The much-anticipated sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, has stumbled out of the gate with a surprisingly low domestic opening of $37.8 million. This is well below industry expectations and marks a stark contrast to the original Joker film, which had a massive $96.2 million debut in 2019.

One of the key reasons behind the poor performance? The movie has received a rare D CinemaScore from audiences—the first-ever Hollywood comic book movie to earn such a low grade. Exit polls show that viewers are not responding well to the antihero-musical hybrid, which combines dark drama with musical elements. The opening weekend numbers reflect this disappointment, with the film earning less than half of what the original Joker made, despite having a much larger budget—$190 million compared to the original’s $55 million.

Falling Short of Projections

Going into its opening weekend, Folie à Deux was expected to bring in at least $50 to $60 million domestically, but that projection was gradually lowered as box office numbers began to slow. By Sunday, Warner Bros. had hoped for at least $40 million, but the final figures came in below that, shocking both the studio and industry insiders.

Overseas, the film managed to pull in $81.1 million, bringing its global total to $121.1 million. While the international performance offered some relief, it still fell short compared to the first Joker. The movie has yet to open in Japan and China, which could help boost numbers, but the domestic reaction has cast a shadow over its overall success.

Much of the disappointment is being attributed to negative word of mouth. Rival studios are predicting that Joker 2’s final domestic numbers could land between $37 million and $39 million. Warner Bros. executives have expressed their disappointment but stand by director Todd Phillips, calling him a creative visionary worth the risk.

When Joker hit theaters in 2019, it was hailed as a groundbreaking film that earned more than $1 billion globally on a modest $55 million budget, making it the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. While the original received mixed but generally positive reviews—scoring a 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B+ CinemaScore—the sequel has not fared as well, sitting at a 33% on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX’ had the same opening weekend as ‘MORBIUS’ (2022). pic.twitter.com/2rZAQKFxhW

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 6, 2024

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Folie à Deux is a bold, genre-defying film, mixing psychological drama with musical sequences. The movie had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where critics praised the performances of Phoenix and Gaga, as well as the film’s visual beauty, but criticized its slow pacing and thin narrative. The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney called the film “narratively thin” and at times “dull.”

The movie focuses heavily on the relationship between Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) and Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga), much of it playing out through fantasy musical numbers. Despite its unique approach, the film’s marketing avoided emphasizing its musical elements, which may have confused or alienated some fans.

While Folie à Deux is part of the DC Elseworlds brand, meaning it exists outside the main DC Universe, it still faced the same challenges as recent comic book films that have struggled to find their footing. Even flops like The Marvels and The Flash earned better audience scores than Joker 2, both receiving a B CinemaScore despite underperforming at the box office.

What’s Next for Joker: Folie à Deux?

Despite the rough start, Joker: Folie à Deux still hopes to make an impact during awards season, particularly for the performances of Phoenix and Gaga. However, with such a steep budget and lukewarm reception from audiences, it will be difficult for the film to recoup its costs and match the runaway success of its predecessor.

Elsewhere at the box office, DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot held steady in second place, earning $18.7 million, while Warner Bros.’ own Beetlejuice Beetlejuice crossed the $400 million mark worldwide. Meanwhile, Paramount’s Transformers One and Blumhouse’s Speak No Evil rounded out the top five, with Megalopolis from director Francis Ford Coppola continuing to struggle after a dismal second weekend.

Ultimately, Joker: Folie à Deux’s underperformance is a reminder that bold creative risks don’t always pay off at the box office, even with star power and high expectations.