- Shares
- 46
The slasher film Terrifier 3 has carved its niche as the top-grossing film this weekend at the U.S. box office, effortlessly surpassing Joker: Folie à Deux in earnings. Since its debut at Fantastic Fest on 19 September and its U.S. release on 11 October, Terrifier 3 has quickly climbed the North American box office ranks, earning an impressive US$18.3 million in its opening weekend.
The film, a continuation of the cult horror series, outperformed Joker: Folie à Deux significantly, which only garnered US$7 million in its second weekend. This figure marks a stark contrast to Joker 2‘s opening weekend haul of US$37.7 million, highlighting a steep drop in viewership and setting a record for the worst second-weekend decline in the comic book movie genre with an 81% drop.
Terrifier 3 benefits from strong audience approval, reflected in its favourable Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 89% and a B CinemaScore. The film’s success is amplified by its timing, releasing during the Halloween season when horror films traditionally perform well. In contrast, Joker: Folie à Deux has faced significant backlash, evident from its poor critical and audience reception on Rotten Tomatoes and a catastrophic box office performance.
Directed by Chris McGurk and produced on a modest budget of US$2 million, Terrifier 3 not only revitalised the franchise but also demonstrated the continued appeal of low-budget horror films. Meanwhile, Joker: Folie à Deux continues to struggle both domestically and internationally, with a global total just reaching US$165 million. This performance is a stark departure from its predecessor’s billion-dollar gross, underscoring the sequel’s failure to resonate with audiences.
The stark contrast between the performances of Terrifier 3 and Joker: Folie à Deux illustrates a shifting landscape in audience preferences, where traditional horror elements and lower-budget films can outperform higher-budget productions that fail to meet audience expectations.
As Terrifier 3 looks to expand its influence in the horror genre, Joker: Folie à Deux‘s disappointing turnout may signal a reassessment of strategy for future DC films, especially under the stewardship of James Gunn. With Terrifier 4 already confirmed, the franchise is poised to continue its successful run, potentially establishing itself alongside other iconic horror series.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.
