Jigsaw, take note: “Terrifier 3” will be released in time for the holidays the following year.
Which holiday, you ask? Well, Oct. 25, 2024, makes “Terrifier 3” a Halloween treat, so while the film takes place over Christmas, a “The Nightmare Before Christmas”-esque holiday crossover is in store. (Alas, this new “Terrifier” doesn’t seem to be a show, but maybe they are saving that for the fourth part.)
Regardless, Art the Clown will return, courtesy of Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting, and release yet more unrated carnage on the unknowing people of Miles County on Christmas Eve.
The latest Damien Leone-directed installment will open two years after “Terrifier 2” took theaters by storm. The family-unfriendly killer, filled with ultraviolence and running a huge 138 minutes, played in wide cinematic release, legging out for a month after a $805,000 opening weekend (in 770 theaters) toward a $11 million domestic total. Its weekend success would peak over Halloween weekend with $1.9 million in 1,550 screens.
That was a bigger sum than the 2022 Oscar season likes of “Tar,” “She Said” and “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Heck, following the media-friendly success, the directors filed “Terrifier 2” for Academy consideration. (Tongue-in-cheek marketing aside, a Best Makeup nod wouldn’t have been beyond the pale.)
RELATED: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person’ (exclusive)
movie news
streaming stock shot
Leone said of the first sequel’s “remarkable success” that it was “driven not only by the insatiable appetite for new and thrilling horror icons like Art the Clown, but also by its unparalleled theatrical release and marketing, along with its unyielding spirit. In a film world where risk-taking is scarce, I will continue to push limits in ‘Terrifier 3,’ and I can’t wait for you to see what’s in store for Art the Clown.”
“Terrifier 3” may be a breakout sequel, which is when a follow-up to a well-liked, long and popular theatrical release gets fans both after opening weekend and then after theatrical, with earned respect paying off on the next chapter. Think, offhand, “Scream 2,” “Pitch Perfect 2,” “John Wick: Chapter 2” and “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.” That this will be a threequel rather than a second part is interesting, although the first film was basically just a cult streaming/VOD title that was briefly popular on Netflix.
“In the world of horror, Damien Leone’s ‘Terrifier’ franchise stands as a defiant embodiment of anti-Hollywood ethos,” Bloody Disgusting managing director Brad Miska said in a statement. “With an unwavering commitment to delivering precisely what the fans desire, Leone has crafted an entirely independent sequel. ‘Terrifier 3’ is going to have nastier kills, a bigger budget and an even crazier storyline.”
“Terrifier 2” returned to screens this weekend, with those in attendance getting a sneak peek of the teaser for “Terrifier 3.”
