The sequel to the acclaimed film Joker, titled Joker: Folie a Deux, has been declared a box office disappointment, grossing only $207 million worldwide against a $200 million budget. Despite the lackluster performance, Warner Bros. executives defend the film's artistic direction, highlighting its departure from typical sequel conventions. Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca acknowledge the film's "revisionist" approach may not have appealed to mainstream audiences. The film features Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the Joker and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, diverging from the gritty tone of the original to a more introspective musical format. This shift in style has drawn significant criticism, with negative reviews noted upon its release and no major award nominations received, contrasting sharply with the original film's success.

Why did Joker: Folie a Deux perform poorly at the box office?

Joker: Folie a Deux's poor box office performance is attributed to its significant tonal shift from the original film, which audiences found jarring. It moved from a dark crime drama to a musical format, failing to resonate with viewers, and its artistic risks did not pay off in financial terms.

The original Joker film released in 2019 was a groundbreaking cinematic experience, garnering over $1 billion at the box office and winning two Academy Awards. Its exploration of mental health themes combined with a powerful performance by Joaquin Phoenix made it a cultural phenomenon, setting high expectations for its sequel. The genre-blending sequel, however, aimed to redefine the Joker's narrative but ultimately alienated fans of the first film.