Indie horror film Terrifier 3 set to dethrone Joker: Folie à Deux at Weekend Box Office

Cineverse’s low-budget hit is capitalizing on strong pre-sales and word-of-mouth.

In an unexpected turn at the weekend box office, Terrifier 3, an unrated gory slasher film from indie studio Cineverse, is projected to gross over $11 million, potentially knocking Warner Bros.' Joker: Folie à Deux out of the top spot. Despite Joker 2's major studio backing and large-scale release, its performance has been underwhelming, with a $37.6 million opening and weaker-than-expected mid-week earnings of $1.8 million on Monday and $2.6 million on Tuesday.

Terrifier 3, directed by Damien Leone and starring David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown, is positioned to outperform Joker: Folie à Deux, which has received a disappointing D CinemaScore. Early reports suggest a 70% drop for Joker 2 this weekend, which could bring its earnings down to $8-11 million, making room for the indie horror flick to take the lead.

This success follows Cineverse’s lucrative run with Terrifier 2, which grossed nearly $11 million domestically on a shoestring budget. For Terrifier 3, Cineverse invested less than $5 million in production and under $1 million in marketing, relying heavily on word-of-mouth and targeted promotion through its own platforms like ScreamBox, Bloody Disgusting, and podcasts. The film is scheduled to play in 2,300 theaters, with Thursday previews already selling out across several locations.

The film continues the terrifying tale of Art the Clown, who unleashes chaos on the residents of Miles County on Christmas Eve. With early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes sitting at 88%, Terrifier 3 has quickly become a fan favorite in the horror community.

Meanwhile, other wide releases this weekend are not expected to perform as strongly. Sony’s critically acclaimed Saturday Night, a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of Saturday Night Live, is anticipated to bring in $3.5-$5 million from 2,300 locations. Focus Features’ documentary Piece by Piece, which highlights Pharrell Williams’ journey in LEGO form, is projected to earn between $3M and $5M from 1,851 sites. Lastly, Briarcliff Entertainment's biopic The Apprentice, about a young Donald Trump, is expected to generate low single-digit millions from 1,740 theaters, despite controversy surrounding its Cannes Film Festival premiere.

As Terrifier 3 gears up for a major opening, the indie horror genre continues to prove its box office power, standing tall against big-budget Hollywood releases.