Update: October 6, 2019
JOKER Gets the Last Laugh with Record-Breaking $93.5 Million U.S. Debut, $234 Million Globally
Todd Phillips'
Joker got the last laugh in its box office debut, earning a huge $93.5 million domestically from 4,374 theaters to set a new opening record for the month of October despite heightened security at cinemas across the U.S.
The dark, R-rated supervillain movie starring Joaquin Phoenix as a mentally ill misfit turned homicidal maniac did even more business overseas, raking in $140.5 million from more than 70 markets for a global start of $234 million (it doesn't yet have a release date in China). Both figures likewise set new benchmarks for the month.
The dark R-rated supervillain movie starring Joaquin Phoenix bested last year's
Venom, which started off with $80.3 million. To boot,
Joker danced to one of the best three-day openings of all time for an R-rated title, as well as the fifth biggest weekend launch of 2019 to date. It's also Warner Bros.' highest opening in two years.
Joker — far from an ordinary superhero pic, but instead an origin story laced with realism — has sparked widespread headlines and
concern for its nihilistic themes and violence, prompting cinemas and police departments to
ramp up security and remind patrons that face paint, face masks and toy weapons aren't allowed. Theaters are also checking IDs and informing guests that the fiim's rating is a "hard R," and that anyone under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult when buying a ticket.
Only 8 percent of ticket buyers were between ages 13 and 17, according to PostTrak's exit polling service (stats aren't available for those 12 and under). Overall, males made up 62 percent of the audience.
Joker played to an ethnically diverse crowd: 44 percent of ticket buyers were Caucasian, followed by Hispanics (24 percent), African Americans (16 percent) and Asians/Other (14 percent). The majority of the audience (65 percent) was between ages 18 and 34.
Audiences gave the film a B+ CinemaScore, while its Rotten Tomatoes Score is 69 percent. Village Roadshow and Bron Studios each have a stake in the film, which cost north of $60 million to produce before marketing.
Joker also opened in earnest overseas timed to its U.S. launch. On Friday it earned an impressive $32.7 million from 73 markets for for a three-day total of $57.2 million. Full weekend numbers will be released later this morning.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-joker-gets-last-laugh-record-935m-bow-1245685
