Joker: Folie à Deux could lose up to $200 million USD as it continues to bomb in the box office.
Variety reports that the Joaquin Phoenix-led sequel has only grossed $51.5 million USD in the domestic box office and $165 million USD in the global box office in its first two weeks in theaters — an underwhelming response in comparison to Joker’s three-day total of $96.2 million USD domestically and $248.4 million USD globally. This poses a significant issue for Warner Bros. as analysts are estimating a final domestic gross of only $65 million USD and a final global gross of $210 million USD to $215 million USD against a budget of about $300 million USD.
Sources and three rival executives are now speculating that the film’s theatrical run will cause Folie à Deux to lose either somewhere between $150 million USD to $200 million USD, close to $200 million USD or close to $125 million USD. The studio could, however, recover some of its losses when the sequel gets a home release, but nothing has been confirmed as of writing.
Warner Bros. addressed the rumors in a statement, “Any estimates suggested by anonymous ‘insiders’ or ‘rival executives’ are grossly wrong and continues a trend where rumor is reported as fact. The film continues to play in theatrical release, included with this week’s opening in China, and will continue to earn revenue throughout its home viewing and ancillary run.”
