Terrifier 3 Claims No. 1 Spot At Box Office As Joker: Folie a Deux Struggles – News18

It appears that there are no signs of revival for Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux, as Terrifier 3 has decisively claimed the No. 1 spot at the box office this weekend. The supernatural slasher, featuring David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown, took the top position with an estimated £18.3 million. Meanwhile, DreamWorks’ animated film, The Wild Robot, continued to perform well, securing the No. 2 position in its third weekend by adding another £13.5 million to its global total of £148 million. In stark contrast, Joker: Folie à Deux suffered a significant drop in its second weekend, earning only £7 million, indicating an alarming 81% decline. This marks the worst second-weekend performance for any comic book film.

The musical sequel to Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, hit cinemas on October 4, but its opening weekend was disappointing, generating only £37 million. This figure falls below that of recent superhero films, such as Morbius (£39 million), The Marvels (£46 million), and DC’s own The Flash (£55 million). So far, Joker: Folie à Deux has made £165 million globally and is projected to finish with around £57 million in the domestic market.

In contrast, the original Joker film debuted in 2019 with an impressive £39.3 million opening weekend, ultimately grossing £335 million in the US and over £1.06 billion worldwide. This achievement made it the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time until it was surpassed by Deadpool and Logan this past summer.

The current performance of Joker: Folie à Deux poses a serious challenge for Warner Bros., especially given the original film’s blockbuster success. With a hefty budget of £200 million, compared to the original’s £65 million, Joker: Folie à Deux needs to earn at least £450 million to break even. The sequel has faced significant criticism, which may affect its longevity in cinemas. While there was considerable online excitement prior to its release, many viewers have been disappointed by its musical format. It has also received the lowest grade ever for a comic book film, with a “D” CinemaScore.

On the other hand, Terrifier 3, directed by Damien Leone, has emerged as a standout at the box office. This Christmas-themed slasher is the sequel to Terrifier 2 (2022) and marks the third instalment in the Terrifier franchise. The film features a talented cast, including Lauren Lavera, Elliott Fullam, Margaret Anne Florence, Bryce Johnson, Antonella Rose, Samantha Scaffidi, and David Howard Thornton.

Terrifier 3 has received strong audience feedback, earning a “verified hot” rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It also garnered a solid “B” CinemaScore from audiences on opening day.