Joker 2 box office numbers need to reach that much to break even

Key things

Joker 2's box office debut fell below lowered projections, opening with $40 million domestically.
The film received poor reviews, earning a 33% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a D CinemaScore.
Despite Warner Bros' disappointment, Joker 2 is still hoping to be an Oscar contender for Phoenix and Gaga's performances.

The Joker 2 opening weekend box office numbers were worse than Warner Bros. Screening for Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga's Joker: Foil and Deux were cut before its release, but the DC film failed to reach those numbers.

When Joker 2 First tracked in mid-September, it was on track for a $70 million opening. About a week before release Joker 2 box office predictions dropped to a $50-60 million opening weekend gross. However, the DC sequel failed to erase even lowered expectations, and audience response suggests it may not be able to improve its financial fortunes.

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Joker 2 it opened with an estimated domestic total of $40 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter, even projections of $50-$60 million were lowered as the weekend progressed, but “most competing studios” still estimated Joker 2 it finished its opening weekend with $45 million to $47 million. While Joker 2Its $81.1 million overseas debut brought its worldwide total to $121.1 million, still behind the first film's $248.4 million worldwide debut. Various notes known to sources Joker 2financial estimate the film needs to make $450 million to break even.

Joker 2 also suffers from bad reviews. While the first Joker had its fair share of critics who weren't nearly as impressed as others, yet it received a 68% Rotten Tomatoes critic score compared to Joker 2is 33%. However, while audiences were more positive towards the former Joker of the film and gave it an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score, they were just as harsh as the critics Joker 2 by giving the sequel a 31% score. Joker 2 it also received a D on CinemaScore, the lowest rating ever for a comic book film. This bad word of mouth probably contributed to that Joker 2a poor debut at the box office. According to THR, Warner Bros. “stunned and sorely disappointed”. Joker 2box office results. Still, the studio reportedly believes Joker 2 director Todd Phillips is a “creative genius and worthy of a gamble.” THR notes this as well Joker 2 he still hopes to be nominated for an Oscar, “especially for the performances of Phoenix and Gaga.”

Fans will likely continue to debate why Joker 2 is not doing well at the box office despite the record-breaking success of its predecessor. Bad reviews didn't stop the film from becoming a box office hit, after all. Maybe Joker 2The film's controversial ending, which was leaked before its release, upset already skeptical moviegoers. Maybe the first Joker the film was lightning in a bottle that was always impossible to capture. Some might object Joker it worked well as a stand-alone movie and a sequel was unnecessary, even with the interesting addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn's favorite character. That some reviews are interpretive may not help Joker 2 as being critical of those who enjoyed the first film or at least found themselves relating to Arthur Fleck, possibly driving away fans of the original.

Regardless of the reason, Joker 2 continued Warner Bros.' an unfortunate string of DC flops, potentially increasing the pressure on James Gunn's upcoming DC Universe reboot to bring in box office gold when Superman debuts in theaters next summer.

Joker: Folie à Deux now playing in theaters.

Joker

Joker, directed by Todd Phillips, serves as an origin story for Batman's most famous villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don't go as planned and Arthur feels that Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution in the city. Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro and Frances Conroy star alongside Phoenix.