The highly anticipated slasher horror Terrifier 3 has surprisingly cut short the box office run of Joker: Folie à Deux, which stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. Despite initial excitement for the musical sequel, the film has struggled after receiving largely negative reviews. According to a new report by The Wrap, Joker 2 has experienced a significant 82% drop in box office numbers during its second week, a sharp decline that has allowed Terrifier 3 to rise to the top.
A Disappointing Box Office for Joker: Folie à Deux
While Joker: Folie à Deux was expected to dominate the box office as one of the most anticipated films of the year, its performance has fallen far short of expectations. The film opened to $37.8 million in its first weekend, but quickly lost momentum due to negative word of mouth and lackluster reviews. CinemaScore, which gauges audience reaction, gave the film a shocking D rating. The backlash on social media has only fueled further disappointment among fans, leading to a dramatic fall in revenue.
Directed by Todd Phillips, the film features Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as Arthur Fleck, alongside Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, and Catherine Keener. However, the bold choice to turn the sequel into a musical seems to have alienated a significant portion of the audience.
Terrifier 3 Reigns at the Box Office
In contrast, Terrifier 3 has quietly taken the spotlight without the same level of marketing or star power. Released in 2,514 theaters, the slasher horror movie earned $8.1 million on its opening day, including $2.5 million from Thursday previews. The film, starring David Howard Thornton as the sinister Art the Clown, takes place on Christmas Eve and follows his terrorization of the residents of Miles County. Despite its niche genre, Terrifier 3 has managed to resonate with fans of slasher horror, who have praised the film for its intense and gory thrills.
Lauren LaVera, Elliott Fulham, and Luciana Vandette also star in the film, which has become a sleeper hit in the horror genre. The film's success shows that even with minimal promotion, strong word of mouth and a dedicated fanbase can push a film to the top.
What's Next for the Box Office?
As Terrifier 3 continues its rise, the next contender at the box office is The Wild Robot, an animated film from DreamWorks Animation and Universal. Based on the 2016 novel by Peter Brown, the film is enjoying a solid domestic run, crossing the $100 million mark in its third weekend. While Joker 2 struggles, these films are demonstrating the power of variety in today’s box office, with everything from family-friendly animations to slashers finding their own audience.
In a surprising turn of events, Terrifier 3 has proved that a well-crafted horror movie can carve out its own success, even against a highly publicized blockbuster like Joker: Folie à Deux. As the box office landscape shifts, it will be interesting to see how long Terrifier 3 can hold onto its top spot and whether Joker 2 can recover from its steep decline.