Joker 2 Expected To Open Significantly Worse Than First Movie

Joker: Folie à Deux opens in theaters next month, but how is the DC sequel expected to fare at the box office? It is poised for a gigantic debut, according to early tracking estimates, but won’t be able to match the pace of the record-setting original film from 2019.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie is on track to earn $70 million or more in North America alone for its opening weekend in early October. That would be well below the $96.2 million that 2019’s Joker earned domestically for its opening weekend. Of course, early tracking like this is far from concrete, and actual results may vary. Estimates may be revised closer to the movie’s October 4 debut.

Joker was a breakout success on a level that few might have seen coming. The movie was produced against a relatively modest $60 million budget and went on to earn more than $1 billion worldwide, making it one of the most profitable films in the history of cinema.

The sequel is understood to have been made on a significantly larger budget, though director Todd Phillips said estimates of a $220 million budget are “absurd.”

Joker: Folie à Deux brings back Joaquin Phoenix as Joker, a role he won an Oscar for in the first film. Lady Gaga joins the cast as Harley, while Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Steve Coogan also have roles, along with Zazie Beetz reprising her character from the first film.

The movie had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month, and reviews were all over the place, just like the critical reception to the 2019 movie.