Stephen King adaptation, It, has surpassed the worldwide gross of seminal film, The Exorcist, to become the highest-grossing R-rated horror movie of all time. The Exorcist, released in 1973 to critical (it became the first horror film to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar) and commercial success (its gross, adjusted for inflation, is $1.8 billion).
It’s $30 million third weekend gross pushed its global tally past $ 478 million (Rs 3095 crore), of which $266 million comes from the US.
It is poised to overtake the only remaining film ahead of it - M Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense - by the end of its theatrical run. The Sixth Sense, classified by Box Office Mojo as ‘supernatural horror’ took $293 million in the US. This technicality was ignored by Variety, who declared it to be the most successful horror film in history on the basis of its latest numbers.
It’s record breaking numbers are likely to continue, and a sequel is already in motion. The film follows the adventures of a group of kids in ‘80s suburban America. When their home town, Derry, is attacked by a murderous clown entity known as Pennywise, the kids take it upon themselves to bring It down.
The film is directed by Andy Muschietti and was produced on a budget of $35 million. It’s $180 million opening weekend figures broke the record for highest-grossing horror, and September releases, according to hindustantimes.
