While major blockbusters dominated the weekend box office, an unexpected indie hit emerged in the form of Clown in a Cornfield, a new slasher movie from IFC. Despite a relatively quiet weekend overall for the industry, the film opened with a solid $3.6 million in domestic earnings, landing at number five on the box office charts. While this total may not seem monumental at first glance, it marks a significant achievement for IFC, setting a new record for the company’s highest-grossing opening weekend.
This debut surpasses the performance of Late Night with the Devil, which earned $2.8 million last year and went on to gross $10 million domestically. With Clown in a Cornfield already finding its place within the growing “scary clown horror” genre, it may very well set the stage for a new franchise.
The film, which targets a teen audience with its mix of horror and dark humor, is directed by Eli Craig and revolves around Quinn (played by Katie Douglas), a teenager who relocates to the small, troubled town of Kettle Springs with her father. The town is in economic decline after a local factory burned down, and tensions run high between the young people and the older generation. The arrival of a bloodthirsty clown named Frendo escalates the situation, resulting in a spree of bloody chaos.
Despite its modest production budget, which Craig estimates was “less than half” of $17 million, Clown in a Cornfield has already shown strong potential at the box office. IFC is known for its low-budget films, often generating substantial revenue through VOD and streaming, and this movie is no exception. Following its theatrical run, Clown in a Cornfield will be available on-demand and on the horror streaming service Shudder, where it will likely continue to gain traction.
The film premiered at SXSW in March to a positive reception, holding a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While critical reactions are mixed, the general consensus remains favorable. Given the film’s success so far, there are already discussions about its future. Clown in a Cornfield is based on Adam Cesare’s novel, which has sequels, suggesting that the story could continue beyond its initial release. If a sequel is greenlit, the franchise could follow a path similar to Terrifier, which began as a low-budget cult favorite and grew into a phenomenon with Terrifier 2’s impressive $15 million box office haul in 2022.
For IFC, the box office is just the beginning. The company has a history of turning modest theatrical runs into bigger successes through home video and streaming platforms. Clown in a Cornfield’s opening weekend indicates that it could be another example of this formula, potentially paving the way for a future franchise. Though it may not reach the iconic status of films like Stephen King’s It, the growing presence of creepy clowns in pop culture suggests that Frendo, the film’s killer clown, could soon become a household name.
