Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix will never hear the end of fans whining about how underwhelmingJoker: Folie à Deuxwas. Having achieved so much with the initial release in 2019, Phillips probably thought he could get away with adding an unusual and unexpected twist to the sequel. But things simply haven’t worked out in his favor this time.
It has been just over two weeks since the movie’s release, and the fact that the Joker’s story was transformed into a musical has backfired big time! Things are getting so out of hand that Warner Bros. is about to add the movie to streaming platforms to alleviate the damage that it might endure during its theatrical run. But what’s worse is other small-budget films are doing far better thanJoker: Folie à Deux.
Joker: Folie à Deux gets embarrassed by Naomi Scott’s Smile 2 in terms of rating
The first Joker movie did exceptionally well at the box office during its theatrical run earning nearly $100 million midway through its release week and eventually crossing over a billion at the box office, which was a massive surprise toTodd Phillipsand the entire world.
Considering how well the first movie did, you can’t blame fans for expecting the sequel to be a hit. But the movie was far from what people expected it to be. Rather than seeing Arthur Fleck engage in some psychotic murders, we witnessedJoaquin Phoenix’s character get rag-dolled by his inmates and the police while being belittled by Lady Gaga’s Harleen Quinzel.
Even Gotham Fans Agree as David Mazouz Explains Why Joker 2 is “Over-hated”
According toVariety,Joker: Folie à Deuxwas budgeted around $300 million, however, it would need to make at least $375 million to break even according to Warner Bros. Right now, the movie has only made just above $165 million and things seem to be moving extremely slow as well.
What’s upsetting is a smaller-budget movie likeSmile 2is already projected to make more than its budget during opening week. The Paramount sequel starringNaomiScottis reportedly expected to make over $20 million in it’s first week (viaDeadline) and this could improve over time.
WhileJoker: Folie à Deuxhas earned a significantly higher amount financially,Smile 2dwarfs Phillips sequel with a79% ratingon Rotten Tomatoes. Phillips and his gang received an upsetting32% ratingfrom critics.
Joker: Folie à Deux is on the verge of losing big money!
The 2024 Joker film’s run has been disastrous so far. It has been announced that the movie will be available to stream on various platforms starting August 24, 2025, which is barely a month since its release. Well, you have to do whatever it takes to avoid the “flop” tagline, right?
Based on the numbers provided by Variety,Joker: Folie à Deuxwon’t earn as much as it needs to break even by the end of its theatrical run. Variety estimates the film to lose between $150 million and $200 million.
Colin Farrell Touching Heath Ledger’s Level of Glory in ‘The Penguin’ is Something Joaquin Phoenix Could Only Dream of
Warner Bros. also commented on various sources speaking of its poor performance. A spokespersonsaid,
Any estimates suggested by anonymous ‘insiders’ or ‘rival executives’ are grossly wrong and continue a trend where rumor is reported as fact. The film continues to play in theatrical release, included with this week’s opening in China, and will continue to earn revenue throughout its home viewing and ancillary run.
Phillips is certainly to blame in this case since making it into a musical completely isolates its original fanbase that prefers to watch Joker get his hands dirty. For all we know, the film could’ve been a musical but Phillips handled the script terribly.
Rakibul John Rodgers
Articles Published :160
Rakib is a writer at Fandomwire. He loves to delve into the worlds of horror, mystery, and pop culture. With a keen interest in sports, particularly basketball and MMA, he stays up-to-date on the latest developments. Outside of writing, Rakib values time with loved ones and finds solace in music, his first love.
