‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Flops With Lower-Than-Projected $37 Million Box Office Debut

As a cinephile with over three decades of film-watching under my belt, I must admit that I’ve seen my fair share of hits and misses. The box office performance of “Joker: Folie à Deux” is undeniably a miss, at least in terms of its initial reception. The original “Joker” set the bar high, earning an impressive $96.2 million on its opening weekend in 2019. To see it drop to just $37.8 million for the sequel is disheartening, especially considering the hype and anticipation surrounding this release.


As a devoted fan, I must say, the much-anticipated sequel to “Joker,” titled “Folie à Deux,” fell short of expectations during its opening weekend, garnering a disappointing $37.8 million. In stark contrast, the original “Joker” featuring Joaquin Phoenix raked in an impressive $39 million on just its first day back in 2019.

The initial forecast for the movie’s earnings was around $70 million, but this figure has significantly dropped in the last few weeks to a range of $50 million to $60 million. Unfortunately, Monday’s actual earnings fell short of the predicted Sunday estimate of $40 million, which was considered a flop given the film’s $200 million budget. With poor reviews and negative audience feedback, including a rare “D” grade from CinemaScore, the sequel to “Joker” failed to approach the opening earnings of the original, which set an October record with $96.2 million. The divided response is expected to limit its longevity in cinemas.

The movie titled “Folie à Deux” had a grand opening at the international box office, meeting projections of earning $80 million from 76 different countries. However, to even come close to the foreign earnings of its predecessor, the Warner Bros. production will have to maintain and surpass its performance repeatedly. The original “Joker” was remarkably successful, amassing $335 million within U.S. borders and $743 million overseas for a staggering global total of $1.078 billion. At the time, it held the record as the highest-grossing R-rated film ever made, until “Deadpool & Wolverine” surpassed that mark during the summer with earnings of $1.32 billion. “Joker” was produced for approximately $60 million, making it highly profitable. A significant portion of the sequel’s increased budget went towards compensating directors, actors like Joaquin Phoenix (reprising his Oscar-winning role as troubled comedian Arthur Fleck), and Lady Gaga (who joined the cast as Arkham Asylum inmate Harleen “Lee” Quinzel). Unlike its predecessor, which was a grim, violent drama drawing inspiration from films like “Taxi Driver,” this sequel takes on a musical fantasy tone, featuring covers of songs such as “That’s Life,” “Get Happy,” and “For Once in My Life.” In the film, Arthur Fleck serves time in prison and awaits trial for murder.

Jeff Bock, an analyst from Exhibitor Relations, states, “I believe the musical approach was misguided.” He explains that what truly made ‘Joker’ successful was its exploration of darker themes. Todd Phillips aimed to create something entirely distinct, but if you’re not delivering what audiences are looking for, it’s unclear who exactly you’re catering to.

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2024-10-07 20:47