Joker: Folie À Deux Opens to $20 Million, Faces Criticism and Budget Concerns
The latest installment, *Joker: Folie À Deux*, featuring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, has drastically underperformed at the box office, earning only $20 million on opening night. With a dismal CinemaScore of D, it has received harsh criticism for its bleak tone and musical elements, contrasting sharply with its predecessor's success. The sequel's budget soared to approximately $200 million, raising concerns about its viability amid poor audience and critic reception, as reflected in low scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
Joker: Folie À Deux, featuring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, has faced a tumultuous reception, struggling at the box office and receiving the lowest CinemaScore in comic book movie history. Despite its intriguing title, the film's content has left audiences perplexed.
Box Office Results Reveal Disappointment
The psychological musical thriller was released in theaters on October 4, but managed to earn only $20 million domestically on its opening weekend, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Critics have described the film as 'bleak' and 'disappointing,' and it has been assigned a D rating on CinemaScore, marking the lowest score for any comic book film recorded to date. For context, Madame Web, which also performed poorly at the box office this year, achieved a C+ score.
Comparative Performance with Previous Installment
The sequel's performance starkly contrasts with the first installment, Joker (2019), which debuted to $96.2 million and eventually grossed over $1 billion globally. The first movie, directed by Todd Phillips, had a production budget of between $55 and $70 million, whereas Folie À Deux comes with a lofty budget around $200 million. The expectations set for the sequel were significantly higher, projecting a $70 million opening weekend, a figure that has now been revised downward.
Critical Reception and Audience Feedback
As of now, Joker: Folie À Deux holds an audience score of just 31 percent and a critic score of 33 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Many viewers have taken to social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction, with comments highlighting the film's perceived flaws, including its musical elements. Some fans have articulated disappointment over the narrative direction, questioning whether the musical format was appropriate given the original film's tone.
Reflections from the Director and Future Prospects
In light of the film's reception, Todd Phillips recently addressed the possibility of a third Joker installment or a film centered around Harleen Quinzel, asserting that for him, this current film represents an endpoint within the DC Universe. His reflections suggest a singular focus on these two projects, leaving the future of the franchise uncertain.
