Why no one saw Joker 2, and what it means for Warner Bros. Discovery and theater chains

The news: Joker: Folie à Deux” grossed $51.5 million domestically and $165 million globally in its first two weeks, far below its 2019 predecessor, which earned $96.2 million domestically and $248.4 million globally in just three days.

  • The sequel is expected to end its theatrical run with around $65 million domestically and between $210 and $215 million globally, much lower than the $1.078 billion earned by the first film.
  • With a production budget of $200 million and an additional $100 million for marketing and distribution, the sequel is projected to lose between $150 million and $200 million, making it one of 2024’s biggest box office failures.