Joker: Folie à Deux was poised to be another twisted comic book blockbuster. In fact, the sequel to 2019’s billion-dollar hit “Joker” has been a box office disaster.
So far, the quirky musical about Batman’s infamous enemy has grossed $51.5 million domestically and $165 million worldwide in its first two weeks of release. By comparison, the original Joker grossed $96.2 million domestically and $248.4 million worldwide after three days of release. The sequel did not earn that much money by the end of its theatrical run, and once Folie à Deux finished its theatrical run, ticket sales had generated a lifetime box office gross of $65 million domestically and $210 million worldwide. It is expected to stall at $215 million.
That’s a big deal, since Joker 2 cost $200 million to make and about $100 million in marketing and distribution. At this rate, the movie won’t come close to the $450 million needed to break even in theaters (ticket sales are split 50-50 between studios and theater owners). Warner Bros. officials say the film will break even at $375 million. The film is one of the year’s biggest disasters, with critics and audiences flatly rejecting the big-budget blockbuster, which earned an average 33% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a rare “D” rating from CinemaScore. It is becoming one. The film is now on track to lose at least $150 million to $200 million in theaters, according to estimates from insiders and three rival executives with knowledge of similar films. One source estimates that the film will end up losing backers for just over $200 million, while another source estimates damages will be closer to $125 million. I think it will become.
A Warner Bros. spokesperson said in a statement: “Any estimates suggested by anonymous ‘insiders’ or ‘rival executives’ are materially incorrect and continue the trend of rumors being reported as fact.” Ta. “The film continues to have theatrical releases, including this week’s release in China, and will continue to generate revenue through home viewing and ancillary screenings.”
Warner Bros. has a chance to at least recoup its investment when Folie à Deux hits home entertainment platforms on October 29th. But its meager box office receipts represent a shocking downfall for what turned out to be an unlikely film. The undisputed box office champion, grossing $335 million in North America and $1.078 billion worldwide. At the time, it was the highest-grossing R-rated film in history. This summer, Disney’s Marvel sequel “Deadpool & Wolverine” broke records in the U.S. ($635 million) and worldwide ($1.32 billion), but “Joker” took in $743 million. It remains the largest R-rated film to be released internationally. With a budget of about $65 million, Joker was one of the most profitable comic book adaptations ever made, but Warner Bros. It had to be split, and the studio added that money to de-risk an unconventional DC anti-hero story. Warner has Domain as a co-financier for the sequel.
Given the huge success of Joker, which also won two Oscars, it’s no wonder Folie à Deux was given the go-ahead and given a bigger budget. However, their high prices make it difficult for most films to achieve profitability in the current box office climate. Much of the reason for the sequel’s high production costs is due to director Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix (returning as disabled stand-up actor Arthur Fleck), both of whom earned $20 million in advance, as well as the role of Lady・It was a paycheck for Gaga (repeat). (as fellow Arkham inmate Harleen “Lee” Quinzel) pocketed $12 million.
“If the filmmakers and studios were so keen on making a sequel, and after the first film made $1.08 billion, why wouldn’t they make a sequel? “We faced a very difficult challenge to tell the chapter,” says analyst David A. Gross of film consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research.
Box office analysts believe that Phillips alienated the DC fan base by bringing song-and-dance numbers into the sequels, resulting in the huge sales difference between the first and second Joker films. The original was a dark and gruesome drama that borrowed from Martin Scorsese’s films “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy,” but in its next chapter it was staged as a fantasy musical and included “That’s Life” and “Get It.” Includes covers such as “Happy,” “That’s Life,” and “Get Happy.” “For Once in My Life” — as Arthur Fleck awaiting trial for murder.
“The first ‘Joker’ was a timely and refreshing counterpoint to the dominant superhero narrative and tone, and it worked,” Gross added. “The filmmakers deserve credit for adding a romantic angle with Lady Gaga in ‘Foley’ and making more unconventional creative choices. But nothing worked this time.”
“Joker” was released during a peak period in comics, when the very idea of superheroes being exhausting seemed laughable. However, the genre has proven less resilient in the post-pandemic era. ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ joins the infamous trio of 2023’s ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ and ‘Marvel’s’ – all three films that completely collapsed at the box office and ended up in the red. It is a sequel to the billion-dollar tower. . The 2018 Aquaman sequel grossed $439 million worldwide, while the 2019 Captain Marvel sequel grossed just $206 million worldwide. . These misfires proved that audiences would stop coming just because there was a DC or Marvel logo in the title credits.
“Superheroes used to be able to guarantee a certain opening weekend box office, but the sky’s the limit anymore,” said one executive at a rival studio, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Tolerance for ‘so-so’ movies no longer applies.”
