'Joker' sequel stumbles at box office, faces major losses

"Joker: Folie à Deux" was expected to be a major box office hit. How could it not be, given that the first installment grossed over a billion dollars worldwide and was a sensation in 2019? However, the second installment of the Joker saga is struggling with viewer reception.

The 2019 "Joker," starring Joaquin Phoenix, was a box office giant. The world was captivated by Phoenix's brilliant performance as Arthur Fleck, a life-weary, isolated man spiraling into madness, determined to unleash his fury upon the world. Directed by Todd Phillips, the film was a phenomenon, earning over a billion dollars in ticket sales and winning two Oscars out of its 11 nominations, including Best Actor and Best Original Score. Since October 4, the sequel "Joker: Folie à Deux" has been in cinemas, but audience attendance has been lackluster.

Diplomatically speaking, "Folie à Deux" will not replicate the success of the first film. It is already being discussed as a major financial setback. After the failure of Kevin Costner's "Horizon," it's the second such significant Hollywood disappointment this year.

Earlier in September, forecasts predicted the film would earn $130 to $150 million in the United States over its first three days. However, following its premiere in Venice, where initial negative reviews emerged alongside review bombing—where groups give negative ratings to a film without having watched it—the ratings for "Joker" began to fall sharply.

The opening weekend gross was a mere $37.5 million. The second weekend was even worse, with earnings of $7.1 million. This $200 million production was overshadowed in theaters by a horror film made on just a $2 million budget—"Terrifier 3" grossed $18.3 million in its opening weekend in the United States.

Projections indicate that "Folie à Deux" might end with a $65 million domestic total and a global maximum of $215 million, posing a significant problem for Warner Bros. According to Warner Bros. insiders, the film needs $375 million to break even, though current expectations suggest "Folie à Deux" will suffer losses between $150 million and $200 million. Warner Bros. counters these claims, emphasizing that the film is still in theaters and could receive a financial boost from VOD platforms.

"Variety" reports that fans won’t have to wait long for the film's streaming release. It's suggested that the second "Joker" will be available on a platform as soon as October 29, just in time for Halloween. As a reminder, the first part can be watched on Netflix or Prime Video.