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The highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 hitJoker, titledJoker: Folie à Deux, hit theaters this October but has not met expectations at the box office and has garnered negative reviews. Featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the film took a bold musical direction that appears to have alienated audiences.
Despite a strong marketing campaign and a star-studded cast,Joker 2has struggled to match the success of its predecessor, raising concerns about its production choices and storyline.
With a hefty production budget of around $200 million,Joker 2is among the most expensive films of 2024, yet its earnings and audience reactions have been underwhelming. The film only brought in $37.67 million during its opening weekend in the U.S., a stark contrast to the original’s impressive $96.2 million debut.
As it heads to digital platforms after just four weeks in theaters, we explore the reasons behind its failure to recapture the original’s magic. Keep reading to know all the details!
Joker: Folie à Deuxwas released on October 4, 2024, exactly five years after the original film that redefined superhero movies with its dark,psychological thrillerapproach.
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker earned over $1 billion worldwide, setting a high standard for its sequel. However, Joker 2 failed to live up to this legacy, partly due to its hefty $200 million budget—almost four times thebudgetof the original film.
To break even, it would need to generate around $400 million globally, but current box office numbers suggest that profitability remains out of reach.
After three weeks in theaters, Joker 2 has crossed the $200 million mark, but with only $57.8 million from domestic audiences and $143.3 million from international markets.
Its financial outlook is bleak, as many theaters have dropped the movie, reducing its presence from 4,000 screens to under 1,500. With marketing expenses also estimated to be in the range of $100 million, the film’s total production and promotional costs make it one of the biggestbox-officeflops of the year.
Joker 2’s reviews have not been kind. While theoriginalJoker movie enjoyed generally favorable reviews and a positive audience reception, Joker: Folie à Deux received mostly negative feedback.
Many critics and viewers were left puzzled by the film’s narrative choices, particularly its transformation into a jukebox musical. This departure from the dark tone of the original film alienated many fans who had expected a gritty, psychological thriller similar to the first movie.
This shift in genre seemed misaligned with audience expectations, causing frustration among both fans and critics.
The movie currently holds a low 32% rating onRotten Tomatoes, and CinemaScore audiences gave it a “D,” a rare low grade for a high-budget comic book film.
This negative reception, combined with poor word-of-mouth, hindered Joker 2 from building momentum at the box office, contributing to its rapid descent in theater availability and overall earnings.
One of the critical factors impacting Joker 2’s performance is its considerable budget.
While Joker was made on a modest budget of $65 million, Joker: Folie à Deux’s budget ballooned to an estimated $200 million. Adding popular star Lady Gaga to the cast asHarley Quinndrove up production costs, and the elaborate set pieces and musical components also added to the expenses.
While Warner Bros. hoped for another billion-dollar success, the high budget became a hurdle, especially since Joker 2 would have needed a box-office haul close to $450 million to be profitable.
Storyline and Genre Shift
Joker: Folie à Deux took a bold step by introducing musical elements to the storyline, but this creative risk did not pay off as expected.
Todd Phillips’ decision to make the film a musical created a disconnect between the film and its primary audience, who were more attuned to the dark and gritty portrayal of the Joker in the first film.
Fans of the original, which took inspiration from psychological dramas, were surprised to find that Joker 2 had taken a different artistic direction.
This musical angle left many of them feeling disappointed, and they preferred a narrative that delved deeper into Joker’s complex psyche rather than a dramatic, song-filled story.
Box Office Struggles and Digital Release
With a lackluster performance at the box office, Warner Bros. moved Joker 2 to digital platforms earlier than expected.
As of October 29, the film is available for streaming, and physical copies, including 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD, are slated for release on December 17.
The digital release provides a potential boost in revenue, but it’s unlikely to compensate for the shortfall from its theatrical run. Analysts predict that the movie could lose between $150 million and $200 million, marking it as one of the year’s significant financial setbacks.
Current Earnings and Market Breakdown
Below is a data table of Joker 2’s currentgrossearnings in selected countries. The numbers reflect the film’s domestic and international earnings as of the last reported totals:
Country
Opening Weekend ($)
Total Gross ($)
United States
37,678,467
57,875,139
United Kingdom
7,448,089
12,786,768
Germany
4,687,763
8,920,551
Italy
4,252,334
8,288,501
France
4,214,377
6,985,241
Brazil
4,300,000
8,000,000
Mexico
5,500,000
7,982,255
The table summarises the current Box Office metrics of Joker 2
The numbers show a considerable drop in revenue after the opening weekend, suggesting that poor reviews and word-of-mouth had a significant impact on sustained viewership. International markets have not performed much better, with each country’s earnings reflecting a similar trend of steep declines.
Analysis of Joker 2’s Box Office Failure
The Role of Audience Expectations
The original Joker film was highly praised for its portrayal of a complex anti-hero, appealing to audiences who appreciated its deep, psychological focus.
Joker 2 attempted to innovate with a musical direction, but this choice didn’t resonate with audiences who were expecting a continuation of the original’s dark storyline.
The addition of musical elements may have made the film feel less cohesive for viewers hoping to see a gritty sequel that mirrored the tone of the first movie.
Increased Competition and Market Shifts
Joker: Folie à Deuxentered theaters during a highly competitive period for movie releases.
Competing with other October blockbusters, Joker 2 struggled to capture audiences, particularly with many moviegoers opting for other films.
This competition, combined with Joker 2’s own genre and storyline challenges, contributed to its lower-than-expected box officeperformance.
Streaming and Future Revenue Streams
As the movie is now available on digital platforms, Joker 2 could potentially recover some of its financial losses through rentals and purchases.
However, with a cost of $200 million for production and around $100 million for marketing, Joker 2 would need a substantial boost in digital sales to offset its poor box office performance.
The limited theater run and immediate transition to digital indicate Warner Bros. is eager to recoup as much as possible from alternate revenue streams.
Conclusion
Joker 2’s production budget was nearly four times that of the original film, making it difficult to achieve profitability.
The movie received low ratings from critics and audiences, with a 32% Rotten Tomatoes score and a “D” grade on CinemaScore.
The film’s shift to a musical format alienated fans expecting a psychological thriller similar to the original.
Joker 2’s domestic and international revenue has been disappointing, with an early move to digital platforms.
Analysts predict that Joker 2 could lose between $150 million and $200 million, making it one of the biggest flops of 2024.
The video shows the official trailer of Joker: Folie à Deux
Last Updated: October 31, 2024
