While Terrifier was not a major hit when the dark horror arrived in 2016. Director Damian Leone’s throwback to the gory grindhouse slashers of the early 80s had its fair share of champions, but Terrifier didn’t set the box office alight or blow away mainstream critics.
However, Terrifier 2 was a different story. Earning over $11 million on a budget of only $250,000, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, is unlikely to be a crossover success in the vein of Terrifier 2.
Why Terrifier 2 Was Such A Huge Hit
Terrifier 2’s outsized success surprised many industry commentators, but the sequel had a lot going for it. Leone’s original movie quietly built up a reputation as a tour de force since its 2016 release, and Barbarian).
The Mean One Won’t Be A Horror Blockbuster
While The Mean One could exceed expectations upon its December 9 release, it is unlikely that the horror spin on How The Grinch Stole Christmas will manage to repeat Terrifier 2’s wildly successful theatrical run. For one thing, from Art the Clown to his creepy accomplice, The Pale Little Girl, Terrifier 2 is genuinely unsettling as well as gross and darkly comic. In contrast, The Mean One is much more broadly comedic and less interested in legitimately creepy horror elements judging by its recently released trailer. Another major factor is the release dates of the two movies, specifically the early October release of Terrifier 2.
This release date allowed the indie horror to build a word-of-mouth reputation shortly before Halloween weekend, resulting in incredible profits by early November. In contrast, The Mean One arrives on December 9, when viewers are not typically seeking out scary fare. While Jim Carrey and Benedict Cumberbatch’s lovable Grinches could sap The Mean One of its potential critical and commercial success as viewers would rather seek out an old favorite than take a chance on a gory, edgy retelling of the Christmas classic from the star of Terrifier 2.
