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Moviegoers buried JOKER 2 with an 81% weekend two plunge.

Exhibitors, who counted on getting through October with J2, got a very welcome boxoffice surprise from the not rated horror thriller TERRIFIER 3 from indie distrib Cineverse (formerly Cinedigm). Cineverse chairman & CEO Chris McGurk’s long years in Hollywood include a highly regarded stint as Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer of the old MGM.

In a case of what sounds like “my killer clown is bigger than your killer clown,” T3 opened #1 to $18.3M at 2,514 theatres ($7,263), per Comscore. It was tracking only one point over norm with men under & over 25 and women under 25. Cineverse’s ultra-targeted social media marketing campaign connected with the movie’s fan base — and reportedly for maybe a $1M media spend! Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 78%, but audiences are cheering at 90%.

Insiders say Cineverse is only in for about $5M for acquiring & releasing T3. The franchise’s 2022 episode, TERRIFIER 2, did $15.7M worldwide via Cinedigm — nicely profitable with its $250,000 budget.

This weekend’s domestic marketplace totaled $73.6M, per Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian, down 18.1% from the prior weekend and down 45% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2024 at $6.53B, down 11% from $7.35B in 2023. The previous weekend, 2024 was also down 11% vs. 2023.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Universal/Dreamworks Animation’s THE WILD ROBOT was a strong #2 holdover with family audiences in weekend three with $13.5M (-29%) in weekend three at 3,854 theatres ($3,490). WILD’s done $83.7M domestic and $148.5M worldwide.

WB/DC’S R rated crime drama musical JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX plummeted from first to a photo-finish win, per WB, for third place in weekend #2 with $7.055M — a terrifying 81% slide that tops THE MARVELS’ record-holding 78.1% crash — at 4,102 theatres ($1,720). It reportedly coast $200M to produce and has done $51.6M domestic & $165.3M worldwide.

WB/DC’s BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE was third in weekend six, per WB, with $7.050M (-30%) at 3,408 theatres ($2,069). It’s done $275.6M domestic and $420.3M worldwide. When the boxoffice dust settles Monday, BB could be #3 as Hollywood BUZZ-ards were saying Saturday.

Sony’s R rated bio-comedy/drama SATURDAY NIGHT expanded to #7 with $3.4M at 2,309 theatres ($1,488). It’s tracking for first choice below norm for all demos and has done $4.2M domestic. Rotten Tomatoes critics like it at 80% and audiences are happy at 87%.

Next weekend (10/18): Horror fans will keep the multiplexes busy as Paramount Pictures’ R rated SMILE 2 opens at about 3,400 theatres. It’s tracking best for first choice with under 25 women (10 points over norm) and next best with women over 25 (five points over norm).