Joker 2 Is Performing So Badly That It’s Not Even the Most-Watched Killer Clown Film Right Now

Joker: Folie à Deux only needed two weeks to confirm its poor box office performance. Word of mouth had the expected effect, and ticket revenue dropped in its second week of release. Just as it happened in its first weekend, the surprise was that it didn’t even reach the already modest forecasts. In fact, in its second week, the drop at the box office was even more dramatic than predicted.

Topping charts. Despite its low earnings, Joker: Folie à Deux was the most-viewed film in its first week of release. However, negative reviews and bad press pushed it to third place at the domestic box office in its second week, with $7.05 million. It even came in behind Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which was released in early September. This represents an 82% drop in box office sales compared to its initial showing of $37.6 million. Previously, the only films set in a superhero universe to see a similar drop in their second week had been The Marvels (78.1%) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (69.9%).

A certified flop. Additionally, Joker: Folie à Deux made $22.7 million at the international box office, which is a 70.5% drop from its first week. The total global earnings for the film so far are $165.3 million. It seems unlikely that the situation will improve. The film may not even reach $200 million, which would be considered a disaster. Warner Bros. was estimated to need $450 million in earnings to make a profit.

Another clown. In contrast, Terrifier 3 is topping the U.S. box office charts. It’s the third installment in the brutal and ultra-rigorous saga of, paradoxically, another killer clown. Despite being a much lower-budget horror movie than Joker 2, it has already grossed $18.3 million. Although this amount may seem unimpressive, it’s important to remember that the film was released without a rating from the American Motion Picture Association, which limits its distribution in many theaters. Moreover, it cost only $2 million.

The public’s desire for blood. Terrifier 3 had an impressive opening weekend, quickly becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise. The previous installment also gained widespread attention and became a global cult film, earning $15.7 million with a budget of just $250,000.

“Can’t stand it.” This isn’t a quote by DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn, who reportedly didn’t have a say in Joker: Folie à Deux. Instead, several filmgoers seemed to think this before they left the theater during a Terrifier 3 screening. Despite the success of the second installment, director Damien Leone struggled to secure financing from major studios for the sequel because the opening scene was deemed too extreme and gory.

Reports indicate that during its first weekend, some viewers left the theater after feeling unwell during the screening in the U.S. and some European countries. However, you should always look at reports like this with some skepticism.

Image | Warner Bros. | Cineverse