'Joker 2' earned a CinemaScore of 'D', the lowest for a comic book movie

“Joker: Folie à Deux” falls flat after earning a “D” CinemaScore, the research firm's lowest grade for a comic book movie.

The previous record holder was 2015's “Fantastic Four,” which received a “C-” CinemaScore. Meanwhile, director Todd Phillips' 2019 original “Joker” predecessor, “Folly à Deux,” earned a “B+” grade from the research firm's preliminary audience survey.

Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as the titular Batman villain in “Folly à Deux,” and he's now joined by Lady Gaga as the equally insane Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn). While the first film was a slick character study that won Phoenix the Oscar for best actor, “Folly à Deux” serves as a twisted musical and love story from the minds of the Joker and Harley. The cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Harry Lotte, Catherine Keener and more.

“Folie à Deux” did not receive as many positive reviews as the first movie. diversityIts chief film critic Wayne Glaberman wrote in his review, “'Joker: Folly a Deux'” may be ambitious and overly offensive, but at heart it's an overly cautious sequel. Phillips made a movie where Arthur really is poor Arthur; He does nothing wrong and will not offend anyone's moral sensibilities. In fact, he actually blows away the only good thing that ever happened to him – winning the love of Lee's Harley Quinn – because he denies the Joker in himself. He is now just a puppet clown living in his imagination. is that Entertainment? Audiences, I suspect, will still turn out in droves to see 'Folly à Deux'. But when it comes to making daring mainstream films, they get the last laugh.”

“Joker: Folly à Deux,” which opened in theaters Friday, earned $20 million on its opening day. Going into the weekend, “Joker 2” was expected to earn $50 million to $65 million in its box office debut, but now, Warner Bros. The film will likely open below those estimates