Warner Bros. executives commented on the failure of "Joker: Madness for Two."

Warner Bros. executives comment on the failure of Joker: Madness for Two Pamela Abdy and Michael De Luca, who head Warner Bros.' film division, have spoken openly for the first time about the box office failure of Joker: Madness for Two.

In an interview with The Wrap, they acknowledged the film's commercial failure but emphasized that they still support the project. Pamela Abdy admitted that she genuinely liked the film — and that feeling has not changed over time. Michael De Luca, in turn, described the film as "extremely revisionist." In his opinion, it was precisely the unconventional approach and bold reinterpretation of the genre that may have scared off the mass audience. De Luca praised the work of director Todd Phillips and screenwriter Scott Silver. He noted that the authors of the sequel deliberately refused to repeat the formulas of the first film, which deserves respect. "They did what sequel authors don't usually do — they decided not to repeat themselves," De Luca emphasized. At the same time, he acknowledged that despite its creative boldness, the film failed to resonate with audiences.

Released in October 2024, the sequel grossed only $207 million on a budget of about $200 million. By comparison, the first Joker (2019) grossed $1 billion at the box office.

In addition to its financial performance, the film was also met with a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences. The film did not receive a single Oscar nomination, unlike the first part, which won two statuettes and received nine nominations.