Box Office Performance

The highly anticipated sequel, Warner Bros' *Joker: Folie à Deux*, stumbled out of the gate this weekend, earning just $37.8 million at the box office. This disappointing figure falls short of the studio's initial projection of $40 million and marks a significant drop, with Sunday revenues hitting only $6.2 million—down 45% from Saturday’s $11.3 million.

Production Budget and International Earnings

The film’s production budget exceeded $190 million before including marketing and distribution costs. On the international front, *Joker 2* fared slightly better, amassing $81.1 million, but overall prospects suggest that it might not recover from its underwhelming performance domestically.

Audience Reception and Genre Misrepresentation

One crucial factor impacting audience reception appears to be the film's genre misrepresentation. Despite the marketing campaign suggesting a more conventional follow-up to the original *Joker*, the film incorporates musical elements that caught many viewers off guard. A notable moment was when attendees of a 9 PM screening in Century City voiced their frustration, reacting to unexpected song-and-dance sequences that were not hinted at in trailers or posters.

Critical Reception and Ratings

Critics have weighed in on the film's reception, contributing to its low ratings—a D CinemaScore, along with a mere 31% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, which ironically outperformed the critics' score of 33%. This negative feedback loop indicates a disconnect between audience expectations and the film delivered.

Historical Context

Historical context also weighs in against *Joker: Folie à Deux*. The first *Joker*, released in 2019, dominated its opening weekend with a staggering $96.2 million, setting an October box office record, which *Joker 2* is far from matching.

Future Competition

Looking ahead, the sequel faces tough competition in its second weekend, as it goes up against *Terrifier 3*, expected to bring in around $9 million, and *Piece by Piece*, projected to earn about $4 million. Even if it manages to hold on, projections suggest *Joker 2* could fall to as low as $9-$10 million next week. Comparatively, last November’s *The Marvels* experienced a catastrophic 78% drop in its second weekend after earning a B CinemaScore.

Conclusion

As the box office landscape continues to shift, the future of *Joker: Folie à Deux* looks uncertain. Will it recover from this lackluster start, or is this just the beginning of a downward trend? Moviegoers and industry insiders are keenly watching what happens next.