Some movies just don’t meet expectations, and sometimes a bold creative choice doesn’t work out. That was the case with the 2024 sequel to the critically acclaimed 2019 reimagining of Batman’s enemy, a film that was widely panned and flopped at the box office. In a recent interview with The Wrap, Warner Bros. executives Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca revisited the movie, which has become known as one of the worst comic book films of the last ten years.
Following the success of the first film, Todd Phillips returned to direct Joker: Folie à Deux, a sequel that raised eyebrows when it was first announced. The original Joker offered a complete and compelling look at a complex villain, leading many to wonder if a sequel was necessary. Despite this, the film received the go-ahead with a reported budget of $200 million – a significant increase from the original’s $55–70 million.
The film initially released in theaters surprised audiences, but not in a good way. It didn’t achieve the success it needed, earning only $207 million worldwide and receiving negative reviews from both critics and viewers. Unlike Joker, it didn’t receive any Oscar nominations. However, producers Adby and De Luca believe the film was well-made despite its poor performance.
Was ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Just Misunderstood?
Warner Bros
Many people criticized the music in the sequel to Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s film, and others found the sudden change in mood – from a serious courtroom drama to a fantastical musical – strange. Despite this, director Adby remains a fan, stating, “I really enjoyed the movie, and I still do.”
For De Luca, he feels that it is just a case of the film not resonating with audiences.
The film might have been too different from what most people expected, especially internationally. Unlike most sequels, it didn’t try to recreate the original, and while I admire that creative choice, it seems it just didn’t resonate with viewers.
It’s rare to see a film connect so strongly with audiences only to completely lose them. Joker was a massive success when it came out, earning over $1 billion worldwide. However, the sequel experienced a dramatic 80% drop in ticket sales, which is a significant setback, but sometimes these things are unavoidable, according to De Luca.
Over time, you develop resilience. Everyone experiences failures, but success isn’t guaranteed. The key is to avoid dwelling on projects that don’t pan out.
The release of Joker: Folie à Deux came at a difficult moment for Warner Bros.’ DC films. While The Batman was a big success in 2021, the subsequent movies – Joker’s sequel, The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Shazam: Fury of the Gods – didn’t perform well. Only Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom had moderate success in theaters. Now, with the new DC Universe underway and Matt Reeves continuing The Batman series, the future of DC movies looks promising and focused…at least for the time being.
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2026-01-16 03:32