Joker Folie à Deux: Why is the movie a total flop?

Oh dear, very bad news for the sequel of Joker, indeed the reviews are very harsh and the film has failed to find its audience! Let me explain why the film flopped!

A disastrous start at the box office

The numbers are indisputable. With only 37 million dollars in revenue for its opening weekend in the United States, “Joker 2” has made a start well below expectations. It’s nearly 2.5 times less than the first installment, which grossed 96 million upon its release in 2019.

Revised downward forecasts

Analysts now estimate that the film would need to reach at least 450 million dollars in global revenue to break even. A goal that seems hardly achievable given the negative word-of-mouth.

A mixed critical reception

The opinions from the press are hardly more enthusiastic. On the AlloCiné website, the film receives an average rating of 2.5/5, far from the praise received by the first installment.

A poorly managed blend of genres

The combination of a supervillain film and a musical struggles to convince. Many critics point to a lack of coherence and musical numbers that disrupt the rhythm of the narrative rather than serve it.

Less developed characters

The duo formed by Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga does not manage to captivate as much as the solitary Joker from the first film. The character of Harley Quinn, in particular, is deemed underdeveloped and superficial.

An unfavorable context

Several external factors could also explain this resounding flop.

A poorly timed release

The choice to release the film in early October, far from the holiday season, raises questions. The competition from other blockbusters like “Dune 2” has undoubtedly affected ticket sales.

A detrimental bad buzz

The recent controversies surrounding Lady Gaga’s behavior on set may have tarnished the film’s image among the general public.

What consequences for the future?

This commercial failure could have significant repercussions on the studios’ strategy.

The end of big-budget sequels?

Warner Bros may be led to reconsider its policy on producing expensive sequels, favoring more modest and original projects in the future.

A hard blow for the “superhero” genre

After several recent failures, the industry is questioning a possible fatigue of the genre. Studios will need to double their inventiveness to renew the formula.
The sinking of “Joker: Folie à Deux” will likely remain in the annals as one of the biggest flops of recent years. It remains to be seen whether the film will be able to turn things around in the coming weeks. And you, what did you think of this much-criticized sequel? Does the film really deserve all this criticism?