Todd Phillips’ much-anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux hit theaters globally on October 2. While the film has seen favorable collections internationally, its domestic performance has fallen short of expectations. According to a report from Variety, the movie is forecasted to collect between $55-60 million across 4,000 US theaters, including premium formats such as IMAX and PLF, a dip from the initial $70 million projection made three weeks ago.
International Box Office Performance
Globally, Joker: Folie à Deux is estimated to gross $140 million over its opening weekend. In Korea, where the film was released on October 1, it grossed $1.3 million on its opening day.
The international rollout of the film began on October 2, with releases in 14 major markets, including France and Italy. On October 4, the US release will follow, and the film will expand to 45 more territories, including key markets like Germany, Australia, Brazil, and Mexico. Friday will see further releases in Spain and the UK.
India’s Opening Day Collections
In India, Joker: Folie à Deux collected Rs 5 crore on its opening day (October 2), according to industry tracker Sacnilk. English-language occupancy was at 22.70 percent on Wednesday, with IMAX 2D leading at 64.58 percent occupancy. Standard 2D formats saw 43.32 percent occupancy, and other formats like ICE, 4DX, and 2D screens hovered around 40 percent.
Comparisons with the Original Joker
Despite the excitement surrounding the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux has not been able to replicate the massive success of its predecessor, Joker (2019). The original film, which grossed $1.07 billion globally, became the second highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. It also garnered 11 Oscar nominations and won two, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix.
The first Joker movie exceeded expectations by earning $96.2 million in its domestic debut, surpassing its $80 million projection. Its global debut of $248.2 million also outperformed the forecast of $155 million during its 2019 release.
The Sequel’s Star Cast and Expansion
Directed by Todd Phillips and distributed by Warner Bros Pictures, Joker: Folie à Deux stars Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Zazie Beetz. The movie will expand to more international markets throughout the week, with industry experts keeping a close watch on its global box office performance.
