Joker Sequel Stumbles at the Box Office A Closer Look at Audience Reactions

Todd Phillips' sequel Joker: Folie à Deux underperformed at the box office, debuting with an estimated $40 million domestically, falling short of initial projections. The film, a blend of antihero narrative and musical elements, became the first comic book adaptation to receive a D CinemaScore, indicating a lukewarm audience reception. Early exit polls echoed this sentiment, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the film's genre mix. The opening weekend saw less than half the revenue of the first Joker movie, which had a much more successful launch.

Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, Joker: Folie à Deux was originally projected to open between $50 million and $60 million, with some rival studios predicting even higher numbers. However, estimates continued to fall throughout the weekend. When Warner Bros. began tracking three weeks prior to release, the film was expected to gross around $70 million. The disappointing turnout has been attributed to poor word of mouth.

Internationally, the film opened in most regions, with the exceptions of Japan and China, which will see releases in the coming weeks. Warner Bros. had anticipated foreign earnings of $80 million to $85 million, but those figures were not immediately available.

Phillips' original Joker (2019) had a record-breaking debut, earning $96.2 million domestically and ultimately surpassing $1 billion globally. The film was well-received, with a B+ CinemaScore and a 68 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In contrast, Folie à Deux holds a 33 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been criticized for its slow pace and thin narrative. While the film was praised for its visuals and performances, some reviews, such as one from The Hollywood Reporter, noted the sequel's lack of depth.

Despite the reception, the film aims to be a contender in the Oscars, especially for Phoenix and Gaga's performances. With a budget of approximately $190 million to $200 million, Joker: Folie à Deux represents a significant increase from the $55 million budget of the first film, partly due to the addition of Lady Gaga in a role inspired by Harley Quinn. The movie includes fantasy musical sequences featuring Arthur and his new partner, as they navigate their troubled lives.

Phillips and Phoenix initially considered a Broadway adaptation before deciding on the film sequel, continuing the story of Arthur Fleck's chaotic descent. While not a traditional musical, the movie features musical numbers between the two lead characters, differing from classic musicals which typically include ensemble performances.

@thethings @celebrityinsight12 @CelebrityNewsCn @BuzzFeedCeleb

[conpilli]

Good hopefully they can stop making stupid movies and inaccurate to comic book characters.