As a seasoned movie buff with over three decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that the box office debacle that is Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie À Deux” has left me quite dismayed. I remember the anticipation and excitement surrounding the first “Joker,” which was a masterpiece in its own right. The sequel, however, seems to have missed the mark entirely. It’s like comparing a gourmet meal to a bowl of instant noodles – both might fill you up, but one leaves you craving more.
For months, if not years, anticipation for Todd Phillips’ upcoming film Joker: Folie À Deux has been steadily rising. The original Joker, released in 2019, turned out to be a cultural sensation. It raked in over $1 billion globally and set the record for the highest-grossing R-rated film ever made, with Joaquin Phoenix receiving an Academy Award for his portrayal of the title character. Movie fans worldwide eagerly awaited the sequel, especially considering Lady Gaga’s significant role. However, those expectations weren’t met in the end.
Instead, the highly anticipated sequel to “Joker,” titled “Joker: Folie À Deux, is swiftly turning into a disappointment.” The costly follow-up film has been met with harsh criticism from both critics and audiences, leading to disappointing box office figures during its debut weekend. For the complete Top 10 ranking, see below, and let’s discuss further insights later on.
Joker: Folie À Deux Stuns With An Extremely Mild Opening Weekend
When it debuted in late 2019, the movie “Joker” was not a slow-grower; instead, it immediately captured a wide audience. For comic book enthusiasts, it offered an unprecedented cinematic experience. The anticipation surrounding its release was immense, causing the film to rake in $96.2 million domestically within its first three days – an impressive feat given its R-rating. As audiences eagerly awaited its sequel, “Joker: Folie À Deux,” similar box office success was anticipated… but fell short dramatically. In fact, it didn’t even approach the initial expectations.
As a gamer, I was hyped for the release of “Joker: Folie À Deux” in 2024, but when I saw the initial box office numbers, I have to admit I was a bit underwhelmed. The movie only made around $40 million during its opening weekend, which isn’t terrible on its own – it ranks as the 15th biggest debut of the year, just behind Fede Álvarez’s “Alien: Romulus” that earned $42 million in August. However, considering the high expectations I had built up based on predictions, this start feels like a major letdown.
If the production cost of “Joker: Folie À Deux” had been roughly equivalent to its predecessor, there wouldn’t be a problem. However, the filmmakers and studio seemed overly confident with the sequel, leading to a significant increase in budget. As reported by Variety in February, the original “Joker” was made on a budget of $60 million, but the follow-up is estimated to have cost nearly four times as much, around $200 million. The film’s financial stability would be secure if opening weekend ticket sales remained steady, but they didn’t, and it seems that the movie featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga may become one of the notable box office flops in 2024.
Beyond its rocky initial release, it seems that Joker: Folie À Deux may also face challenges in terms of audience word-of-mouth. Reviews began surfacing online after the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival (you can find my 2.5-star review of Joker: Folie À Deux on TopMob, published last month). While the initial response was not overwhelmingly positive, the situation has since deteriorated for the film following its theatrical debut. Moreover, the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes scores are almost identical to those of a rough film, and it has received a “D” grade from CinemaScore surveys (the previous film, despite its dark themes, had earned a “B+”).
Despite experiencing weak domestic performance, there’s a positive aspect emerging from international markets regarding the film Joker: Folie à Deux. To date, it has generated $81 million outside of the U.S. and Canada, contributing to a global total of $121 million. However, box office sales are projected to decline significantly in the upcoming weeks, and the budget for this sequel doesn’t account for promotional expenses yet.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m eagerly anticipating the unfolding box office drama for the remainder of October. Initially, there was a strong belief in Hollywood circles that “Joker 2” would rule the charts throughout the month. However, it appears that its chances of retaining the top spot in next weekend’s Top 10 are dwindling. This potential shift could pave the way for upcoming blockbusters like Kelly Marcel’s “Venom: The Last Dance” and Parker Finn’s “Smile 2” to make a splash. On the flip side, this change might also dampen the overall market.
Needless to say, next weekend’s ticket sales will be interesting.
The Wild Robot Has A Soft Drop Amid Awesome Buzz
The disappointing showing of “Joker: Folie À Deux” is disheartening for those hoping for the film industry’s prosperity, but there’s a silver lining to this weekend’s box office figures – Chris Sanders’ “The Wild Robot” has been well-received. Although it didn’t set any records when it hit theaters at the end of September, DreamWorks Animation’s latest release, initially not a blockbuster debut, has won over almost everyone who watched it (I personally gave “The Wild Robot” 4.5 stars in my TopMob review). The film has garnered praise from both critics and audiences, and this positive reception led to what can be called a successful second weekend at the box office.
Due to the release of “Joker: Folie À Deux,” “The Wild Robot” earned an additional $18.7 million domestically over the past three days, marking a modest 48% drop from its initial strong debut. To date, this animated film, starring Lupita Nyong’o and Pedro Pascal, has amassed $64 million in the US and Canada, with an additional $35.5 million earned overseas, bringing its total global earnings to over $100 million. Although its earnings are not as impressive as “Kung Fu Panda 4” or “Inside Out 2,” which were released earlier this year, it doesn’t have the same advantage of a large pre-existing fanbase since it isn’t a sequel.
In the coming week, we can anticipate some exciting new movies joining the current lineup, including “The Apprentice” directed by Ali Abbasi featuring Sebastian Stan, the horror film “Terrifier 3” by Damien Leone, the Pharrell Williams biopic “Piece By Piece” from Morgan Neville, and “Saturday Night” by Jason Reitman. Make sure to visit TopMob next Sunday for the weekend box office results, and take a peek at our 2024 Movie Release Calendar to learn about all the upcoming titles hitting theaters and streaming services in the rest of this year.
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2024-10-06 22:07