What's happened
Joker: Folie à Deux has severely underperformed since its release on October 4, 2024, grossing only $165 million worldwide against a production budget of up to $300 million. The film's critical reception has been overwhelmingly negative, leading to projections of a financial loss between $125 million and $200 million.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Phil Hoad in The Guardian, the film's opening weekend gross of $37.7 million marked the largest second-weekend drop for a DC film at 81%. Hoad notes that the film's high production costs, reportedly around $300 million, have made its financial failure particularly stark. Annabel Nugent from The Independent highlights that the film has received negative reviews, with director Paul Schrader stating he found it a 'really bad musical.' Meanwhile, Andrew Pulver from The Guardian points out that the film's shift in genre may have alienated its core audience, which was drawn to the original's darker themes. The Independent also reports that the film's early digital release on October 29 aims to recoup losses, contrasting sharply with the original's delayed streaming availability.
How we got here
The sequel to the 2019 hit Joker, which grossed over $1 billion, was highly anticipated. However, its transition into a musical format and mixed reviews have contributed to its disappointing box office performance.
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