Joker: Folie à Deux Faces Challenging Box Office Projections Despite Star-Studded Cast

The highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Joker , titled Joker: Folie Deux , is set to hit theaters on October 4, 2024, but early box office projections indicate a less than stellar start. Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the film is a jukebox musical and courtroom drama that follows the complex relationship between Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) and Harleen 'Lee' Quinzel (Lady Gaga).

Unlike its predecessor, which debuted with a record-breaking $96 million in October 2019, Joker: Folie Deux is projected to open significantly lower. According to Box Office Theory, the film is expected to gross between $44 million to $57 million in its domestic debut across 4,000 U.S. theaters. This range is a substantial drop from initial forecasts in September, which had suggested a potential opening of $70 million.

The lower projections place Joker: Folie Deux in a challenging position, particularly when compared to other recent DC films. For instance, if it opens at the higher end of the projection at $57 million, it would still be below the $67 million opening of Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam in 2022, despite both films having similar Rotten Tomatoes scores. The film's performance is also being drawn in comparison to The Flash , which started with $55 million, and The Marvels , which had a franchise-low opening weekend of $46 million.

Globally, Joker: Folie Deux is eyeing a $140 million opening, which is far below the nearly $250 million worldwide debut of the first Joker film. The production cost of Joker: Folie Deux is reported to be around $190 million, a significant increase from the $70 million budget of the original, which went on to gross over $1 billion and net a profit of $437 million for its studios.

In India, the film has had a mixed start. While it opened with 5 crore, surpassing the first day collection of the original Joker , the word-of-mouth and audience reception have been negative. This could lead to a significant drop in subsequent weeks, similar to other films that have faced poor audience reviews in the region.

The film's unique blend of a jukebox musical and courtroom drama, while ambitious, has not resonated well with critics and early audiences. Despite its star-studded cast, including Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, and Harry Lawtey, Joker: Folie Deux is unlikely to replicate the success of its predecessor. The original Joker was a groundbreaking film that won several awards, including the Golden Lion and the Best Actor Oscar for Joaquin Phoenix's performance.

As the film opens in theaters, it remains to be seen whether it can find its footing and appeal to fans of the original despite the initial box office projections and mixed reviews.

Learn More at Direct Post.