The sequel to the 2019 hit Joker, titled Joker: Folie à Deux, was highly anticipated but is now facing early criticism and skepticism that it may be a big flop. Despite the massive success of the original, this sequel is struggling to live up to expectations. Here’s why Joker: Folie à Deux is facing such challenges and why many believe it’s on track to underperform at the box office.
1. High Expectations and Budget Pressure
The 2019 Joker became a cultural phenomenon, earning over $1 billion globally and winning Joaquin Phoenix an Academy Award for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck. Naturally, the expectations for Joker: Folie à Deux were sky-high. However, the film’s enormous budget—reportedly $190 to $200 million—creates a challenging bar to clear. Compared to the original’s relatively modest $55 million budget, the sequel’s financial expectations are far greater.
The film’s projected box office numbers for its opening weekend are cause for concern. Early estimates suggest a domestic opening of around $55 to $60 million, significantly lower than the $96.2 million the first Joker movie brought in during its opening weekend. This disparity raises alarms, particularly when considering the higher production costs of the sequel.
2. Genre Experimentation: Musical Elements
One of the boldest, and most divisive, creative decisions for Joker: Folie à Deux is its unexpected shift in tone. While the original was a gritty psychological thriller, this sequel incorporates musical elements. Many fans expected a continuation of the dark, grounded tone of the first film. However, the announcement that the film would be a musical, featuring songs performed by Phoenix and co-star Lady Gaga (playing Harley Quinn), created a divide.
For some, the genre-blending of psychological thriller and musical is innovative, but others find it jarring. Fans who were invested in the gritty realism of the first movie are questioning whether this tonal shift is appropriate or necessary. The musical angle seems to have alienated a portion of the fanbase that wanted a traditional continuation of Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness.
3. Superhero Fatigue and Competition
Joker: Folie à Deux is also debuting in a climate of superhero fatigue. Over the past few years, many superhero movies have underperformed, including The Flash, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and Blue Beetle. With audiences becoming increasingly tired of the genre, even films with strong intellectual property, such as Joker, are at risk of being overlooked.
Moreover, Joker: Folie à Deux has to contend with other major releases in 2024, including films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Competing with these titles—especially with the added weight of a bloated budget and a polarizing creative direction—makes it difficult for Joker: Folie à Deux to stand out.
4. Critical Reception and Audience Response
Despite the anticipation, early reviews and audience reactions to Joker: Folie à Deux have been lukewarm at best. The film received a low grade from CinemaScore, which is especially concerning since this audience polling service typically predicts long-term box office success. A CinemaScore as low as the one received by Joker: Folie à Deux is virtually unheard of for a comic book film.
Additionally, critics have pointed out that while the original Joker worked as a character study of Arthur Fleck, the sequel’s attempt to merge a courtroom drama, musical numbers, and psychological elements feels disjointed. Some believe that Folie à Deux tries to do too much, and in doing so, it loses the focus and impact that made the original so compelling.
5. Director’s Acknowledgment of Risk
Even Todd Phillips, the director of both Joker films, has acknowledged the risks involved with Folie à Deux. Given the experimental nature of the project, he was fully aware that the film might not resonate with everyone. This is a sharp contrast to the calculated success of the original film, which was designed to push boundaries without alienating its audience too much.
Phillips has taken bold creative risks with this sequel, but even he seems to recognize that these risks may not pay off commercially. The inclusion of Lady Gaga, the musical elements, and the film’s overall ambitious vision might not be enough to ensure the same level of success.
Conclusion: A Risky Gamble
Joker: Folie à Deux is a film that aimed to build on the success of the 2019 original while also taking major creative risks. With its massive budget, genre-bending musical elements, and an increasingly weary superhero audience, the film has a challenging road ahead. The high expectations and the early lukewarm reception only add to its troubles, making it one of the most talked-about potential flops of 2024.
Whether or not Joker: Folie à Deux can recover at the box office will depend largely on word-of-mouth, critical reevaluation, and the performance of its competitors. For now, it seems that this ambitious sequel might not hit the high notes fans and the studio hoped for.
FAQs
- Why is Joker: Folie à Deux considered a flop?
Early box office projections are significantly lower than expected, and the film has faced mixed reviews due to its genre-blending musical approach, which has alienated some fans of the original Joker film. Additionally, the film’s enormous budget increases the pressure for it to perform well financially. - Why did Joker: Folie à Deux incorporate musical elements?
Director Todd Phillips took a creative risk by incorporating musical elements into Joker: Folie à Deux. While some appreciate the bold decision, others feel it clashes with the tone of the first film, which was a dark, psychological thriller. - What impact does superhero fatigue have on the film’s potential success?
Superhero fatigue has been a growing issue for films in the genre, with several recent releases underperforming. While Joker: Folie à Deux is not a traditional superhero movie, it is still part of the larger DC universe, and the declining interest in superhero films could affect its performance at the box office.
