**Box Office Bombshell: “Joker: Folie a Deux” Falls Flat**
The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed “Joker” has failed to impress at the box office, raking in a paltry $40 million in domestic ticket sales during its opening weekend. This marks a significant drop from the original’s $96.2 million debut in 2019. Industry experts had initially predicted a haul of around $70 million, but scathing reviews and mixed audience reactions led to a revised estimate of $50 million.
According to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, “The creative risk taken by ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ is commendable, but the tough critical reviews and mixed moviegoer reaction created a challenging marketplace environment that made the $40 million domestic debut a disappointment.”
Director Todd Phillips’ original “Joker” went on to gross a staggering $1.07 billion globally on a modest budget of $65 million. In contrast, the sequel carried a hefty $200 million production price tag, excluding marketing costs.
While audiences and critics praised the performances of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, they felt the story was overly ambitious and lacking in plot. The film’s decision to blend musical and courtroom drama elements was met with confusion and criticism.
As of now, “Folie a Deux” holds a dismal 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 258 critical reviews, and a 31% audience score from over 2,500 moviegoer reviews.
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