DC’s cinematic landscape has faced substantial challenges, particularly highlighted by the recent release of Joker: Folie à Deux. Despite an impressive start, the sequel to Joaquin Phoenix’s acclaimed portrayal of the Joker has experienced disappointing box office results, particularly when contrasted with its predecessor. The film continues Arthur Fleck’s story as he finds himself in Arkham Asylum, four years after his infamous killing spree and the televised murder of Murray Franklin, portrayed by Robert De Niro. This act ignited riots in Gotham as a new wave of followers rose up against the city’s power structures.
While Joker: Folie à Deux is not the lowest-earning film in DC’s history, it certainly pales in comparison to the numbers achieved by other Batman films. Despite earning approximately the same as Birds of Prey, and outpacing The Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman 1984, its disappointing results stand out particularly when weighed against the performance of other beloved Batman adaptations. Batman remains one of DC’s most lucrative characters, with multiple film adaptations and spin-offs gracing the big screen. Unfortunately, the reliable success of this franchise has hit a snag with the sequel’s underwhelming box office returns.
Surprising Box Office Results for Joker 2
A Mere 20% of Its Predecessor’s Earnings
According to The Numbers, Joker: Folie à Deux accumulated only $206 million globally, matching its reported production costs. This shortfall signifies a box office bomb, leading to a premature exit from theaters in under a month, subsequent to its early release on digital platforms. Notably, this figures falls $30 million behind Batman & Robin, regarded as one of the lowest-rated entries in the Batman franchise. While critically better received than its predecessor, Joker: Folie à Deux nonetheless fell short of the acclaim garnered by the original film, which faced its own share of controversy.
Shocking as it may be, the sequel’s returns of just 20% of the original’s total box office mark a significant decline, particularly in contrast to the record-breaking year for other Marvel releases.
Joker 2’s Performance Highlights Catwoman’s Disastrous Results
Catwoman’s Earnings: Less Than Half of Joker 2
Remarkably, Joker: Folie à Deux‘s performance, while disappointing, still exceeds that of the infamously low-performing Catwoman from 2004. The latter film attempted to ride the coattails of Batman’s popularity but ultimately faltered, grossing only $82 million against a budget of $100 million.
This stark comparison reveals that Joker: Folie à Deux generated more than double the box office returns of Catwoman. While Joker: Folie à Deux‘s earnings are only comparable to its production costs, Catwoman failed to recoup its budget by an alarming $20 million. Despite the backlash faced by Joker: Folie à Deux, its superior performance arguably solidifies Catwoman’s position as one of DC’s all-time worst box office disappointments.
Delving into Catwoman’s Box Office Disappointment
Critical Reception: Catwoman’s Downfall
Unlike the successful Batman Returns, which finely balanced character and storytelling, Catwoman became embroiled in development issues for nearly a decade, leading to a release during a period when the character’s popularity had waned. Ultimately, the critical reception of Catwoman was overwhelmingly negative, cementing its legacy as one of the weakest entries in comic book cinema.
Halle Berry’s performance in the titular role earned her a Razzie Award, which she famously accepted while holding her Oscar, showcasing her ability to take the criticism in stride.
Key factors contributing to Catwoman‘s failure included a misguided attempt to separate the character from Batman and a poorly executed adaptation of her comic book origins. This scenario draws parallels to Joker: Folie à Deux, which similarly faced backlash for straying from essential character truths—specifically, the film’s decision to see Fleck abandon his iconic mantle, a choice that ultimately failed to resonate with audiences.
Source: The Numbers
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