Joker 2 Disappoints at the Box Office

Despite topping the box office with $40 million in revenue, *Joker: Folie à Deux* failed to match the success of its predecessor. The sequel to the box office hit Joker (2019), Joker: Folie à Deux, grossed $40 million but received poor reviews. While it secured the number one spot, the film fell short of early U.S. ticket sale projections, which estimated an opening weekend gross between $50 million and $65 million.

This performance is significantly lower than its predecessor, which set an October record with $96.2 million in its opening weekend five years ago. The drastic difference between the films’ performances is concerning for Warner Bros., especially considering the first film’s huge success and the damaging word-of-mouth circulating about the sequel.

Warner Bros. spent $65 million on the original film but increased the budget to $200 million for the sequel. According to sources, Folie à Deux needs to gross at least $450 million to avoid losses.

However, the film has not been well-received by audiences, earning only 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and receiving a “D” CinemaScore.

Directed by Todd Phillips, *Joker: Folie à Deux* focuses on Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck as he serves time in Arkham Asylum for murder, where he meets fellow inmate and partner-in-crime Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (played by Lady Gaga). Much of the sequel unfolds as a fantastical musical, featuring covers of songs like “Get Happy,” “That’s Entertainment,” and “For Once in My Life.”