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Terrifier 3 has made a bloody entrance, raking in more than $2.6 million from previews and igniting excitement in horror fans. Meanwhile, Joker: Folie à Deux is struggling to maintain momentum, ending its first week with $44.6 million—a performance that falls below expectations for a high-profile sequel. Could this indie horror sensation claim the top spot at the box office this weekend? Let’s dive into the details.
Terrifier 3: Indie Horror Goes Big
The third installment of the slasher franchise, Terrifier 3, directed by Damien Leone, took the box office by storm with its Thursday previews. Launching at 8 PM, the unrated threequel from Cineverse managed to shock even its creators by pulling in a stunning $2.6 million.
Budget vs. Blockbuster: The Power of Microbudgets
What’s remarkable is that Terrifier 3 is an indie film made on a microbudget of less than $5 million, including marketing and acquisition costs. When compared to major studio productions, this is an astonishing achievement. Its early preview haul puts it on track to potentially topple Warner Bros’ Joker: Folie à Deux from the top of the box office in its second weekend.
Can Terrifier 3 Hold the Lead?
Though its initial numbers are impressive, whether Terrifier 3 can maintain its lead at the box office depends on how well it captures the attention of moviegoers outside its core horror fanbase. So far, Cineverse’s promotional efforts have targeted horror enthusiasts, streaming subscribers, and followers of Bloody Disgusting, a popular horror outlet.
With an expected weekend gross of over $11 million, Terrifier 3 could be on its way to surpassing Joker: Folie à Deux, especially with its 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Terrifier 3’s Box Office Comparison: Holding Its Own
For an indie film with little marketing spend, Terrifier 3 compares favorably with studio films. Take 2018’s First Purge for example, a Blumhouse production with a major studio spend, which took in $17.3 million over three days after earning $2.6 million in previews. Even Warner Bros.’ Evil Dead Rise had slightly lower preview earnings at $2.5 million but ended up grossing $24.5 million in its opening weekend.
These comparisons show that Terrifier 3 isn’t just an outlier—it’s a testament to the increasing power of indie horror films at the box office.
Joker: Folie à Deux’s Struggling Start
On the other side of the box office, Joker: Folie à Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to 2019’s blockbuster Joker, is experiencing slower-than-expected performance. Its first week ended with a gross of $44.6 million, with just $1.1 million coming in on Thursday—a 12% drop from Wednesday.
How Does Joker 2 Compare?
By comparison, the numbers are underwhelming. Joker 2 has fallen behind other major releases like Marvel Studios’ The Marvels, which grossed $54.8 million in its first week, despite being a PG-13 movie and considered a box office flop. However, Joker: Folie à Deux did manage to stay ahead of Furiosa, which ended its first week at $38.9 million.
While these numbers aren’t catastrophic, they are disappointing for a sequel to a film that grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
Indie Films Like Terrifier 3 Shine Against Blockbusters
What makes Terrifier 3‘s success even more compelling is its ability to hold its own against much bigger competitors. Indie films often face an uphill battle when competing against major studio features with extensive marketing budgets and large fanbases. However, Terrifier 3 has proven that a great concept, a strong fanbase, and even modest marketing can create big box office results.
Cineverse CEO’s Take on Terrifier 3’s Success
Cineverse’s Chairman and CEO, Chris McGurk, expressed his excitement over Terrifier 3‘s preview numbers, stating, “This success is proof that a quality indie film can hold its own theatrically despite being unrated and going up against big studio features.” He praised director Damien Leone and producer Phil Falcone for their connection to passionate horror fans, which has played a significant role in the movie’s success.
A Testament to the Power of Horror Fans
Indeed, horror has proven time and again that it’s a genre driven by passionate audiences. Terrifier 3 is just the latest example of how indie horror films can achieve financial success without needing massive marketing budgets or studio backing.
What’s Next for Terrifier 3?
With its strong start, Terrifier 3 is poised to become one of the highest-grossing indie horror films of the year. If it continues to build momentum, there’s a possibility it could challenge even bigger studio films throughout its theatrical run.
Joker: Folie à Deux’s Second Weekend Woes
Meanwhile, Joker: Folie à Deux may face an even steeper decline in its second weekend. With other major releases on the horizon and the initial hype dying down, the film could drop as much as 60%, similar to what happened with The Marvels, which experienced a 72% drop in its second weekend.
Additional Previews: A Mixed Bag
The box office had a few other noteworthy previews last night. The Pharrell Williams LEGO documentary Piece by Piece, directed by Morgan Neville, earned $450K across 1,500 theaters. While the numbers are modest, it’s expected to gross between $3M to $9M over the weekend. The documentary received a solid 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and audience reactions were favorable, with a 60% “definite recommend” score.
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Saturday Night Falls Short
Saturday Night, a Sony movie about the origins of Saturday Night Live, only managed to earn $370K in Thursday previews. Though audiences seem to enjoy the film, with an 84% positive score on PostTrak and 4 1/2 stars, its box office forecast for the weekend remains tepid, with an expected range between $3M and $5M.
The Apprentice Struggles to Find Its Audience
Finally, Briarcliff Entertainment’s The Apprentice, a movie about young Donald Trump and his mentor Roy Cohn, floundered with just $150K in previews. Despite a strong critical reception (79% on Rotten Tomatoes), early audience reactions have been lukewarm, with a low 45% “definite recommend” score.
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Conclusion: Indie Horror Rules, Blockbusters Fall Behind
Terrifier 3 is proof that indie films, particularly in the horror genre, can outshine big-budget productions if they strike the right chord with their audience. Meanwhile, despite high expectations, Joker: Folie à Deux seems to be losing steam quickly. As both films continue their theatrical runs, it will be interesting to see whether Terrifier 3 can maintain its momentum and become a breakout box office hit.
FAQs
1. What is Terrifier 3 about?
Terrifier 3 is the latest installment in the slasher series directed by Damien Leone, featuring the terrifying Art the Clown as he embarks on another violent spree.
2. How did Terrifier 3 perform in previews?
The movie earned over $2.6 million in previews, setting it up for a strong weekend at the box office.
3. Why is Joker: Folie à Deux underperforming?
Despite being highly anticipated, Joker: Folie à Deux hasn’t captured the same level of enthusiasm as the original, leading to lower-than-expected box office numbers.
4. What makes Terrifier 3 stand out?
Its success as a microbudget indie horror film shows that strong fan engagement can make a film successful even without a major marketing budget.
5. What other films had notable previews?
Other previews include the Pharrell Williams LEGO documentary Piece by Piece, which earned $450K, and Saturday Night, which made $370K.
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