The Terrifier franchise took an exciting step forward with Terrifier 3, and in the process established itself as the spiritual replacement for two of the most iconic franchises in horror movie history. Terrifier 3 has already set multiple box office records, and a sequel is already in development to continue the overarching narrative that has landed so well with both hardcore franchise fans and the movie-going public. Between the box office numbers and the outstanding critical reception, the Terrifier franchise is rightfully drawing comparisons to other great horror franchises.
One of the factors that separates Terrifier from other horror franchises is its shoestring budget, and subsequently its lack of overall marketing. That makes its meteoric rise in popularity all the more astonishing, and Terrifier 3 making 14 times its budget in the first week puts it in rare company in the horror genre. One specific factor in how both Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3 became so profitable actually makes it the modern replacement for two of the most seminal horror movies of the last 70 years.
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All 6 Art The Clown & Terrifier Movies Ranked, Worst To Best
Art the Clown has a history that extends before the Terrifier franchise, and each appearance varies in both length and overall quality.
Terrifier's Controversial Start Echoes The Origins Of Psycho And The Exorcist
Both Iconic Franchises Started With Viral Word-Of-Mouth
The original Terrifier didn’t make much of an impact on the larger horror movie industry upon its release. It was an extremely low-budget indie, and while it developed a modest cult following, it was never embraced by a larger audience. Terrifier 2, on the other hand, went legitimately viral after reports of theater patrons passing out at the screenings due to the extreme gore and violence started to spread, piquing overall interest. That interest was compounded when the same thing happened at early showings of Terrifier 3, resulting in its staggering box office numbers.
Movie | Release Date | Budget | Box Office Gross | RT Tomatometer Score | RT Popcornmeter Score |
Terrifier | 2016 | $35,000-$55,000 | $416,000 | 60% | 53% |
Terrifier 2 | 2022 | $250,000 | $15.7 million | 86% | 80% |
Terrifier 3 | 2024 | $2 million | $49.8 million (and counting) | 76% | 86% |
The viral word-of-mouth and controversial start to the franchise’s popularity directly echoes the earliest days of two of the greatest horror movies ever: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and William Friedkin’s The Exorcist. Both movies courted their own controversy upon their release; Psycho broke multiple taboos in sexuality and violence that were considered depraved at the time, while The Exorcist was so scary and sacrilegious that people famously fainted or fled the theater.
The fear and superstition surrounding The Exorcist was so widespread that Linda Blair, the 12-year-old actress who portrayed Regan MacNeil, reportedly received hundreds of death threats from people who believed that he performance "glorified" Satan.
These elements directly led to the movies’ popularity, as the public has always been intrigued by controversy or pushing boundaries. Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3 are the modern replacements for those movies in that regard. While it takes far, far more to shock a modern horror audience than sexuality and gore, the sadistic violence and depravity of Art the Clown accomplishes it, just as Norman Bates and Regan MacNeil did before him.
Why Terrifier's Potential Is Greater Than Either Franchise
Neither Franchise's Sequels Measured Up To The Original
Both Psycho and The Exorcist yielded sequels, with The Exorcist’s most recent coming out just last year (The Exorcist: Believer). However, neither franchise ever produced a sequel that came anywhere close to the original as far as controversy or acclaim are concerned. The original movies of each franchise are considered iconic masterpieces, while many horror movie fans are barely aware that Psycho and The Exorcist had legitimate sequels.
Movie | Release Date | RT Tomatometer Score | RT Popcornmeter Score |
The Exorcist | 1973 | 78% | 87% |
Exorcist II: The Heretic | 1977 | 11% | 13% |
The Exorcist III | 1990 | 58% | 57% |
Exorcist: The Beginning | 2004 | 11% | 27% |
Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist | 2005 | 29% | 25% |
The Exorcist: Believer | 2023 | 22% | 58% |
That’s where Terrifier has the opportunity to surpass both franchises. While the original Terrifier was well-received by a small audience, its sequels have become international phenomena. Unlike the Psycho and Exorcist franchises, Terrifier seems to be getting better as it goes, with a cohesive overall story and returning characters that audiences have embraced. While it’s certainly far too early to say that Terrifier 2 or Terrifier 3 will have the lasting, storied legacy of either Psycho or The Exorcist, as far as franchises are concerned, Terrifier is chainsawing through the competition.
Terrifier 3 follows Sienna and her brother as they attempt to move past the traumatic events of Art the Clown's Halloween massacre. As they embrace the Christmas season, Art reemerges, intent on turning their holiday into a nightmare, continuing his reign of terror.
Director Damien Leone
Release Date October 11, 2024
Studio(s) Dark Age Cinema , Fuzz on the Lens Productions
Distributor(s) Cineverse
Writers Damien Leone
Runtime 125 Minutes
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English (US) ·