Reactions to ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’s’ opening weekend have stirred up a significant buzz, with the sequel earning a D rating from CinemaScore. This score, derived from polling moviegoers post-viewing, marks the lowest-ever score for a comic book film, surpassing the previous record held by 2015’s ‘Fantastic Four’, which garnered a C-.
In comparison, the original ‘Joker’ received a B+ rating and achieved remarkable success, winning Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor. Other films released this year, which also received negative reviews, fared slightly better; Borderlands scored a D+, while ‘Madame Web’ received a C+ rating.
Image Courtesy: Variety
Despite the original ‘Joker’ being a box office hit, amassing over $1 billion globally, ‘Folie à Deux’ opened with lower-than-expected figures, reportedly earning $40 million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend.
This disappointing result is particularly striking given the film’s production budget, estimated at $200 million, which director Todd Phillips has labelled “absurd.” The original film set an October box office record when it debuted with $96.2 million domestically. Critics have not held back in their assessments of Folie à Deux.
Tom Gliatto stated the film is “turgid with misery,” describing it as “basically the jukebox musical from hell.” On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds an average rating of 33% from over 260 verified critics, with an audience score of just 31%.
Director Todd Phillips, known for both the ‘Joker’ films and the ‘Hangover trilogy’, has discussed the challenges and risks associated with this sequel. He recently mentioned in interviews that he does not plan on producing a third instalment, asserting, “I feel like my time in the DC Universe was these two films.”
-Sushmita Sarkar