The sequel to Todd Phillips’ Joker, titled Joker: Folie à Deux, is set to debut this week, but it is not anticipated to reach the box office success of its predecessor, which grossed over $1 billion and became one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever. The original film also received 11 Oscar nominations, winning two, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix.
Current projections for the sequel indicate a potential worldwide gross of around $140 million, with domestic estimates ranging between $55 million and $60 million from 4,000 theaters. This is a decrease from earlier forecasts that suggested a domestic opening of over $70 million.
The first Joker film surpassed expectations with a $96.2 million opening and a total worldwide gross of $248.2 million, dwarfing initial predictions.
Despite a production budget exceeding $190 million, the expected performance of Joker: Folie à Deux is not disappointing for theaters. Industry expectations are high, comparable to the Dark Knight franchise, which may be influencing perceptions of the film’s anticipated performance. The sequel features a darker musical narrative starring Lady Gaga alongside Phoenix, raising curiosity among fans about its reception.
Joker: Folie à Deux had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, but the film has received mixed reviews, currently holding a 62% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, slightly lower than the first film’s 69%. Pre-sales indicate a lower opening weekend, but sources remain optimistic.
The film is scheduled to start previews on Thursday at 3 p.m. in the U.S., with a target audience primarily consisting of older males. Lady Gaga, famous for her role in the Oscar-winning film A Star Is Born, hopes to surpass her previous opening of $42.9 million with this new release.
Additionally, Joker: Folie à Deux launched in Korea on Tuesday, earning $1.3 million, benefiting from a local holiday. The international rollout will expand throughout the week in major markets such as France and Italy, aiming for an international gross of $80 million to $85 million. The film will also open in Japan and China later in October.
In other box office news, DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot is expected to continue performing well, with a second weekend gross near $20 million following a strong $35 million opening. The film has accumulated $38 million to date.