Joker: Folie a Deuxhas the difficult job of following the enormous success ofJoker, and the box office projections suggest it could struggle.DC’sJoker: Folie A Deux, the highly anticipated sequel to 2019’sJoker, is set to make waves once again in theDC movie pantheon. With a unique blend of musical elements and the return of Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, this psychological thriller has sparked immense curiosity and excitement. However, it’s unclear whether this success will be reflected in its earnings, with a much larger budget to recoup.
Jokerwas a massive hit, both critically and commercially, garnering over $1 billion worldwide on a modest budget of $55 million.Joker: Folie a Deuxsees Phoenix’s Joker return, where he encountersLady Gaga’s Harley Quinnduring his incarceration. With a significantly larger budget, all eyes are on how much the sequel will cost to make and how much it needs to earn to achieve success at the box office.
Joker: Folie A Deux’s Budget Is $200 Million
Thebudget forJoker: Folie a Deuxhas been reported to be around $200 million, a substantial increase compared to the $55 million budget of the originalJokerfilm. This fourfold budget expansion can be attributed to several factors that make this filmmore ambitious in scope and production. One of the primary reasons for this ballooning cost is the film’s musical elements.
Unlike its predecessor, which leaned heavily into psychological drama and intense character study,Joker: Folie a Deuxincorporates musical numbers. This significantly adds to the production costs, as musicals require intricate choreography, set design, and extensive rehearsals toensure the sequences are well-executed. Another factor driving up the budget is the talent involved.
Does Joker: Folie A Deux Have A Post-Credits Scene?
Post-credits scenes have become a staple of the superhero genre, raising questions about whether Joker: Folie A Deux follows in the trend.
Joaquin Phoenix, who earned an Oscar for his performance inJoker, is reportedly receiving a much larger payday this time around. His portrayal of Arthur Fleck was one of the most critically acclaimed performances of 2019. With the sequel’s larger budget, Phoenix’s salary hasincreased to reflect both his importance andJoker’s immense success.
Meanwhile, Lady Gaga, coming off her critically acclaimed role inA Star Is Born, has proven herself to be a bankable star, not only as a singer but also as an actress. Her presence in the film is likely one of the reasons the budget has skyrocketed, as she commands a hefty paycheck. Together, the increased costs for these A-list stars,along with other production elements like special effects, makeup, and set design, contribute to the significant budget increase forJoker: Folie a Deux.
How Much Joker: Folie A Deux Needs For Box Office Success
A general rule in Hollywood suggests that a movie needs to make roughly double its production budget at the domestic box office to break even. This is because the production budget doesn’t account for other costs like marketing and distribution, which often add substantial expenses. ForJoker: Folie a Deux, this means the filmneeds to generate at least $400 million at the box office.Joker: Folie a Deuxwill likely rely on international box office receipts to boost its chances of success.
The original Joker found a large international audience, with around 70% of its total gross coming from outside the U.S. It is expected thatJoker: Folie a Deuxwill need a similarly strong performance overseas to meet its financial goals. Home entertainment sales and digital streaming rights will also add to the film’s revenue, achieving profitability beyond just the theatrical release. However, the focus will remain on the box office numbers, as the success of the original film set high expectations for the sequel.
How Much Joker: Folie A Deux Is Projected To Make At The Box Office
Box office projections forJoker: Folie a Deuxsuggest that the movie will make between $50 million and $60 million on its opening weekend in North America and $140 million worldwide. While these numbers are strong, theypale in comparison to the opening weekend of the originalJoker, which pulled in $96 million in the U.S. and $250 million worldwide.
Jokerultimately earned over $335 million at the domestic box office and $1 billion globally. IfJoker: Folie a Deuxperforms well in its opening weekend and maintains comparable momentum, it could potentially follow a similar box office trajectory and earn around $200 million at the domestic box office and $500 million globally. However, it’s essential to keep in mind thatJokerwas a cultural phenomenon and performed far better than anybody expected.
The sequel, while highly anticipated, may not have the same surprise factor, especially with the added musical element, which could divide audiences. Despite this,Joker: Folie A Deuxhas a significant advantage in terms of brand recognition, with a dedicated fanbase,eager to see the continuation of Arthur Fleck’s story. The combination of Joaquin Phoenix’s return and Lady Gaga’s involvement is another major draw. Regardless, with such a large budget,Joker: Folie a Deuxwill need to achieve similar international success as its predecessor to be deemed a triumph.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Cast
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed comic book thriller Joker. Reprising his Academy Award-winning performance as the failed comedian Arthur Fleck, Joaquin Phoenix revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone continuity of the DC Universe.
