Warner Bros. Heads Reveal Why Joker: Folie à Deux Bombed at Box Office

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Warner Bros. leaders Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca have spoken publicly for the first time about the lower-than-expected box office results of Joker: Folie à Deux. In a recent interview, they shared their thoughts on why the film didn’t resonate with general moviegoers, and reaffirmed their commitment to director Todd Phillips’ vision for the project.

Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca react to Joker: Folie à Deux’s failure

Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca discussed the disappointing performance of Joker: Folie à Deux in an interview with The Wrap, but reaffirmed their support for the film. Abdy said she continues to enjoy it, while De Luca suggested its unconventional approach might have been why it didn’t connect with a wider audience. He described the movie as ‘really revisionist,’ implying it was too different for mainstream viewers.

De Luca praised director Todd Phillips and Scott Silver for originality, noting they successfully avoided simply recreating the first film with the sequel. He said they didn’t fall into the common trap of repeating themselves.

He acknowledged the filmmakers deserve credit for originality, but ultimately the movie didn’t resonate with viewers. Despite Warner Bros. investing around $200 million in its production, the film only grossed $207 million worldwide and received no nominations at the Academy Awards.

Released in October 2024, Folie à Deux picked up the story of Joaquin Phoenix’s character, Arthur Fleck, and introduced Lady Gaga as Harleen Quinzel. Unlike the first film, which was a straightforward crime drama, the sequel combined courtroom scenes with musical numbers, creating a unique blend of genres.

While the first Joker movie was a massive success, earning over $1 billion and winning awards, the sequel didn’t fare as well. Critics and audiences didn’t respond positively, and it didn’t perform well in theaters. Producer Michael De Luca acknowledged this, stating that setbacks are part of the business and that not every film will be a hit. He emphasized the importance of learning from failures rather than dwelling on them.

Even after a setback, Warner Bros. had a strong year in 2025 with hits like A Minecraft Movie, Sinners, Superman, and Weapons. They also approved a film called One Battle After Another, which is now a frontrunner to win Best Picture at the 2026 Academy Awards.

Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.net.

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2026-01-15 09:47