The long wait for ‘Joker’ fans has finally ended as Joker: Folie à Deux, directed by Todd Phillips, hit theaters globally today, October 5. However, the sequel seems to have fallen short of the box office magic that its predecessor, released in 2019, created.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the film has so far earned $7 million at the box office, significantly lower than the $13.3 million that the original film earned upon its release. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Warner Bros.-produced sequel is projected to bring in between $50 million and $65 million in its opening weekend. This projection pales in comparison to the $96.2 million opening weekend of the first Joker film.
The film debuted in India on October 2, where it has only garnered Rs 7.75 crore ($930,000) so far. Recent figures show that the movie earned Rs 1.35 crore ($162,000) on Friday and Rs 1.25 crore ($150,000) today, Saturday.
Given these early box office numbers, Joker 2 seems to be facing a tough challenge in meeting expectations.
Despite the financial hurdles, the performances of Phoenix and Gaga have received critical acclaim, even if the storyline of the sequel hasn’t resonated as strongly with audiences. After the success of the original film, there was significant anticipation for the follow-up, but the narrative this time around has struggled to capture the same level of interest.
It’s worth noting that the 2019 Joker made history by crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide, becoming the first R-rated film to do so. It also earned 11 Oscar nominations, with Joaquin Phoenix winning Best Actor and the film taking home the award for Best Original Score.
