Joker 2 Digital Release Date Announced Amid Falling Global Ticket Sales

<p>The laughter has faded: the release date for the digital version of Joker 2 has been officially announced. Soon, viewers can enjoy it from the comfort of their homes less than a month after its theatrical debut.

Five years ago, the original Joker achieved monumental success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films ever, receiving widespread critical praise, and earning numerous Oscar nominations, including wins for Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix.

Earlier this month, Joker: Folie à Deux debuted in theaters, featuring the much-anticipated performance of Lady Gaga alongside Phoenix as Harley Quinn. It seemed poised for success.

However, describing its performance as a failure wouldn’t be far from the truth. Currently, it holds a mere 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (with an audience rating of 32%), has been overtaken by Terrifier 3 at the box office, and Warner Bros is facing potential losses between $150 million to $200 million.

Release Date for Joker 2 Digital Version

You will be able to purchase or rent Joker 2 on-demand starting Tuesday, October 29. This comes less than four weeks after its theatrical release.

The film didn’t have an auspicious start. With lackluster reviews and negative word-of-mouth, it debuted with $37 million in North America and $77 million globally. This is a significant decline compared to Joker’s $240 million opening worldwide in 2019, and even lower than films such as Morbius, The Marvels, and The Flash.

Regrettably, things have not improved, contrary to the optimistic sentiments expressed by D:Ream. The film generated only $7 million domestically in its second weekend, marking an over 80% decline—the worst drop ever recorded for a superhero film.

Implications for Joker 2

The future of Joker 2 in theaters appears bleak. With Terrifier 3 dominating the box office and Smile 2 set to debut this week, anticipate a significant reduction in its showtimes.

Typically, rapid video-on-demand releases draw criticism; after all, if a film struggles to attract an audience in theaters, why would it fare any better on-demand?

In the case of Joker 2, the decision is understandable. Warner Bros is in dire need of recouping their investment, and making it available as a premium video-on-demand (PVOD) title—approximately $24.99 for purchase—targets those who may not have wanted to see it in theaters.

Regarding its streaming release, Joker 2 will first arrive on Max, but the exact date of its availability on the platform remains uncertain.

Discover why this particular scene has been deemed the worst in Joker 2, along with the reasons critics have labeled the film a disappointment.

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