Warner Bros.' highly anticipated sequel Joker: Folie à Deux has made headlines, but not for the reasons the studio hoped. Directed by Todd Phillips, the film faced a rocky debut, underperforming at the box office and drawing sharp criticism from both fans and critics alike. Released exactly five years after its predecessor, the film struggled to live up to its 2019 counterpart, with dismal results that may go down as one of the most disappointing sequels in recent comic book film history.

Despite the studio's efforts, Folie à Deux pulled in just $40 million on its opening weekend—well below the first Joker’s $96 million launch. Initial projections had set expectations between $50 million and $60 million, but the film fell short even of these downgraded estimates. While the sequel managed to secure the top spot at the box office, it did so by a narrow margin and with none of the fanfare the first film had generated.

Critics and audiences seem to agree on Joker: Folie à Deux's shortcomings. Rotten Tomatoes shows a mere 33% critic score, compared to the original Joker’s 68%. The audience reaction was even more grim, with a staggering drop from 89% to 31%. Additionally, the movie received a D rating from CinemaScore, making it the lowest-rated comic book movie in history, falling below infamous flops like Fantastic Four (C) and Madame Web (C+).

While Warner Bros. initially pinned hopes on Folie à Deux to be both a box office and awards contender, the poor reception likely spells the end of any Oscar aspirations. Insiders at the studio have expressed shock at the film's lackluster debut and the overwhelmingly negative feedback. Warner Bros. was also quick to admit that the film's $190 million budget makes this misfire a significant financial setback.

As Warner Bros. reels from the underperformance of Joker: Folie à Deux, the studio's attention now shifts to the future of its DC franchise. James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film is seen as a potential reset, much like how Batman Begins rebooted the DC Universe following the flops of Catwoman and Batman & Robin in the early 2000s. With recent history repeating itself, DC fans and industry insiders are hopeful that Gunn’s vision will restore confidence in the brand.