Movies News Talk

Joker: Folie à Deux - Did Warner Bros. Make a Huge Mistake?

There is something incredibly unique and amazing when a sequel is created, and Joker: Folie à Deux, looks like it could have used more feedback! There was so much speculation, and fans were pumped as the world was anticipating its arrival, as this was set to be one of DC's most popular films. The movie brought a remarkable new perspective for one of DC's iconic supervillains!

id="no-test-screenings-a-huge-risk">No Test Screenings - A Huge Risk!

We got a new installment for "Joker" and Warner Bros. took a lot of chances to make sure that it was a showstopper, giving it a huge budget around $200 Million! A movie budget that looks incredibly bold.

For anyone who watched the first Joker film, they will know the initial movie, "Joker," (released in 2019), was also a huge risk! And even with that, it generated a lot of box office revenue and fans! It took its place in history and was named one of the highest grossing R-rated films to be released.

But, a report by Matt Belloni's Puck newsletter really gave audiences a deeper look! In a very unexpected twist. "Joker: Folie à Deux" didn't have test screenings! For all the fans, even with those who were more critical of the film, the first "Joker" gave the sense that it was an incredible hit, which likely contributed to the major $200 Million gamble to go ahead with the sequel.

What made "Joker" a major hit was a lower cost in the initial version as it was made for only $55 Million. That $200 Million was something that really put "Joker: Folie à Deux in the spotlight with more expectations from the box office.

For anyone who wants something new, something interesting and with a major twist: it took a chance by creating the film as a musical.

Also Read: Joker: Folie à Deux - Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn! Everything You Need To Know

Was the Risk Too Big?

Joker 2 Easter Eggs Looney Tunes and Dark Knight Returns Custom DC Image Image

We don't really get to know about behind-the-scenes movie making but in "Joker: Folie à Deux" this was the major moment that may be affecting the results!

  • Test screenings aren't perfect! Some shows may seem great on a screen. While they don't do so well with an audience! Some movies don't resonate in ways they were originally intended.
  • Some productions could also receive criticism that leads to the entire movie being rewritten, and given the big investment by Warner Bros. a huge budget to make this new installment for audiences, not testing this one was quite risky. They were essentially relying on word of mouth and critiques that could be incredibly devastating.

In an era of social media and online media. These movies can get some fantastic reviews or incredibly bad reviews! As we are seeing in this sequel, it looks to be very divisive, particularly as audiences have had time to experience it, giving feedback about how they thought it performed.

A report by "The Hollywood Reporter" and "Deadline" really brought things to the front. It shows how poor the reviews were when they were finally released! It even gave a sneak peek that this Warner Bros. film made just $7 Million with initial previews before its wide release!

Also Read: Joker 2 Trailer: Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn is Here! See the Crazy New Footage

Bad Reviews

Joker: Folie A Deux official poster Image

Audiences really went into "Joker: Folie à Deux with high hopes as they really embraced that first installment.

They're finding some issues. In the aftermath of "Joker: Folie à Deux" reviews that aren't exactly going as hoped! We even saw those reviews showing up on Rotten Tomatoes!

While it seems some fans did really enjoy the film, it might have failed to capture the hearts of some other fans. They took an intense look into how this movie didn't seem to capture the magic of the initial installment.

  • Reviews are still coming out but they have put a dark shadow over "Joker: Folie à Deux." with the numbers on Rotten Tomatoes, giving a poor rating! "Joker: Folie à Deux currently sits with 36% from critics and 36% from fans! This isn't a great starting point to have if you are wanting to have major success!
  • It seems, based on these scores, this movie is just going to do more poorly, particularly because audiences aren't giving it an A rating!
Also Read: Deadpool & Wolverine: Could a DC Crossover Actually Happen?

Was It A Good Decision?

Superman 2025 Custom Poster Image

Fans of these super-villain stories may just love those dark, dark Movies but there is a reality out there! With the cost that was sunk into this movie, they really had so much riding on its success.

Those who had hopes, maybe have to see if it's worth checking out! With such a huge production budget there is the potential to see "Joker: Folie à Deux end up as another one of "Warner Bros." flops! Even if you aren't someone who enjoys the "Joker" movies it still provides an exciting look behind the curtain. It's something a lot of studios and films consider and it gives a unique, deeper look into the risks associated with producing and creating the films. In a world that wants the next "blockbuster" or "superhero" hit. This might have just taken the stage to share a cautionary tale, even in this instance, test screenings can make a world of a difference!

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