"Joker" Sequel Faces Devastating Box Office Decline

"Joker: Folie à Deux" suffered a record 80% drop in its North American box office, falling to $7.1 million from a $30 million debut, as indie horror and animation took the spotlight.

"Joker: Folie à Deux," the highly anticipated sequel starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, faced an unprecedented 80% drop in its second week at the North American box office. The sequel plummeted from a $30 million debut to just $7.1 million, marking a record collapse for a comic-book film as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. It was overtaken by indie horror sensation "Terrifier 3," which grossed an estimated $18.2 million, and the animated "The Wild Robot," holding the second spot with $13.4 million. Critical reception of the Joker sequel varied widely, with descriptors ranging from "bleak and daring" to "depressingly dull and plodding." Finishing the weekend's top five was the comedy-drama "Piece by Piece," noted for its Lego animation and a remarkable voice cast including Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z. Meanwhile, the film "The Apprentice," centered on Donald Trump, debuted in the number-10 spot with $1.6 million and will premiere in the UK at the London Film Festival. Despite mostly good reviews, it has faced legal criticism from Trump, who deemed it "pure fiction" and "election interference by Hollywood elites." The biopic, which opened at Cannes, starts with a disclaimer of fictionalized events.