Los Angeles, CA – Despite high expectations, the movie “Joker: Folie à Deux” failed to make a strong impact at the box office. The Warner Bros. Pictures’ sequel, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, only managed to gross $40 million in its opening weekend in the United States. This figure fell short of the $96.2 million that its predecessor earned in 2019, setting an October box office record at the time. Analysts had projected the new “Joker” to debut with a higher revenue, estimating figures between $50 million and $65 million domestically.
One of the factors contributing to the underperformance of “Joker: Folie à Deux” could be its higher production budget compared to the original film. With an estimated cost of at least $190 million before marketing, the sequel far exceeded the $55 million budget of the first installment. Despite generating only $7 million in Thursday previews, the new film received negative reviews and a lackluster reception from audiences. The international box office earnings of “Joker: Folie à Deux” reached $81.1 million, resulting in a worldwide debut gross of $121.1 million.
Competing at the domestic box office were Universal Pictures’ “The Wild Robot,” collecting $18.7 million in its second weekend, and Warner Bros.’ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” grossing $10.3 million in its fifth outing. In “Joker: Folie à Deux,” Phoenix portrays the antihero Arthur Fleck, while Gaga plays his partner-in-crime Harleen Francis Quinzel, also known as Harley Quinn. The film includes an ensemble cast featuring Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Zazie Beetz.
Unlike its critically acclaimed predecessor, “Joker: Folie à Deux” received negative reviews and a low audience rating. The film deviates from the original by incorporating musical elements, which have been met with mixed reactions from viewers. With 11 songs on the soundtrack and musical breaks throughout the movie, some critics have expressed concerns about the pacing and coherence of the narrative.
Upcoming releases in theaters include “Terrifier 3,” “Saturday Night,” “Piece by Piece,” “We Live in Time,” and “My Hero Academia: You’re Next.” These films will offer audiences diverse options beyond the underperforming “Joker: Folie à Deux.”