Warner Bros.’ “Joker: Folie à Deux” has stumbled out of the gate with a $20 million opening day from 4,102 locations, a steep decline from the original Joker’s $96.2 million debut in 2019. Despite the star-studded cast, including Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the film is on track to earn less than $50 million for the weekend, well below expectations.The film, which had a massive $200 million production budget, has faced mixed reviews, receiving a “D” CinemaScore from early audiences. Directed by Todd Phillips, “Folie à Deux” is a musical and psychological love story, focusing on the twisted relationship between Phoenix’s Joker and Gaga’s Harley Quinn.
However, the combination of the musical format and its hefty budget may be contributing factors to its sluggish performance.In comparison, the first Joker was a box office sensation, grossing over $1 billion worldwide on a modest $65 million budget. With Folie à Deux failing to meet early box office projections, it raises concerns about the profitability of the sequel, especially given the higher production costs and tepid audience reception.Other films at the box office fared better in comparison. The Wild Robot dropped to second place, adding $4.9 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total past $50 million.
Tim Burton’s spooky sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice held onto third place with $2.7 million on Friday, surpassing $250 million at the domestic box office.Despite this shaky start, Joker: Folie à Deux may still find its footing internationally or through continued buzz, but its current performance highlights the challenges facing big-budget sequels in today’s competitive market.
