Arthur Fleck may be grinning in Joker: Folie à Deux, but the film’s anticipated box office numbers are no joke.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, early projections for the Warner Bros. film suggest it will debut with earnings between $50 million and $60 million in the U.S. This is a decline from the earlier estimate of $70 million made three weeks ago.
Internationally, Joker: Folie à Deux is expected to perform better, with projections of $80 million to $85 million for its opening weekend abroad. This could lead to a combined global total of around $140 million.
Despite the lower expectations, the film is far from being labeled a failure. It carries a substantial estimated production budget of $190 million, meaning Joker 2 is likely to yield a profit for Warner Bros. A $140 million global debut would typically be considered a success; however, the studio’s lofty aspirations stem from the original Joker film’s incredible box office performance.
The first Joker movie opened in October 2019 and defied expectations with a remarkable domestic debut of $96.2 million. It eventually grossed nearly $1.1 billion worldwide, establishing itself as the highest-grossing R-rated film until it was overtaken by Deadpool & Wolverine just this summer. Furthermore, Joker earned critical acclaim, winning the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and picking up two Oscars for Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) and Best Original Score, out of eleven nominations.
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie à Deux features Phoenix reprising his role as Arthur Fleck, who is now a patient at Arkham Asylum, awaiting trial for his past deeds. While incarcerated, Arthur develops a romantic connection with Lee (played by Lady Gaga), the future Harley Quinn. The film incorporates musical elements, although Phillips prefers not to label it as a musical.
Initial reviews for Joker 2 have sparked considerable debate among audiences, as it currently holds a score of 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and 47 on Metacritic.
Joker: Folie à Deux is set to hit theaters on October 4, 2024.
