Joker 2’s Digital Release Maintains Surprising Losing Trend

Major Insights

The digital release of Joker 2 has been disappointing, impacting DC’s financial outlook.
Failing to connect with viewers, the film only achieved a 4th place ranking on digital sales charts.
With a necessary earning target of $375-450 million to break even, the film only grossed $204 million globally.

The recent digital release of Joker: Folie à Deux has not performed as expected, posing challenges for Warner Bros. as it grapples with the film’s significant financial losses.

Upon its initial launch, Joker 2 received unfavorable critiques from many film reviewers. Despite this, audiences expressed a greater fondness for the original Joker film than critics did. This disconnect contributed to Joker 2’s disappointing box office performance, leading to its digital release a mere month after its theatrical opening. With hopes of recovering some investment, Warner Bros. anticipated better audience engagement with its digital offering, but consumers showed little willingness to pay for the sequel.

According to Collider, shortly after its October 29 digital launch, Joker 2 secured only 4th place in rankings on iTunes and Fandango. The film’s ranking on iTunes is transaction-based, indicating it trailed behind the horror movie The Substance, which featured stars like Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.

Fandango’s rankings reflect revenue earned, yet even there, Joker 2 could only manage a fourth-place finish. This results in a rather underwhelming debut for a newly-released film, especially when compared to long-standing titles like Beetlejuice 2, which notably reclaimed the number one spot on both platforms, despite being several weeks into its home release.

They witnessed his descent, now hear their stories. Own Joker: Folie à Deux on Digital now. #JokerMovie pic.twitter.com/mQ6nsG0WVC — Joker Movie (@jokermovie)
November 6, 2024

Just a week post-release on home entertainment, Warner Bros. launched a new promotional campaign for Joker 2. The advertisement predominantly showcased courtroom scenes featuring Zazie Beetz’s character, Sophie Dumond, and Leigh Gill’s Gary Puddle delivering testimony at Arthur Fleck’s trial. However, fans quickly noted that significant portions of the ad were recycled footage from the first Joker film. While this might have seemed a strategic move—given that the characters were revisiting prior events—Reddit users expressed concerns that Warner Bros. was attempting to lure viewers by reminiscing about the more successful predecessor.

Insiders familiar with the film’s financial dynamics disclosed that the sequel needed to generate between $375 million and $450 million to achieve profitability. Unfortunately, Joker 2 concluded its theatrical run with earnings of only $204 million, representing a financial disappointment that could equate to a loss ranging from $125 to $200 million for Warner Bros. With its lackluster digital performance, hopes to mitigate these losses appear increasingly grim.

Joker: Folie à Deux is currently available for viewing on various digital platforms.

Source: Collider