Joker: Folie a Deux, one of this year’s most anticipated films, has underperformed at the U.S. box office. Despite debuting at the top spot in North America, the film’s earnings have been disappointing throughout the week. According to a report from Variety, it grossed $40 million in its opening weekend, falling short of expectations. Initial projections for the film’s opening were between $50 million and $70 million. Additionally, its opening weekend revenue of under $200 million was significantly lower than its predecessor, which earned an impressive $96.2 million during its debut weekend.
This disappointing performance poses a serious challenge for Warner Bros, particularly considering the original film’s blockbuster success. The negative word-of-mouth surrounding the sequel is likely to impact its longevity in theatres. While the film generated buzz online, fans have been disappointed with its musical approach. The R-rated sequel has a hefty budget of $200 million compared to the first film’s $65 million budget. To break even, Folie a Deux needs to earn at least $450 million, according to sources familiar with the film’s financial situation, as quoted by the report.
The original Joker was a big success at the box office as it made $335 million in the US and $743 million globally. It was the highest-grossing R-rated movie at the time until Deadpool & Wolverine came along and earned $1.32 billion.
Joker: Folie a Deux has a 31% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a “D” CinemaScore from viewers which could make it difficult for the film to match the original’s success. The critics’ consensus review on Rotten Tomatoes can be read as, “Joaquin Phoenix’s eponymous Joker takes the stand in a sequel that dances around while the story remains still, although Lady Gaga’s wildcard energy gives Folie á Deux some verve.”
“When you greenlight a sequel, you hope it does the business that the previous one did. This is definitely a concern. Warners wanted the sequel and probably overspent to get it to happen,” Jeff Bock, Senior Box Office Analyst at Exhibitor Relations, told Variety.
Directed by Todd Phillips, the sequel sees Arthur meeting Harleen Quinzel, played by Lady Gaga, while he is in Arkham Asylum for murder. The film plays out as a fantasy musical, featuring covers of songs like Get Happy, That’s Entertainment and For Once in My Life.
“Todd Phillips wanted to do something completely different, but musical numbers in a superhero film were always going to be a tough sell to mainstream audiences,” said Bock.
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