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Joker: Folie タ Deux is heading to streaming, just weeks
after its theatrical release.
The movie, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga,
will be available to rent from home startingOctober 29, in an effort to recoup some
of Warner Bros. investment into the film, as perVariety.
The musical, which bombed at the box office, is 'poised to lose at least $150 million to $200 million in its theatrical run' according to
the publication.
The movie studio spent about $200 million to produce the film and about $100 million on marketing and distribution, according
to the report.
It would need to gross about $450 millionat the box office to break even — when factoring in the cut
taken by theaters — thoughWarner Bros. sources claim
the number is $375 million.
Joker: Folie タ Deux,starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, is heading
to streaming, just weeks after its theatrical release;
Phoenix and Gaga seen in a still
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A Warner Bros. spokesperson responded to the report,
saying 'Any estimates suggested by anonymous
"insiders" or "rival executives" are grossly wrong and
continues a trend where rumor is reported as fact.'
'The film continues to play in theatrical release, included with this week's opening in China, and will continue to earn revenue throughout its home viewing and ancillary run.'
So far, the musical about Batman's nemesis has grossed
$51.5 million domestically and $165 million globally after two weeks
of release.
In comparison, the first Joker grossed $96.2 million domestically and $248.4 million globally after
three days of release.
The hotly-anticipated sequel to the 2019 billion dollar Oscar-winning film was considered a surefire hit for Warner Bros
Pictures, yet ended up being slammed by critics and failed to ignite at the box office.
Joker: Folie タ Deux has garnered the lowest CinemaScore in comic book movie history as the film bombed at
the box office on opening night.
The psychological musical thriller — which has been criticized as
'bleak' and 'disappointing' — officially released in theaters on Friday, October 4.
Phoenix reprised his role as the Joker in the sequel, which had
earned him an Oscar for his portrayal in the 2019 film, while
Gaga took on the role of Harleen Lee Quinzel (Harley Quinn).
However, Joker: Folie タ Deux has been given a D rating on CinemaScore —
the lowest score for a comic book movie.
The movie will be available to rent from home
starting October 29, in an effort to recoup some of Warner Bros.
investment into the film, according to Variety
The film is 'poised to lose at least $150 million to $200
million in its theatrical run' according to the publication
The sequel to the 2019 billion dollar Oscar-winning film was considered a surefire hit for Warner Bros, yet ended up being slammed by critics
and failed to ignite at the box office
Phoenix reprised his role as the Joker in the sequel, which had
earned him an Oscar for his portrayal in the 2019 film, while
Gaga took on the role of Harleen Lee Quinzel (Harley Quinn)
Madame Web — which notably also flopped in theaters earlier
this year and also received terrible reviews — holds a higher score with a C+.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie currently holds an audience score
of 31% and a critic score of 32%.
The sequel has been roundly criticized for being a musical
and 'ignoring' the DC fanbase - with an agent familiar with director Todd Phillips' process telling Variety he 'wanted nothing to
do with DC' during the making of the film, with DC bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran notably absent
from the film's LA premiere afterparty last month.
A source said: 'If the first movie was about some down-on-his-luck, mentally ill guy in a downtrodden city, it makes maybe $150 [million] worldwide.
Not a billion. People showed up because that guy was Joker.'
In an apparent snub by Phillips, the opening sequence of the film does not
include a DC Studios logo.
A Warner spokesman added that a DC logo appears at the end of the Joker
sequel, while Phillips declined to comment to the publication.
Several frictions are said to have developed between Phillips, DC and Warner-
with claims that Michael DeLuca, Chairperson of Warner Bros.
Entertainment, and CEO Pamela Abdy seemed 'unwilling' to say no to Phillips due
to his huge past successes.
It is claimed Phillips would 'only' speak with DeLuca and Abdy
rather than Gunn and Safran - who took control of DC two months before production began on Joker 2 in December 2022.
Gunn and Safran did attend the first director's cut screening
for the studio but Phillips fueled rift speculation when he told
a reporter: 'With all due respect to them, this is kind
of a Warner Bros. movie.'
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav also met with Phillips
shortly after WarnerMedia and Discovery merged in April 2022 and was 'open to filming in Los Angeles
if the director would make the sequel at a lower price point.'
The studio wanted to film in London which would have
cost around 20 per cent less.
A source directly involved with the film recently shared:
'The one thing about genre stuff: If you don't listen and pay attention to what the fan expectations are, you're going to
fail'; director Todd Phillips seen with Gaga andPhoenix
at the LA premiere September 30
However, Phillips insisted on filming in LA with the budget
remaining static.
A Warner spokesman told the publication the studio
'supported the decision to film in Los Angeles'.
A source directly involved with the film said: 'No one could get through to Todd.
And the one thing about genre stuff: If you don't
listen and pay attention to what the fan expectations are,
you're going to fail.
Insiders also claim studio bosses did not want to premiere the film at the Venice Film Festival, but Phillips pushed
back - with a Warner spokesman saying the studio 'fully supported
the decision to bring the film to Venice.
Along with Gaga and Phoenix, other stars that had
appeared in the sequel include Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener,
Zazie Beatz and Steve Coogan.
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