Box Office Struggles for Joker: Folie à Deux Amid Mixed Reviews
Todd Phillips’ sequel Joker: Folie à Deux has made history by becoming the first Hollywood comic book movie to earn a D CinemaScore from audiences, highlighting significant dissatisfaction with the film.
This discontent has translated into a troubled opening at the box office. The Warner Bros. movie, which stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, raked in a modest $20 million on Friday, including $7 million in previews. Analysts project an opening weekend gross of less than $50 million, with estimates ranging from $42 million to $47 million; one studio even predicts it could open at $40 million or less.
Prior to the weekend, expectations for Joker 2 had been significantly optimistic, forecasting earnings of $50 million to $60 million, a drop from initial predictions of $70 million just three weeks ago.
In stark contrast, the original Joker debuted in 2019 with a staggering $96.2 million and went on to achieve a record-shattering worldwide total of $1 billion.
The polarizing, R-rated sequel, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival to mixed reviews, explores themes beyond the typical comic book narrative. It features a genre-busting, music-infused approach that diverges from the traditional fan service usually expected from superhero films. Compounding its lackluster Thursday night gross is a troubling exit score on PostTrak, where audiences rated it a mere half-star out of five. This rating is alarmingly similar to that of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, which bombed with just $4 million last weekend after obtaining a D+ CinemaScore. (Joker’s PostTrak score may fluctuate as the weekend progresses.)
Traditionally, even superhero movies that underperform at the box office earn respectable CinemaScores. For instance, Marvel Studios’ The Marvels opened to a disappointing $46.2 million but received a B grade, while Warner Bros.’ The Flash opened domestically to $55 million and similarly garnered a B.
Fan sites were quick to highlight the historical significance of a D CinemaScore for Joker: Folie à Deux, considering the original film didn’t even achieve an A, ending up with a B+ rating.
Despite its box office hurdles, the movie is still eyeing potential success in the Oscars race, particularly for standout performances by Phoenix and Gaga.
Internationally, Joker 2 opens this weekend across most markets, excluding Japan and China, where it will premiere in the coming weeks. Warner Bros. anticipates a foreign debut of $80 million to $85 million.
Joker: Folie à Deux sees Phillips reunite with Phoenix, who reprises his titular role after winning the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck/Joker. Initially hesitant about creating a sequel, Phillips and Phoenix even contemplated a Broadway adaptation before ultimately deciding to proceed with the film.
The first Joker was produced on a budget of $55 million, while the sequel had a significantly larger budget of $190 million to $200 million. Part of this budget was allocated to casting Gaga, who plays a character inspired by Harley Quinn, with hopes of appealing to female audiences.
Much of the film features elaborate fantasy musical numbers showcasing the duo, as they meet while Arthur is confined in Arkham Asylum, facing trial for his actions in the first film. However, neither Warner Bros. nor Phillips are comfortable labeling it a traditional musical, as only two of the characters perform songs, unlike typical musicals which include ensemble numbers.
Notably, the film’s marketing strategy has been cautious about emphasizing its musical elements, paralleling approaches seen with other studios, such as Paramount’s marketing of Mean Girls and the recent Wonka.
At the Los Angeles premiere Monday, Phillips acknowledged the unconventional nature of the sequel. He expressed gratitude to the studio for its bold decision, stating, “It is not necessarily the sequel you might expect.”
Box office figures will be updated Sunday morning.
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