Joker 2: A Digital Debacle After Box Office Blues

Joker: Folie à Deux, once the golden child of comic-book adaptations, has now taken a nosedive into mediocrity, making it the punchline of cinematic jokes everywhere. Just one measly week after its grand entrance onto Premium Video-On-Demand (PVOD), the film seems to be struggling more than that awkward first date you can’t quite shake off. According to Collider, this not-so-merry sequel managed to secure a disheartening fourth place on iTunes—the kind of place where even bad Yelp reviews start to feel like compliments.

It’s as if Folie à Deux thought it could waltz in with the flair of a Broadway show only to trip over its own feet in comedic fashion. Right behind it is the horror drama, The Substance, sitting smugly in third place, while the beloved Beetlejuice, in its fourth week, continues to haunt the top charts like an old friend who refuses to leave a party early. It turns out that October 4, the film's premiere date, was not the lucky number everyone hoped for, with snickers and jeers echoing from both critics and audiences alike, dubbing it one of the worst sequels in recent cinematic history.

Directed by Todd Phillips and featuring Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the moody Arthur Fleck, the film was supposed to build upon the phenomenal success of the original Joker, which managed to rake in a staggering $1.082 billion worldwide, only to get ousted by Deadpool & Wolverine over the summer. Oh, the irony! When your sequel only brings in a fraction of its $200 million budget (not to mention marketing costs), you know it’s a rough day at the studios.

The critical kiss-off arrives in the form of a paltry 32% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, driving Warner Bros. to scramble like a cat chasing its own tail in an attempt to salvage some semblance of dignity. In a move reminiscent of an awkward exit from a dinner party, the studio hurriedly shifted Folie à Deux to digital platforms, sliding from the top of the box office with a rather dispiriting $40 million domestic opening to being pushed out of theaters quicker than one can say “where’s the popcorn?” They’re banking on digital sales to save face—let's hope they don't end up losing a cool $200 million in the process!

For those intrigued by the cerebral escapades of Arthur Fleck, the sequel plunges him into the icy embrace of Arkham Asylum, where he grapples with the consequences of his televised antics. Here, he finds solace—and a touch of madness—with fellow inmate Harleen Quinzel, played by none other than Lady Gaga, in a peculiar twist reminiscent of an unconventional romantic comedy gone rogue. As they indulge in shared delusions, the film ventures deep into Arthur’s turbulent psyche, making one wonder if love can truly bloom in a loony bin.

Yet signs of trouble lurked in the shadows long before the film hit screens, with fans voicing their discontent over its musical psychological thriller approach and Phillips’ decision to sidestep Arthur’s notorious antics. The director, who’s been caught taking the brunt of the blame, made it abundantly clear before its release that a Joker threequel wouldn’t be happening—because why would anyone risk that kind of embarrassment twice?

So here we are, dear readers. Folie à Deux is now available on PVOD, and while its release window on Max is still shrouded in mystery, one can't help but wonder if there's a world where this film rises from the ashes like a misunderstood phoenix—or if it’s destined to become a cautionary tale for future franchises about the perils of overambition.