We wondered if the ban on Terrifier 3 under 18s would slow down or boost its success. We are convinced: it’s a gigantic box.
A few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine this dear Art in the morning of BFMTV. This Wednesday, October 9, the genocidal clown was nevertheless entitled to his little segment on the continuous news channel. The consequences of an extremely rare measure: its ban on under-18s by the CNC commission. This hasn’t happened to an American horror film in 20 years and Saw 3 (not counting the review of the judgment of Saw 3D). The press release from its three distributors was therefore widely taken up by most major media.
The classification comes with its share of constraints (notably distribution difficulties and almost impossible broadcast on television), it remained to be seen whether this unexpected publicity for a film of this caliber would have an effect on cinema attendance. Answer: yes, and not just a little.
Terrifier 3 attacks the French
Released in cinemas on October 9, 2024, the feature film simply shattered expectations just as its hero shatters overly libidinous teenagers. On this first day alone, it would have attracted 45,000 tripaille loversa crazy score for a film distributed in barely 126 theaters. Thanks to this average of 357 spectators per theater, it barely misses – hold on tight – first place in the French box office, behind – hold on tighter – the 45,566 admissions of the Robot SauvageDreamWorks’ latest family production released on… 673 copies (figures from the account @Boxofficefr) !
For comparison, the second attracted… 4,234 spectators on its first day. At the end of his two weeks of operation, he had amassed barely more than the daily score of Terrifier 3or 53,451 entries. However, this second opus had already benefited from a certain exposure.
As a reminder, the saga is originally a quasi-amateur project with a microscopic budget, intended above all for an initiated audience. She made headlines when the second part went viral, earning around ten million dollars in the United States and shocking a lot of media in the process. Although wealthier (we are talking about 2 million dollars, which remains in the very low range for Uncle Sam), the third remains a pure product of niche American gore.
The Killing Joke
Director Damien Leone welcomed the news on Twitter. On BFMVictor Lamoussiere, in charge of distribution for ESC (and whom we met at the time of The Sadness), expressed his amazement: “It’s just mind-blowing. […] I admit that I don’t really have the words and am totally overwhelmed by what is happening. » The distributors had flair in bringing out the classic paraphernalia of provocative marketing, with the traditional vomit bag distributed at the first sessions. They were helped by the usual publicized discomfort with English-language screenings.
We must believe that even in the age of the Internet and self-produced splatter, these hints of scandal will continue to attract attention from the press… and transform modest horror films into real phenomena. Also in the United States, the feature film is poised to greatly surpass the already remarkable achievements of the second part. He could definitely depending on Deadline exceed $11 million for its startup and even beat a Joker 2 preparing to endure a complicated second week. One last figure for the road: the DC blockbuster literally cost 100 times more than its clownish competitor.
At this rate, the saga Terrifier will win budgets from major labels and Art the clown will kill his victims on Venus, with laser axes. Leone having already confirmed at Fantastic Fest that he was working on a fourth opusit risks continuing to brutalize the general public circuit for a long time to come.
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