The first poster for the upcoming horror sequel Terrifier 3 has leaked online.

The promo for the gruesome slasher reveals that the third instalment in the popular franchise will be a Christmas movie.

In the stomach-churning image, a blood-soaked Art the Clown looks deranged while wielding an axe in front of a Christmas tree.

The tree appears to have been decorated with various entrails and human flesh, while Art's name is smeared on the wall in blood.

It comes as Terrifier 2 is set to return to select theatres in the US from November 1 for a limited engagement.

The first poster for the upcoming horror sequel Terrifier 3 has leaked online, showing a blood-soaked Art the Clown wielding an axe in front of a Christmas tree

Director Damien Leone has already teased the third instalment of the franchise, promising that it will be even more extreme than the last film

The screenings will contain a brief teaser for Terrifier 3, which has resulted in the film's poster leaking online ahead of time. 

Sharing the poster on Reddit, a user wrote, 'My friend who works at a local theater near me and knows how big a fan I am of the [Terrifier 1 & 2] and how hyped I am for [Terrifier 3 just sent me this!'

The poster also contains a QR code that leads to a website where fans can sign up for exclusive updates on the highly-anticipated horror sequel.

Director Damien Leone has already teased the third instalment of the franchise, promising that it will be even more extreme than the last film.

'Terrifier 3 will be another boundary-pushing addition to the horror genre, continuing the no holds barred, uncompromising exploits fans of the franchise have come to expect and celebrate,' he told Bloody Disgusting in May.

'If you thought Art the Clown’s reign of terror in part 2 was extreme, you haven’t seen anything yet.'

The first Terrifier follows a maniacal mime artist named Art the Clown who terrorises three women on Halloween

In the sequel, he returns after being resurrected by a sinister supernatural entity to wreak more havoc, this time targeting a teenage girl and her younger brother

READ MORE: Streaming's most terrifying movies revealed: From the twisted Hulu horror flick that made viewers FAINT to the Amazon Prime slasher so gruesome it left people VOMITING in fear

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The first Terrifier follows a maniacal mime artist named Art the Clown who terrorises three women on Halloween.

The movie went viral after its release due to one particularly horrifying death scene, which involved somebody being mutilated with a hacksaw.

In the sequel, he returns after being resurrected by a sinister supernatural entity to wreak more havoc, this time targeting a teenage girl and her younger brother.

Despite its low budget, Terrifier 2 ended up becoming a box office hit after going viral when multiple theatregoers became physically ill and puked during screenings due to the violence. 

Terrifier 2 became a surprise hit at the box office after going viral due to its extreme violence 

Fans were so sickened by the movie that they vomited in theatres and needed medical attention 

'This scene in Terrifier 2 is the most unbelievable s**t I've ever seen in a movie theatre,' tweeted one fan at the time.

'My friend passed out and the theatre called an ambulance. Highly recommended!' added another.

The movie ended up grossing over $15million off a paltry $250,000 budget and even sparked Oscar buzz last year for its gruesome special effects. 

The third entry in the franchise, which won't be released until late 2024, has reportedly been given a 'low-mid seven-figure budget' due to the last film's success.

Terrifier 2's production company was forced to issue a warning to potential viewers 

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