October 16, 2024: In an unexpected box-office twist this weekend, Terrifier 3, a gory low-budget slasher film from Cineverse, slashed its way to the top, outgrossing major studio releases like Joker: Folie à Deux and the Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice. The bloody sequel, featuring the notorious Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) terrorising a Christmas party, earned a surprising $18.3 million, marking a major success for the indie horror franchise.
Terrifier 3‘s impressive debut comes as a shock, especially considering its modest production and the competition it faced, including Warner Bros.’ Joker: Folie à Deux.
Also Read: “Joker: Folie à Deux” Produced at $200 million Rakes in Measly $121.1 Over The Weekend
Despite high expectations for the much-anticipated Joker sequel, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the film experienced a dramatic 81% drop in its second weekend, bringing in just $7.1 million. This steep decline is particularly unusual for a superhero film, and it sets Joker 2 on a path toward financial disappointment, especially when compared to the success of its 2019 predecessor, which grossed over $1 billion worldwide. The $200 million sequel has so far managed $165.3 million globally, a far cry from what Warner Bros. had likely hoped.
The steep drop for Joker 2 allowed Universal Pictures and DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot to rise into second place, earning $13.4 million in its third weekend. The critically acclaimed animated film, based on Peter Brown’s novel and voiced by Lupita Nyong’o, has now grossed $83.7 million domestically and $148 million globally, solidifying its standing as a family favourite.
Meanwhile, The Apprentice, a biographical drama about Donald Trump’s early years, struggled to make an impact. The film, distributed by Briarcliff Entertainment, opened in 10th place, grossing a meager $1.6 million from 1,740 theaters. Despite the timing of its release during an election year, the film failed to ignite interest among viewers.
“This weekend was a real outlier,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “No one would have predicted that Terrifier 3 would surpass major studio films like Joker 2 and awards hopefuls. It just goes to show that audiences, not expectations, ultimately decide what succeeds at the box office.”
As Terrifier 3 celebrates its surprising victory, Hollywood is left reflecting on a weekend where an ax-wielding clown outpaced both a DC icon and a former U.S. president.
