by “Joker: Folie à Deux” is a blockbuster.
The comic book sequel from Warner Bros. Pictures stumbled to first place at the domestic box office this weekend, grossing $40 million, according to studio estimates.
The highly anticipated film failed to match the success of its Oscar-winning predecessor, which opened to $96.2 million in 2019 and broke October’s box office record in the United States and Canada.
The second installment in director Todd Phillips’ “Joker” saga — starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga — fell far short of analysts’ expectations, who estimate the comic book adaptation will earn somewhere between $50 million and $50 million domestically. 65 million would launch.
The new “Joker” also cost significantly more than its predecessor, with a reported budget of at least $190 million before release. The original cost $55 million to make.
The film was expected to fall short of the original’s impressive debut after generating just $7 million in previews on Thursday. By comparison, “Joker” has collected $13.3 million in Thursday previews.
Internationally, “Joker: Folie à Deux” earned $81.1 million for a worldwide debut gross of $121.1 million.
Rounding out the top three at the domestic box office this weekend were Universal Pictures’ “The Wild Robot,” which took in $18.7 million in its second weekend for a year-to-date total of $64 million; and Warner Bros.’ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which added $10.3 million in its fifth outing for a total of $265.5 million.
Joker: Folie à Deux stars Phoenix as the titular antihero Arthur Fleck and Gaga as his cackling love interest and partner-in-crime Harleen Francis Quinzel (better known as Harley Quinn). The main ensemble also includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and returning cast member Zazie Beetz.
Unlike the first film – which received critical acclaim and eleven Oscar nominations – ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ has been plagued by negative reviews. The sequel received a terrible 34% rating on the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes and a dismal “D” rating from audiences surveyed by CinemaScore.
“Folie à Deux” also differs from “Joker” in another important way: it is a musical. Or, as Phillips has tactfully described it: ‘a film in which music is an essential element.’
“There are eleven songs on the soundtrack album and more than that in the film, presented in whole or in pieces. The numbers sometimes serve a narrative purpose, other times not so much,” writes Michael Ordoña for the LA Times.
“The performers are wild, but these musical breaks test our patience. They often break the momentum, and there isn’t much of that at first, without any attempt to create tension about the verdict or any grand plan. [Phoenix] or Lee [Gaga] could come true. That lack of cheerful masterminding is a painful reminder that this isn’t anything close to “Joker.” ”
Coming to theaters next weekend are Cineverse Corp.’s “Terrifier 3,” Sony Pictures’ expansion of “Saturday Night,” Focus Features’ “Piece by Piece,” A24’s “We Live in Time” and “My Hero Academia” from Toho International: You’re next.”
