The highly anticipated Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the 2019 Joker, has turned out to be a box office disaster, leaving Warner Bros. in a tough financial spot. Released earlier this month, the movie has received mostly negative reviews, with a low 32% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Many fans were disappointed, with some walking out of cinemas. The film has grossed just $51.5 million domestically and $165 million globally in its first two weeks.
The production cost for Joker 2 was $200 million, with an additional $100 million spent on marketing and distribution, bringing the total to $300 million. Current projections suggest the movie will earn only $210-$215 million globally by the time it finishes its theatrical run, which would barely allow Warner Bros. to break even. This is a stark contrast to the first Joker film, which grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
Fans have expressed their disappointment on social media, with one viewer describing it as “the worst film I have ever watched,” criticizing the script, performances, and overall execution. However, not all reviews were negative—some praised the movie’s depth and acting, though these voices were in the minority.
Warner Bros. had high hopes for the film, especially given the success of the original, but the sequel’s poor performance has left the studio scrambling to recover from the financial hit.
