Sequels typically open higher than their predecessors, but “Joker: Pas de Deux” will struggle to match the $96.2 million opening weekend of the first “Joker” movie in 2019. Early predictions for the sequel continue to be revised downwards. Right now, Joker: Pas de Deux is estimated to have opened with just $39 million, and that number will likely drop when final numbers are released.
The original “Joker” had an international box office of $152.2 in its first weekend, bringing the global box office to $248.4 million, and the global box office to $1.079 billion. This was the record for an R-rated movie until “Deadpool and Wolverine” broke it earlier this year. In comparison, “Folie à Deux” grossed $81.1 million in other countries and only $81.1 million in its global debut. $121.1 million, less than half of what the first film grossed at the time.
“Joker” was extremely profitable due to its relatively low budget of $600-70 million. The sequel reportedly cost $190-200 million to make, which is why its performance was disastrous for Warner Bros. Pictures. Even if the movie gets a huge response in Japan and China (which haven’t yet been released), there’s little hope that “Joker 2” will break even. Instead, the Joker movie will likely cost the studio a lot of money.
THR attribute Folie à Deux’s poor performance resulted in a poor reputation. The sequel received a D+ CinemaScore from audiences, which is rare for a superhero-related movie. Critics were equally unimpressed with the Joker follow-up. If the movie drops further next weekend, it might not stay in theaters for long.
