Joker: Folie a Deux Fails to Impress the Audience and Struggles at the Box Office
The much-anticipated sequel to director Todd Phillips’s 2019 film on Arthur Fleck a.k.a the Joker, Joker: Folie a Deux is struggling to make its mark after failing to impress audiences and critics alike. Although it’s currently at the top of the box office charts, the film opened to a lukewarm $40 million in ticket sales, less than half of what its prequel garnered on its opening day.
The 2019 film opened to a whopping USD$96.2 million and became a sensation with movie goers and critics showering praises alike. However, before the release of Joker: Folie a Deux, global film ticket sales tracking organizations estimated it would open to approximately USD$70 million. That was the first sign of trouble.
Exit polls have forecasted a grim run for the film which reportedly cost three times as much as Joker to make! While the film generated much ado with its teaser and trailer, now that the film is showing in theaters, it seems to be about nothing. Fans are bewildered to find out how the same team that delivered Joker faltered so badly that Folie a Deux failed to make a mark on the audience.
That said, Joker: Folie a Deux was off to a good start when it debuted to a selective audience during the Venice Film Festival. It even got a 12-minute standing ovation. But the moment seems to have passed and the glory has definitely been shortlived.
Whatever business the film has done overseas seems to be its only saving grace. Currently, Joker: Folie a Deux has generated USD$81.1 million in ticket sales and is well on its way to garnering the predicted USD$121.1 million. The film is yet to be released in China and Japan, although experts say it’s poised to do good business in both countries.
However, Joker: Folie a Deux will most certainly not match up to its predecessor and box office phenomenon Joker. The 2019 film earned its lead actor Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor in a Lead Role and the 2024 film had quite a legacy to live up to!
The film is an antihero-musical mashup that stars pop singer and actress Lady Gaga as the lead protagonist’s romantic interest, Harley Quinn. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck/Joker even in the sequel.
