The highly anticipated Joker: Folie à Deux, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, has taken a surprising—and disappointing—turn at the box office. Initially predicted to be a major success, the sequel to the 2019 hit Joker fell far short of expectations during its opening weekend, with a steep decline in interest both in the U.S. and globally, including Romania.
A costly gamble with a massive budget
Joker: Folie à Deux had a hefty budget, with Variety reporting that the film cost $200 million to make, with an additional $100 million spent on marketing. For the film to break even, it would need to earn at least $450 million at the box office, given that a substantial portion of revenue remains with the theaters. Based on current trends, however, the movie is on track to end its theatrical run with an estimated $150 million in losses.
Huge second-week drop raises concerns
In the United States, Joker 2 saw a shocking 82% drop in ticket sales during its second weekend. To put that in perspective, it’s like someone earning $4000 in one month, only to make just $720 the next. This massive decrease in audience interest has caught many off guard, considering the success of its predecessor. Romania saw a similarly steep decline, with the film’s box office numbers dropping by 73% in its second weekend.
A record-breaking drop?
While it’s rare to see such a dramatic fall in box office performance, Joker 2 may be one of the biggest drops in recent years. The only comparable example that comes to mind is the Romanian film Romina, VTM, which made a splash with 233,000 tickets sold during its premiere weekend but plummeted 87% the following week. In that case, 64% of the total tickets were sold during the opening weekend alone.
Conclusion: Can Joker 2 bounce back?
With such a drastic drop in ticket sales, Joker: Folie à Deux faces an uphill battle to recover from its shaky start. The film’s underperformance could be a result of a variety of factors, including high expectations, tough competition, or simply a shift in audience tastes since the original film. For now, it seems unlikely that Joker 2 will reach the same heights as its predecessor, but only time will tell if it can salvage its losses.
Fact check
- Joker: Folie à Deux had a production budget of $200 million and spent an additional $100 million on marketing.
- The film saw an 82% drop in ticket sales in the U.S. and a 73% decline in Romania during its second weekend.
- The movie is projected to lose $150 million based on current box office trends.
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