Summary
Joker 2box office predictions suggest the DC sequel may underperform compared to its predecessor, as early ticket sales forJoker: Folie à Deuxare on par with two box office bombs from 2023.
Jokerwas released in 2019 to praise and criticism but grossed a record-breaking $1.079 billion. With a relatively small budget of $55–70 million,Jokeris the most profitable comic book movie to date, the first R-rated film to reach the billion-dollar mark, and the highest-grossing R-rated film untilDeadpool and Wolverineclaimed the title in 2024. Naturally, fans might expectJoker: Folie à Deuxto do just as well, if not better. However,Joker 2box office projectionsdropped slightly as the film inches closer to its release.
EmpireCity Box Officereports thatJoker 2early ticket sales are in the same range as those ofIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyand Ezra Miller’sThe Flashmovie at the same point.Joker 2is now expected to open in the $55-$65 million range, down slightly from the previously reported tracking numbers of $70 million-plus and well below the original film’s $96.2 million domestic opening. When one fan expressed surprise at the possibility thatJoker 2might not clear $70 million in its opening weekend, EmpireCity Box Office responded by writing, “It’s more likely to fall into the $40m range than hit $70m+.”
Joker 2’s early ticket sales being on par withIndiana Jones 5andThe Flashis a potentially worrying sign because both movies were financial flops for Disney and Warner Bros., respectively. With an estimated production budget of $294.7 million,Indiana Jones 5is one of the most expensive films ever produced. However, it grossed $384 million worldwide when it reportedly needed $600 million to break even and $800 million to be considered successful (viaCollider). Consequently, Disney lost an estimated $143 million on Indiana Jones' final adventure. Similarly,The Flashwas a box office bomb, grossing $271.3 million against a $200–220 million budget, costing Warner Bros. as much as $200 million.
Of course,Joker 2’s early ticket sales may not be telling of its box office prospects. While it may open lower than the firstJokermovie, it could have strong legs in the weeks following its release, potentially allowing it to become a box office success over time, even if it doesn’t reach the record-level milestone of the original film. While it’s true thatJoker 2has received mixed reviewsand may be the victim of poor word of mouth, the original movie was also polarizing upon its release, and that didn’t stop it from achieving box office success and earning several accolades, including the Best Actor Academy Award for Joaquin Phoenix.
On the other hand,Joker 2underperforming would continue a recent trend with DC movies.Aquamangrossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office, making it the reigning highest-grossing film based on a DC character. Unfortunately, the sequel, titledAquaman and the Lost Kingdom, grossed less than half of that with $434 million against a production budget of $205–215 million, meaningAquaman 2’s box office revenuewas significantly lower than its predecessor. PerhapsJoker 2can avoid a similar fate, but the early numbers are not working in its favor.
Joker: Folie à Deuxwill be released in theaters on June 26, 2025.
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker is the origin story of Batman’s most iconic villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don’t go according to plan, and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution within the city. Alongside Phoenix stars Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro, and Frances Conroy.
