Warner Bros. latest release, Joker: Folie à Deux, has turned out to be a major disappointment both critically and financially, heading to digital just a few weeks after its premiere.
The film’s box office earnings fell far short of studio and audience expectations. The sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Joker has grossed just 51.5 million dollars domestically and 165 million dollars globally after two weeks, leaving the studio facing significant losses.
The film’s production costs ballooned to around 200 million dollars, with an additional 100 million dollars spent on marketing, putting it on track to lose between 150 million and 200 million dollars.
The original Joker was a massive success, earning over 1 billion dollars worldwide, but Folie à Deux has not followed suit.
The decision by director Todd Phillips to add musical elements, courtroom dramas, and a bizarre romance between Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn appears to have alienated audiences—especially the musical elements.
The film suffered an alarming 81 per cent drop in revenue during its second weekend, a sharp decline even compared to other recent comic book flops like The Flash and The Marvels.
In addition to its poor box office performance, Joker: Folie à Deux has been met with lacklustre reviews. It holds a 33 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics expressing disappointment in Phillips’ creative choices.
Despite the film’s failure in theatres, Warner Bros. hopes to recover some of its losses when Joker: Folie à Deux becomes available on digital platforms on October 29.
However, the film’s steep decline in earnings and negative word of mouth suggests a significant fall from grace for a franchise that once seemed untouchable.
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