Terrifier 2 grossed an impressive $10,962,502 domestically. It might seem kind of crazy to entertain the idea that it could open so much higher than the total gross of the first film, but it's clear many have discovered the series since that was in theaters. Art has become a horror icon, and Terrifier merchandise is everywhere. I've seen a surprising amount of people sporting Terrifier shirts, and I even saw an Art action figure at Wal-Mart of all places.

With the extreme gore that the series is known for, broader appeal outside of hardcore horror fans will be limited, which will make a huge breakout a challenge. But I'd argue an opening above the second film's total would be a huge breakout. I can't see this opening in the single digits; $10 million seems like the floor. Ticket sales for Thursday night are promising, and with the buzz, I could see it attracting newcomers, likely through fans bringing their friends. You wouldn't think reports of people leaving, passing out, and puking in theaters would work again, but it seems like they can pull off that trick one more time, especially since this film pushes the limits even further than the second one.

Either way, I'm both nervous and ridiculously excited for this. I'm attending the Terrifier 2/3 double feature on Thursday with two friends who hadn't seen any of the movies until we watched the first one the other day. One of those friends only got into horror movies about a year ago, so I'm most nervous for them. They're anxious as well. These are easily the most violent movies they've watched since getting into horror, unless you consider Saw X worse. We saw that last September, and they had to disassociate during it because it was too much for them. I'm pretty sure their biggest issue in Terrifier 3 will be kids getting killed. They're a parent and asked me, "He wouldn't kill a kid, right?" I had to tell them that kids will definitely be getting killed.

Anyway, is anyone brave enough to join this club? I'm in. It might not happen, but I think it can. If it does make this much, there's a chance it could top the box office. Whether or not I'll predict it depends on how much Joker opens to, because a huge drop is likely for that. I would love to see it happen. It would really help with the buzz for the film, and it would be cool to see one clown replace another at the box office.

Yeah I think is a breakout - whatever its final gross is will be the highest it could possibly be.

I feel like demand is there, but there’s just so little showings that it won’t be able to get there barring a miracle

It's strange, because there are a couple of theaters I've noticed with just one or two evening showings, but most have a full day. The ones that do have one or two are going to regret it.

It doesn't matter too much as who the hell is seeing this at a matinee? This is a nighttime movie. The theaters that do have limited showings can expect them to be full/sold out. I'm sure they'll end up adding showtimes.

not a chance in hell

I definitely see 10 m but out for 14m

It does open on a holiday weekend too, which should help a little.

Looking now, I've noticed the only theaters with one showtime a day are AMCs. I wonder why.

Maybe I'm getting old but these movies are truly depraved. Like Saw and Hostel seem tame in comparison. I think there comes a point where things stop being art and instead it becomes almost pornography for disturbed minds. Certain things do not need to be acted out on screen.

Empire City Box Office says it looks like 20+ this weekend. I'm not sold on it yet, but won't rule out the possibility. Nothing would really surprise me with this.

Agreed.

Good thing nobody is making you watch them.

There's a scene in Hostel 2 that disturbed me far more than anything in Terrifier or Terrifier 2. Yes, they're messed up, and one scene in the first movie went too far for me—at least the first time I watched it. I never planned on watching any more of these movies after that, but great reviews convinced me to see the second one, and I ended up loving it. After rewatching the first movie last week, I have to say, while it's still messed up, it didn't bother me as much since I knew what to expect. When I initially saw the first movie, I had no idea how disturbing it would be. The thing with these movies is that, while depraved, they're so cartoonish that it makes them less disturbing. I was anxious about the bedroom scene in the second movie, but it ended up being so silly that it didn't affect me much. Saw and Hostel take their torture scenes more seriously, which I'd argue is more disturbing.

Anyway, these movies are for a very specific kind of horror fan. I wouldn't even say I'm a hardcore gore fan, but it doesn't faze me too much since I grew up on horror movies. I wouldn't say any of the people I know that watch these have disturbed minds. I'd say all of them are good people with morals. It can just be fun to squirm in your seat, especially with others. I'm looking forward to doing just that with friends and a theater full of others.

I always saw Hostel as meta where you’re like the rich guys in it getting off on seeing violence. Although still not a good movie.

Torture porn never bothered me all that much because it’s so outlandish and fake, the premise is so much scarier than the final product, but I’ve stayed in a few hostels it’s kind of comical, but the idea is actually quite scary. A film like deliverance or jaws is so much scarier, because they keep it real.

The villain in hostel is almost like armisan in eurotrip

I got so tired of torture porn when it was popular. I was really happy when Paranormal Activity came and took over as the annual Halloween horror series. Now, nostalgia has me excited when a new Saw comes out. Back then, I just wanted variety.

When re-watching movies like the remakes of The Hills Have Eyes or The Last House on the Left, I'm shocked how those were major studio horror movies. They would never release something like that now. The rape scenes alone pretty much guarantee a mainstream studio wouldn't touch them. Both are great, but goddamn are they disturbing. They're more difficult to watch than anything in Terrifier.

From notfabio on HSX:

It's not though I guess that's what disturbs me. These things happen in real life sometimes. Mexican cartels basically re-enact the infamous bedroom scene from Terrifier 2 every other week.

Maybe these movies are how people make sense of how senseless the world can be sometimes. Anyway I'm sure I will squeamishly YouTube the worst scenes and watch through my fingers, my morbid curiosity is too much.

So apparently Smile 2 is tracking low now? Keyser?

Could Art be the champion of Halloween after all?

Fuck it, lets go big, no more $14M opening weekend club. $14M opening day!!

I do wish I would have gone slightly bigger with this. I don't think 14 Million OW is very risky anymore.

Charlie is saying $8M Friday so essentially guaranteed to get past $14M!

The increased budget definitely shows. It almost feels like a real mainstream horror movie. Almost.... There were a few people who walked out at what seemed like a weird time when nothing was happening



But they all returned when it was over. I'm guessing a warning got out there lol.

Heard a boy on the bus yesterday talking on his phone about wanting to see this. He must have been 15 or 16, and he wasn't a classy boy either. Not a good mix here.

Amazing for it to out open the total gross of its predecessor

Deadline is saying $18M OW

That's a decent IM and it will surely get a big boost around Halloween, could it come within batting distance of Joker 2's total?

It's looking like $5.5+ million for Saturday, so it should do $16-17 million for the weekend. Smile 2 might hurt its performance, especially since it has great reviews. However, I think they can coexist. There will be some crossover, but Smile 2 will appeal more to casual horror fans.

Either way, this opening is fantastic, and even if it drops off after this, it's already made money. I don't see it plummeting, though. The buzz should keep it going until Halloween, and hopefully, it can play into the holidays. I hope to see it again in November (I'd say December, but unless it expands again, I don't see it being around by then).