The long-awaited sequel of Joker: Folie À Deux, has failed to catch up with the box office records of its predecessor which was released in 2019. The movie made by Todd Phillips managed to rake in $206.4 million worldwide. Contrasting this, the amount that the original Joker gathered is $1.079 billion. Though it barely surpassed its $200 million production budget, the film is expected to lose millions of dollars in marketing costs and poor box office sales.
The bold story move was taken by a musical drama featuring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in the movie Joker: Folie À Deux. But that was also the reason that polarized audiences. A lot of fans were disappointed as the movie strayed away from Arthur’s darker Joker in the first film. Even critics were divided. Variety’s Peter Debruge called the sequel “scandalously unpopular,” saying it was something that didn’t live up to audience expectations.
Despite its imperfections, the movie was appreciated because of its performances and fresh storyline. Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn brought a new version of the character, though it would be impossible to not compare it to the version by Margot Robbie in the Suicide Squad franchise.
This release, streaming 70 days after it opened in theaters, may expand its audience. Joker: Folie À Deux premiered on Max on December 13, 2024, and could perform much better with viewers who avoided the movie to avoid theaters because of bad reviews.
As Phillips’ sequel reaches the final days of its theatrical run, it’s obvious that artistic ambition trumps commercial success. Only time will tell if the movie will develop a cult following.
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