Even though the industry sometimes seems surprised by this,the horror genre continues to be one of the most financially viable genres at the box office. Not only are they usually cheap to produce, but they also have a loyal fanbase that comes out no matter the film’s quality. That said, the audience tends to show up more when the project sets a new standard for the genre. In the case ofThe SubstanceandTerrifier 3, both films have done this in different ways. The body horror satire ofThe Substancehas proven to be a comeback vehicle for Demi Moore that’s potentially headed for serious awards season attention, whileTerrifier 3proved the power of independent filmmaking and distribution. Both films have proven to be success stories, and their journeys continue with more box office milestones.
PerDeadline,The Substanceis headed for$70-75 million worldwideas it continues an impressive box office run. MUBI acquiredThe Substancefor $12.5 million and the film’s budget came in at $17.5 million when it was all said and done. The performance of the movie has been a sight to see both domestically and abroad as word of mouth continues to propel the project.The Substanceopened to $3.2 million in the U.S. and even though it shed theaters weekend after weekend, the drops were remarkably solid, especially for a horror film. After its opening weekend, the film saw declines of 35.8 percent, 33.4 percent, 18.5 percent, 21.9 percent, 27.8 percent, 22.5 percent, 50.7 percent, and this weekend’s 43.1 percent. Keep in mind, as a film loses screens, declines tend to be larger, but that wasn’t the case forThe Substance. The movie has now grossed $16.2 million stateside, making it MUBI’s mostsuccessful release in the U.S.
The news is even more positive overseas, where the movie has pulled in $51.4 million.The Substancehas been a huge success in Latin America, where it has pulled in $20 million. Mexico represents $10 million of that take, where horror tends to be a win. The movie is clearly speaking to horror fans all over the world and this only boosts its awards season chances as the film has a solid chance to be represented in a few major categories.Moore has been championed for a Best Actress Oscar nomination, and she has been putting in work to make sure the film is getting noticed.The Substancemade its debut on the MUBI streaming service just in time for Halloween on Oct. 31, and it has reportedly broken several records for the service in terms of views.It would be hard for the Academy to ignoreThe Substanceas it continues to engage and entice viewers who have seen it.
‘The Substance’ & ‘Terrifier 3’ Prove the Box Office Viability of the Horror Genre
The news is also incredible forTerrifier 3, a film ending its box office run on a massive note. Made for $2 million,Terrifier 3has grossed $85.2 million to date, making it one of the most profitable films of 2024. Keep in mind that the film was an independent effort with zero studio help. There were no TV spots on constant rotation, as the groundswell for the third installment was made by fans via a rabid online presence. On top of the fact thatthe first two films have gained in popularity since their release,Terrifier 3proved that the franchise was much more than a niche product. Art The Clown had officially entered the mainstream.
Why The Substance Producer was Surprised by Demi Moore Body Horror Hit
Working Title’s Eric Fellner didn’t have a clue of how “horror” The Substance was. And yes, he got a nice surprise.
TheTerrifierfranchise’s box office progression is nothing short of amazing.This began as a crowdfunded endeavor in 2018 with a very limited release that resulted in a gross of $421,798 on a reported budget of $35,000 - $55,000. The second film was also crowdfunded and signs of its growth were seen when they earned well beyond their goal of $50,000 and pulled in $250,000, representing 430% more than they were asking for.Terrifier 2ended up grossing $400,000 on its opening day alone and went on to earn $15.7 million on a $250,000 budget by the end of its run.
WhenTerrifier 3opened to $18.9 million, it was clear that it was operating at a level that the industry hadn’t really seen before. The movie topped the second weekend ofJoker: Folie à Deuxand immediately took attention from the more high-profile studio release. It was also obvious that the success of the film is bound to influence other independent projects to follow a similar release strategy because of how well the film performed. With its current gross of $85.2 million, it’s officially thehighest-grossing unrated movieof all time.The SubstanceandTerrifier 3is just more proof that it’s always smart to bank on horror.
The Substance
Elisabeth Sparkle, renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.
