- By Srishti Pandey
- Tue, 08 Oct 2024 10:57 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Joker 2 Box Office: Joaquin Phoenix’s return as the Joker in Joker: Folie à Deux proved to be a disappointment at the box office. Directed by Todd Phillips, the movie opened with much anticipation but failed to deliver on expectations. Despite leading the North American box office initially, the film’s earnings were far from impressive compared to its predecessor.
Released on October 4, 2024, Joker 2 opened to a lukewarm reception, collecting just $37.8 million over its opening weekend in North America. This is in stark contrast to the 2019 release of Joker, which set an October record with $96.2 million. The disappointing opening weekend results led to the film earning a D grade from CinemaScore, indicating poor word-of-mouth reviews. In its first six days, the movie accumulated $81.1 million domestically, which is significantly lower than the $150.8 million that the original Joker earned in the same period.
The film’s initial tracking suggested it would rake in around $70 million in pre-sales. However, this number was revised down to between $50 million and $65 million. As reports by Variety highlighted, the final tally of $37.8 million is a clear indication of the movie falling short of expectations, especially for a film with a massive $200 million budget.
Joker 2 also struggled to make a mark globally, grossing only $121.1 million worldwide. In comparison, the original Joker earned $247 million worldwide in its first week. Even recent DC films like The Flash and Black Adam performed better, collecting $130.1 million and $142.9 million, respectively, during their initial runs. The tepid response from international markets further adds to the movie’s underwhelming performance.
Watch Joker 2 Trailer Here:
Why Did Joker 2 Fail?
Industry experts attribute the movie’s failure to several factors, one being the shift in tone from the first film. While the original was a dark and gritty drama that resonated deeply with audiences, Joker: Folie à Deux took a risk by incorporating musical elements. Covers of songs like That’s Life and Get Happy were part of the film’s attempt to differentiate itself, but it seems audiences weren’t on board with the change. As per a report by Variety, Jeff Bock, an analyst with Exhibitor Relations, commented that taking the musical route may have been a misstep. He said, “If you aren’t giving audiences what they want, I’m not sure who you’re serving.”
Additionally, Joker 2 faced tough comparisons with its predecessor, which became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, earning $1.078 billion globally on a modest $60 million budget. The sequel’s significantly higher budget, largely due to increased fees for Phoenix, Lady Gaga and director Todd Phillips, raised the stakes, but the movie’s earnings fell short of covering its costs.
