Joker 2 collapses at the global box office
Published in 2019, Joker by Todd Phillips was a huge success, both critically and commercially. With a budget of just $65 million, the film grossed over $1.078 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the the biggest hit of all time for an R-rated film (before being dethroned this year by Deadpool and Wolverine).
Based on this triumph, a sequel titled Joker: Folie a Deux was launched with a colossal budget of 200 million dollars. Released in theaters at the beginning of October, it faces a very complicated path at the global box office, far from Warner Bros.’ expectations.
Thus, within two weeks of release, the film only grossed $51.5 million in the North American market and $165 million internationally. In comparison, the former Joker it had raised $96.2 million in North America and $248.4 million worldwide in just three days of activity. It was even surpassed by this horror film rated for under 18s in France.
Between 125 and 200 million losses for Warner Bros.
Current projections estimate this Folie a Deux I could barely reaching $210-215 million at the end of its worldwide theatrical run.
However, with a production cost of $200 million, not counting the 100 million dollars spent on marketingit seems unlikely that the film will reach the 450 million needed to make its investment in theaters profitable.
According to sources at Warner Bros. quoted by Varietythe film could at best break even at $375 million, but other industry experts estimate losses could be as high as between 125 and 200 million dollars. An astronomical sum for a long-awaited sequel.
A streaming arrival to limit the damage
Warner Bros. hopes to limit the damage thanks to streaming platforms and the release of video on demand. The film will be available on platforms from October 29 in the United Stateswhich could help offset part of the losses recorded in theaters.
However, even taking these sources of income into account, this seems unlikely to happen Joker: Folie a Deux manages to avoid a heavy financial toll.
This sensational flop is part of it Complicated last few months for blockbuster sequels dedicated to superheroes. Just like Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom AND The Wonderstwo sequels that failed to catch up to their predecessors at the box office, Joker 2 illustrates the saturation of a once untouchable genre.
Studios now appear to be facing increasingly low audience tolerance for productions deemed “just okay.” If Joker: Folie a Deux will go down in history as a bold artistic (musical) gamble, it could also be one of Warner Bros.’ biggest financial failures in recent years.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
