Warner Bros. has its work cut out for it before Todd Phillips’ divisive sequel Joker: Folie à Deux opens in North American theaters three weeks from now.
The movie starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga is tracking for a domestic opening of $70 million-plus, at least $10 million behind tracking for the first Joker, which went on to shatter records in launching to $96.2 million domestically in 2019. Prerelease tracking is hardly an exact science, and numerous movies of late have opened well ahead of predictions.
But there’s no question that Joker 2 has raised eyebrows, and earned mixed reviews, for its genre-busting storyline after making its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Rarely does one see a film described as a “crime drama musical thriller” on IMDb, possibly confusing the everyday superhero fan.
