Joker: Sequel Stumbles at the Box Office Following Disappointing Reviews

“Joker: Folie à Deux” has debuted as the top film at the box office, but its prospects for success may be less than optimistic.

In a twist that Arthur Fleck himself might find amusing, the highly anticipated sequel to Todd Phillips’ 2019 origin story featuring the infamous Batman villain opened in theaters across the country this weekend, earning a disappointing $40 million. This figure is less than half of what its predecessor achieved during its opening weekend. The rapid decline in box office expectations has left industry insiders scratching their heads: What went wrong for this much-anticipated sequel to an Oscar-winning, billion-dollar blockbuster created by the same team?

Just three weeks prior, projections suggested that “Joker: Folie à Deux” could rake in around $70 million upon release. While that would still have marked a decline from “Joker’s” record-setting $96.2 million launch in October 2019, expectations were significantly shifted following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a mixed but enthusiastic reception and even earned a 12-minute standing ovation.

However, the initial excitement was short-lived. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score plummeted from 63% at Venice to just 33% by its opening weekend. Audience reactions were even more alarming, with opening-night viewers giving the film a poor D CinemaScore. Exit polls from PostTrak also painted a grim picture, awarding it only half a star out of five.

Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore, remarked, “That’s a double whammy that’s very difficult to recover from. The primary concern is the estimated budget. A $40 or $50 million opening for a less expensive film would generally be considered a solid start.”

“Joker: Folie à Deux” was produced at a cost reportedly at least double that of its predecessor, with figures ranging around either $190 million or under the reported $200 million. Warner Bros. released the film in 4,102 locations across North America, with about 12.5% of its domestic earnings coming from 415 IMAX screens.

Internationally, the film has garnered $81.1 million from 25,788 screens, bringing its estimated total worldwide earnings to $121.1 million. Over the next two weeks, “Joker 2” is also set to premiere in Japan and China.

In second place this weekend was Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s“The Wild Robot,” which added $18.7 million in its second weekend, pushing its domestic total closer to $64 million, with global earnings surpassing $100 million. Following in third place was Warner Bros.’ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” while Paramount’s “Transformers One” secured fourth, and Universal and Blumhouse’s “Speak No Evil” rounded out the top five with solid performances.

Another new release this weekend, Lionsgate’s “White Bird,” failed to make a mark, earning merely $1.5 million from over 1,000 locations, despite achieving an A+ CinemaScore.

While overall box office performance for the weekend showed an increase compared to the same period last year, the underwhelming start for “Joker: Folie à Deux” presents a troubling scenario for theater owners aiming to recover from existing box office deficits.

Fans and critics alike were excited for the sequel, which aimed to be as “audacious” as the original film. The follow-up incorporates Lady Gaga as a Joker enthusiast and further explores the psyche of Arthur Fleck, now incarcerated at Arkham and facing trial for the murders he committed in the first film. Unique to this installment, it is also a musical, featuring extravagant song and dance sequences set to classic songs, with Gaga releasing a companion album titled “‘Harlequin” alongside the movie.

Jake Coyle in his review for The Associated Press noted that “Phillips has continued his antihero narrative with a unique anti-sequel approach. It melds elements of prison drama, courtroom thriller, and musical, yet comes off as surprisingly lackluster when compared to the explosive nature of the original.”

This sequel has prompted considerable analytical discourse, with some critics suggesting that it may have alienated fans of the original film. It has been described by some as a “middle finger” to audiences. Yet, history has shown that fans often disregard critical reviews, particularly when it comes to beloved comic book characters making their way back to the big screen.

Dergarabedian concludes, “They took a bold leap, but audiences today tend to favor familiarity and what they know when it comes to theater outings.”

The sequel does have supporters, including acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola, who recently shared his admiration for Phillips on Instagram, stating, “@ToddPhillips films never cease to amaze me, and I enjoy them immensely. He has consistently stayed one step ahead of the audience since the incredible ‘The Hangover,’ always surprising with his creative choices.”

On a similar note, “Megalopolis,” Coppola’s ambitious project, experienced a huge drop of 74% in its second weekend, bringing in just over $1 million and totaling just shy of $6.5 million against a staggering $120 million budget.

Deadline editor Anthony D’Alessandro pointed out that the decision to turn the Joker sequel into a musical may have compromised its appeal to fans of the original. “No one who loved the first movie was asking for a musical sequel,” he remarked on Saturday.

The first “Joker” film stirred significant debate and controversy over its themes and potential messaging. Despite that, audiences flocked to cinemas, with the film ultimately earning 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, and winning three awards. It went on to achieve over $1 billion in global revenue, holding the title of the highest-grossing R-rated film until it was surpassed this summer by Marvel’s “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Estimated ticket sales for U.S. and Canadian theaters from Friday to Sunday, provided by Comscore, will finalize on Monday.

1. “Joker: Folie à Deux,” $40 million.

2. “The Wild Robot,” $18.7 million.

3. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” $10.3 million.

4. “Transformers One,” $5.4 million.

5. “Speak No Evil,” $2.8 million.

6. “Sam and Colby: The Legends of Paranormal,” $1.8 million.

7. “White Bird,” $1.5 million.

8. “Deadpool & Wolverine,” $1.5 million.

9. “The Substance,” $1.3 million.

10. “Megalopolis,” $1.1 million.