- Content: JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX Continues its Historic Box Office Bomb
By Movieguide® Contributor
A week after JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX’s dismal box office debut, the movie has continued its historic dive, dropping 90% from its opening weekend.
Expectations were high for the sequel to 2019’s JOKER, which grossed over $1 billion at the box office, while nabbing two Oscars. While the original JOKER was extremely excessive in violence and abhorrent to watch, it came at a time when superhero movies were at their peak and criticized the qualities that have led to their subsequent downfall.
JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX, however, proves that the original movie succeeded in spite of its excess, not because of it. The sequel takes place in the same chaotic, evil world as the original, following a similar angry and insane character and plot that has been utterly rejected by audiences. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:
JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX is partly a musical. The songs, which include three famous pop music spirituals, are a high point. They even seem to help Arthur change for the better. However, the rest of the movie has a frequently dark mood full of chaos. The chaos ultimately overcomes any positive content or messages. Also, a shocking twist at the end is depressing. JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX also has lots of strong, gratuitous foul language, a carnal love scene, and some extreme and disturbing violence. So, media-wise viewers will not find this JOKER so amusing.
The movie had a terrible domestic opening weekend, bringing in only $37.8 million. Since then, the numbers have only looked worse, with multiple days barely breaking $1 million despite the movie playing in over 4,000 theaters nationwide. JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX will be lucky to break $70 million while in theaters and is projected to lose Warner Bros. $200 million.
Studios should take note of the rejection that JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX has faced for its excessive violence and chaos that was paired with zero substance. In comparison, 2024 has been an excellent movie for uplifting, family-friendly movies. INSIDE OUT 2 grossed $1.6 billion worldwide, while DESPICABLE ME 4 topped $900 million.
As audiences continue to vote with their dollar and reject abhorrent content, Hollywood will have no choice but to listen and create the uplifting, family-friendly movies that America wants.
Movieguide® previously reported:
The new JOKER movie, titled JOKER: FOLIE Á DEUX, bombed at the box office, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone.
FOLIE Á DEUX, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, follows “Arthur Fleck, aka The Joker, to his murder trial, where his lawyer uses an insanity defense.”
Movieguide®’s synopsis continues, “Meanwhile, Arthur falls in love with Lee, a blonde inmate at Arkham Asylum. Lee is an arsonist who participates in a musical therapy group that Arthur’s personal guard allows him to attend. The milieu of the class inspires them to sing to one another. Also, Arthur imagines performing fantasy numbers with Lee. Will their romance help Arthur to reform? Some major plot twists provide the answer.”
The sequel to 2019’s JOKER bombed at the box office, with a domestic opening of $37.8 million.
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