Box Office: Joker: Folie à Deux Falls Short with $20 Million Opening Day

Todd Phillips’ highly anticipated sequel “Joker: Folie à Deux,” despite its previous successes, stumbled at its box office debut. The film, which brought Joaquin Phoenix back in his Academy Award-winning role as Arthur Fleck, couldn’t replicate the success of its predecessor.

On its release date of October 4, the film’s initial earnings fell short of expectations, bringing in only $20 million, including $7 million from preview showings. Although the musical drama is projected to earn between $42 million and $47 million over its opening weekend, these figures are significantly below the anticipated $50 million to $65 million.

The film’s reception has been notably negative, with word-of-mouth expected to further dampen future ticket sales. This represents a substantial disappointment compared to the original “Joker,” which opened to $96.2 million in 2019 and ultimately grossed over $1 billion worldwide on a budget of $65 million. In contrast, “Folie à Deux” was produced on a much larger budget of $200 million.

Additionally, the sequel has received a D CinemaScore from audiences, marking a rare low score for a Hollywood comic book movie.

The narrative continues to follow Arthur Fleck, who grapples with his infamous alter ego while on trial in Arkham. In the midst of his legal troubles, he encounters Lee, or Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga, who becomes his love interest and musical companion. The film features other notable actors such as Brendan Gleeson, Harry Lawtey, and Catherine Keener.

Critical reception has been tepid. WION’s film critic Shomini Sen described “Joker: Folie à Deux” as “dull” and “uninspiring,” noting that it lacked the provocative impact of the first film and suffered from a sluggish pace and underutilization of Lady Gaga’s character. The film’s lengthy sequences and overall tedium have left many disappointed, a stark contrast to the original film’s acclaim.