"Joker: Folie à Deux" Faces Box Office Struggles After D CinemaScore
Published on October 6, 2024 at 5:25 PM by Subash-author
"Joker: Folie à Deux" is off to a challenging start at the box office. Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker alongside Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, the R-rated sequel garnered only $20 million on its opening day (Oct. 4), including $7 million from previews. Industry forecasts now suggest the Warner Bros. film may debut below $50 million.
A key factor in its underwhelming performance is the film's disappointing D CinemaScore, marking a historic low for a Hollywood comic book movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Critics have noted the film's narrative issues, with THR's chief film critic David Rooney commenting that "Folie à Deux" feels "narratively thin and at times dull" despite its lengthy runtime of over two hours.
Expectations were high for the sequel, especially after the original "Joker" opened to $96.2 million in 2019 and received a B+ CinemaScore, ultimately grossing over $1 billion globally.
In "Joker 2," Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck, now imprisoned in Arkham Asylum, where he encounters Gaga’s Harleen "Lee" Quinzel. Together, they forge a chaotic alliance with plans to unleash mayhem across Gotham City.