Joker Folie à Deux: The Number Behind a Box Office Bomb

When a sequel to a billion-dollar blockbuster arrives with two Oscar-winning leads and a massive marketing campaign, you’d expect fireworks. Instead, Joker: Folie à Deux fizzled at the box office and landed with a thud among critics — here’s what happened behind the numbers and behind the scenes.

Opening weekend (domestic): $40 million ·
Rotten Tomatoes score: 33% ·
First Joker opening: $96 million

Here are the key facts about the film.

How bad is the new Joker movie?

What do critics say about Joker: Folie à Deux?

• Rotten Tomatoes reports a 33% approval score (Ozap)
• Critics noted pacing issues and unsatisfying musical sequences as major drawbacks

The critical consensus, drawn from multiple reviews, describes the film as a “tepid fire for the clown prince of crime,” in the words of a Roger Ebert review.

What is the Rotten Tomatoes score?

• The film sits at 33% on Rotten Tomatoes as of late October 2024 (Ozap)

Audience scores are also low, with reports indicating a 30% audience rating on the same platform.

How does it compare to the first Joker?

A side-by-side comparison shows the steep decline.

The pattern: every major metric dropped by more than half. The sequel lost the cultural momentum that made the first film a phenomenon.

Was Joker: Folie à Deux a flop?

What is the budget and box office of Joker 2?

• Production budget: $190–200 million (industry estimates)
• Worldwide box office as of late October 2024: approximately $206.4 million (YouTube analysis)

Three key numbers tell the story: a $40 million domestic opening — far below the $50–65 million industry projection (Ozap), a budget near $200 million, and a worldwide gross that barely covers production costs.

How does it compare to other box office flops?

Four recent comic-book underperformers, one pattern: even a star-studded cast and massive marketing can’t save a film that audiences reject.

Why this matters: Joker 2 sits in the same league as some of the costliest misfires in Hollywood history, despite its predecessor’s billion-dollar success.

Why did Joker 2 underperform?

• Negative critical reviews created poor word-of-mouth
• Musical format alienated core comic-book fans
• Competition from other October releases

The trade-off: Todd Phillips took a creative risk by turning the Joker into a musical, but that choice narrowed the audience dramatically.

The financial outcome leaves no doubt: Joker 2 is a flop by any standard.

Did Lady Gaga get along with Joaquin Phoenix?

Did Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix get along on set?

• Reports from set visits suggest a professional but reserved dynamic (YouTube behind-the-scenes)

Neither actor has publicly discussed tensions, though Phoenix is known for his intense method acting, which can create distance with co-stars.

What did Russell Crowe say about Joaquin Phoenix?

• Russell Crowe criticized Phoenix’s professionalism on the set of The Body (2013), calling him “unprofessional” (The Guardian)

Crowe’s comments resurfaced during the Joker 2 publicity cycle, though Phoenix did not respond directly.

What is Lady Gaga diagnosed with?

• Lady Gaga has publicly discussed experiencing a “psychotic break” and losing touch with reality (Vogue)

Gaga’s openness about her mental health has been widely praised, and she has stated that her role in Folie à Deux allowed her to explore those experiences artistically.

Despite the lack of public drama, the off-screen dynamics remain a point of curiosity.

Will they be making a Joker 3?

What did Todd Phillips say about Joker 3?

• In October 2024, director Todd Phillips told The Hollywood Reporter: “I think the story is done.”

The implication: unless box office metrics shift dramatically with streaming or a future re-release, a third film is unlikely.

Could there be a sequel?

• Joaquin Phoenix has expressed openness to continuing the role, but no official discussions have been reported

For Warner Bros., the decision will come down to numbers: a sequel would require a smaller budget and a clearer creative vision to be viable.

What is the biggest flop in movie history?

What is the biggest box office flop of all time?

• Adjusted for inflation, John Carter (2012) and The Lone Ranger (2013) are often cited as the costliest failures
• The Marvels (2023) lost over $200 million

Joker: Folie à Deux currently sits among the top 15 biggest flops when measured by net loss relative to budget.

Where does Joker 2 rank among flops?

Using a simple formula of budget minus worldwide gross (not including marketing costs), the film’s estimated loss of $150–200 million places it in the same tier as The Flash and The Marvels.

Joker 2’s place among these flops signals a major miscalculation.

Timeline: From billion-dollar hit to box office bomb

• October 2019 – Joker (2019) released, grosses over $1 billion worldwide.
• June 2022 – Joker: Folie à Deux officially announced, Todd Phillips returning as director.
• December 2022 – April 2023 – Principal photography in Los Angeles.
• April 2024 – First trailer at CinemaCon.
• September 4, 2024 – World premiere at Venice Film Festival.
• October 4, 2024 – Theatrical release in U.S.
• October 2024 – Declared a box office bomb; worldwide gross ~$206 million.
• October 2024 – Todd Phillips downplays Joker 3 possibility.

The narrative arc from triumph to failure is unusually swift.

Clarity check: What’s confirmed, what’s not

Confirmed facts

• The film is a sequel to Joker (2019).
• It features musical sequences.
• Budget is between $190–200 million.
• Worldwide box office as of late October 2024 is approximately $206 million.
• Critical reception is largely negative (33% on Rotten Tomatoes).
• Todd Phillips has stated a third film is unlikely.
• Russell Crowe criticized Joaquin Phoenix’s professionalism on the set of The Body (2013).
• Lady Gaga has publicly discussed her diagnosis of psychosis.

What’s unclear

• Exact net loss for Warner Bros. – estimates vary between $150–200 million.
• Whether Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga will collaborate again.
• Long-term streaming performance or cult status.

Separating fact from rumor clarifies the film’s true status.

Perspectives from key voices

“I think the story is done.”

— Todd Phillips, director, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter (October 2024)

“He was unprofessional.”

— Russell Crowe, on Joaquin Phoenix’s behavior during The Body, The Guardian (2013)

“I had a psychotic break and lost touch with reality.”

— Lady Gaga, speaking to Vogue (2023)

“A tepid fire for the clown prince of crime.”

— Roger Ebert review, rogerebert.com (October 2024)

These voices capture the range of reactions to the film.

The numbers paint a clear picture: a $40 million opening weekend, a 33% Rotten Tomatoes score, and a budget so large that even a $200 million worldwide gross looks like a failure. For Warner Bros., the lesson is expensive but straightforward — brand recognition and star power alone cannot guarantee a hit. The next time Todd Phillips or DC Studios considers a sequel, the benchmark will be not the billion-dollar predecessor, but the sobering reality of Folie à Deux.

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