Joker 2 flops: only $40 million – viewers are disappointed!

Joker 2 flops: only $40 million – viewers are disappointed!

The sequel to the dark comic hit “Joker” entitled “Joker: Folie à Deux” got off to a disappointing start in American cinemas. After the stellar debut of the first film, which grossed over $96 million on its opening weekend five years ago, the sequel's premiere only grossed around $40 million. These low earnings have caused concern in the industry, with numerous media reports labeling it as an indicator of a flop.

“Joker: Folie à Deux,” which was directed by Todd Phillips and stars stars like Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, attempts to implement a musical concept that doesn’t seem to go down well with fans. The combination of musical elements with the dark atmosphere in Gotham City apparently disappointed many viewers and expectations were not met.

Negative reactions from viewers

In addition to weak earnings, the film also recorded disastrous ratings among viewers. Surveys by “Cinemascore” give the new film a grade of D, which is considered particularly bad on a scale from A+ to F. Such ratings often indicate weak word of mouth, potentially leading to further box office declines. This rating is notable because it marks a new low: it is the first comic book adaptation to receive a D rating. For comparison: The original “Joker” received a B+ rating in 2019.

The version of Joker: Folie à Deux aims to bring the characters Joker and Harley Quinn to life through musical performances, but many fans find this incongruous with the dark atmosphere of the original. The emotional songs stand in stark contrast to the grim subject matter that drew viewers to the original story of the Joker's personal abyss.

A look at global revenue shows a slightly more positive picture: over $81 million was generated outside North America, bringing the total to over $121 million. Still, the film falls far short of production costs, which are reportedly around $200 million. A good start would normally have resulted in production costs being recouped in just one weekend, but that is clearly not the case here. These aspects illustrate the challenges faced by “Joker: Folie à Deux” as well as the disappointed expectations of the film industry.

The coming weeks are crucial to see whether negative reviews from audiences will impact the film's overall performance. Films that generate little positive word of mouth after a weak launch often struggle to recover in the following weeks. Ultimately, the film could not build on its limited international success, which poses major challenges for the creatives and studio Warner Bros. as to whether the artistic approach and branding decisions worked. “Joker: Folie à Deux” currently remains one of the most controversial films released in recent months.

For further insights and information on these developments see the current reporting on www.radioeuskirchen.de.