7 october 2024 : Joker: Folie à Deux, one of the year’s most anticipated films, has proven to be a significant letdown at both the US and global box office. While it debuted at the top spot in North America, its earnings fell far short of expectations, particularly when compared to its 2019 predecessor, Joker. The film reportedly had a production budget of $190 million.
Despite initial enthusiasm and pre-sales predictions of $70 million, the film suffered a disappointing opening weekend. It received a low D rating from CinemaScore and faced negative word-of-mouth from fans. According to trade analyst Luiz Fernando, the Joaquin Phoenix-led sequel earned approximately $81.1 million over its first six days, a stark contrast to the original’s $150.8 million opening in 2019. The film’s opening weekend in North America is estimated at $40 million, down from earlier projections that ranged from $50 million to $65 million, which were later adjusted to a maximum of $70 million.
Internationally, Joker 2 was released in over 70 countries, but its worldwide performance mirrored the disappointing domestic numbers, grossing $121.1 million globally. This figure pales in comparison to the original’s impressive $247 million. Notably, Joker 2 fell short of The Flash, which earned $130.1 million upon its debut, and even Black Adam, starring Dwayne Johnson, outperformed it with $142.9 million, according to reports from Koimoi.