers, the antagonist often takes center stage. In the Terrifier series, Art the Clown has emerged as the main attraction. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to suggest that “Terrifier 3” is lacking in star power, since Art has become a prominent figure in the contemporary horror scene. People are eagerly anticipating his next move, even if it’s something they might later regret having seen. This is what makes him special.
It debuted on an unpredictably dead weekend
Week after week, I’ve noticed how fiercely competitive the movie industry can be, and it often significantly affects a film’s chances of success, barring extraordinary circumstances like the “Barbenheimer effect.” More often than not, this competition tends to have a detrimental impact.
In theory, a low-budget horror film with excessive gore and unrated content would struggle against more critically acclaimed family animations, blockbuster superhero films, or even prestigious award nominees. However, this particular film managed to defy expectations and hold its ground.
Ryan Scott explains that “‘Saturday Night,’ the biopic of SNL from Jason Reitman and Sony Pictures, was destined to have a relatively small theatrical release due to its nature. People are more likely to watch it when it becomes available on streaming platforms. ‘The Wild Robot’ is a beloved film, but it’s currently in its third week of release and didn’t open with a huge box office take like $70 million. The failure of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ created an unusual scenario where ‘Terrifier 3’ found itself in a strong position on what was otherwise a quiet weekend at the box office. This turn of events is just a coincidence, and for the filmmakers, it feels like good luck.
The Joker was no match for this killer clown
It’s not just Ryan Scott, but many other box office analysts who have observed that the initial “Joker” film (which was released in 2019, a time culturally different from the current pandemic-affected box office decline) has been a significant financial success. In fact, it broke records by earning over $1 billion globally, making it the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever until the release of “Deadpool and Wolverine” this year. The original “Joker” started strong with an opening of $92 million, while its sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” has underperformed at the box office, debuting with only $37.6 million. To recoup its costs, it needs to somehow generate $450 million in revenue, considering a production budget of around $200 million, marketing expenses estimated at $100 million, and the share that goes to cinema owners. At this point, it appears set to lose as much as $200 million.
As I eagerly anticipate the release of “Terrifier 3”, it’s fascinating to see the audience’s response unfold. According to PostTrak, via Deadline, a whopping 52% of viewers chose “Terrifier 3” over “Joker: Folie à Deux”, drawn in by the allure of the horror genre. The marketing strategy for “Joker: Folie à Deus”, which seems to be a mix of horror-thriller, musical, and superhero genres, may have failed to evoke the charm of any single genre. Interestingly, 40% of “Terrifier 3” viewers purchased tickets because they’re fans of the series, a loyalty that the forthcoming “Joker” sequel, with its somewhat divisive critical reception, seems to lack.
Word of mouth was scary good
Regarding the feedback on “Terrifier 3”, it has been generally well-received by both critics and viewers. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts a 76% rating from critics, earning the title of being “certified fresh”. Simultaneously, the Popcornmeter (previously known as the audience score) gave it an impressive 89%, labeling it as “certified hot” based on over 1,000 verified ratings. These scores suggest that “Terrifier 3” will likely continue the quality of its storytelling from the previous movie. However, it seems that fans are less focused on the film’s dramatic aspects and more intrigued by its level of horror, gore, and fright factor.
In a glowing 4-out-of-5 star critique for The Guardian, Catherine Bray stated that there are numerous horror films claiming to disturb your soul and make you queasy, but the ones that truly deliver on this promise, especially for seasoned horror enthusiasts, are scarce. I’m happy to share that ‘Terrifier 3′ genuinely lives up to its reputation for being gruesome. This assessment was shared by many critics, whether they expressed it with admiration or revulsion, which is a clear thumbs-up for the series’ devoted followers. As Kim Newman of Empire pointed out, “Terrifier 3” exceeds expectations in terms of excessiveness and offensiveness, making it suitable only for those with strong stomachs and hard hearts. In our own assessment of the film, Looper referred to it as “The Most Extreme, Disgusting Masterpiece Yet.
A small budget was spent wisely
It’s clear that with the movie “Joker: Folie à Deux,” having a massive budget can potentially hinder a film even when it outperforms box office giants like “Terrifier 3” in its opening weekend. The reason it’s predicted to be one of the year’s most successful films isn’t just due to its impressive opening position or $18 million earnings, but because it accomplished this feat on a minuscule budget. In contrast, “Terrifier 3,” which cost only $2 million to make, has likely recouped its entire production cost and could be yielding substantial returns for anyone who invested in it financially.
It’s worth noting that “Terrifier 3” was remarkably effective at locating and captivating its intended viewers, despite having just a tiny fraction of the marketing budget compared to “Joker 2.” According to iSpot (via Deadline), the movie opted out of national advertising and instead relied on an innovative social media strategy similar to what boosted films like “Godzilla Minus One.
Audiences showed up in crowds
Admit it – most of us aren’t daring enough to watch Art the Clown’s recent spree alone. Frankly, considering how enjoyable they claim it is, who would even want to?
It appears that many young cinema-goers attended “Terrifier 3” movies not alone, but as part of a group. According to data from PostTrak (via Deadline), about half of audience members under 25 came with at least one other person – around a third were part of groups of three or more. While “Terrifier 3” isn’t seeing numbers like “Barbenheimer” or Marvel Cinematic Universe films, it seems to be building an audience that values a communal viewing experience. It will be intriguing to see if information arises about repeat viewers purchasing tickets for follow-up screenings. Additionally, over half of the moviegoers surveyed by PostTrak said they would encourage their friends to watch the film in theaters instead of waiting for streaming.
In the year 2024, the infamous Clown War found me, Art the Clown, standing victorious amidst the chaos. With director Damien Leone by my side, we’re now embarking on a contentious journey towards “Terrifier 4.” Though we tread a path that’s shrouded in controversy, one thing is certain – our streak of macabre success isn’t over just yet. This longevity is largely due to strategic budgeting, bone-chilling characters, and above all, the unwavering support from fans who have stood by us throughout this horrifying journey.
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2024-10-15 19:30