Joker 2 sets unwanted record with box office collapse

joaquin phoenix, joker 2
Joker 2 sets unwanted record at box officeScott Garfield - Warner Bros.

Joker: Folie à Deux has set an unwanted record after a box office collapse.

The DC blockbuster topped the box office during its opening weekend (October 4), but has since dropped into third place after posting a -81% freefall – the worst hold for a DC character movie in the franchise's history (via Variety).

It ranks as one of the biggest second weekend drops, plunging significantly more than last year's poorest performing superhero films, The Marvels, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Shazam: Fury of the Gods and The Flash.

lady gaga and joaquin phoenix in joker folie a deux
DC Entertainment - Warner Bros.

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2019's Joker, which won two Academy Awards, debuted at the box office with $96.2 million, before totalling over $1 billion.

The sequel was made with a reported budget of $200 million, but has only generated $51.6 million domestically and $165.3 million globally.

Terrifer 3, which sees David Howard Thornton reprise his role as Art the Clown, is instead predicted to dominate the box office this weekend after debuting at $18.3 million – an impressive opening for the low-budget slasher film.

The news comes after Folie à Deux became the first comic book movie to earn a D CinemaScore from audiences, overtaking Fantastic Four's C- rating.

brendan gleeson, joaquin phoenix, joker folie a deux
Warner Bros.

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The sequel follows on from its predecessor as Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is institutionalised at Arkham, where he awaits trial for his crimes as the Joker.

As he struggles with his dual identity, he meets Harleen Quinzel (Lady Gaga) and finds the music that's always been inside him.

Zazie Beetz reprises her role as Sophie Dumond in the film, while newcomers include Industry's Harry Lawtey, Maze Runner's Jacob Lofland, Steve Coogan, Avatar: The Last Airbender's Ken Leung and The Banshees of Inisherin's Brendan Gleeson.

The critical response to Folie à Deux has been largely negative, earning it a dismal score of 33% on Rotten Tomatoes from 325 reviews at the time of writing.

Joker: Folie à Deux is out now in cinemas. Joker is available to buy on Blu-ray or streaming now.

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