The Big Sequel Letdown: War 2 and Joker 2 Face Unexpected Struggles

The poor response looks quite surprising, especially when you consider its positioning. Not only was it another chapter in a consistently successful universe, but it also starred big names and carried forward the legacy of War (2019), a blockbuster with a huge following.

As fate would have it, War clashed with Joker at the box office upon release. The two films went on to achieve remarkable success. While War became a Bollywood blockbuster, Joker turned into a global cultural moment, acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, and soon after, Joker: Folie à Deux was announced.

With Hrithik Roshan joining hands with Jr NTR, War 2 was successful in pulling massive crowd back to theatres.

Similarly, Joker: Folie à Deux built its appeal around the much-talked-about pairing of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. For both films, the general assumption was that the worst possible outcome would still mean a profitable run.

Both films, despite immense hype, shared a common downfall. Joker: Folie à Deux, released in October, failed to resonate with audiences and was slammed for poor writing.

Its box office downfall was swift, leaving many stunned that the sequel to a modern cult hit could perform so dismally.

Much like Joker 2, War 2 looks like to have met with the same fate. Its story and conflict did not connect with audiences, sparking immense negativity around the release. That a franchise as powerful as War could reach this point was unthinkable.

The fate of War 2 and Joker: Folie à Deux is basically a reality check for both filmmakers and audiences may be drawn by names and hype, but they stay only for the story. When the narrative falters, no franchise or star can prevent failure.

Also Read: War 2 Box Office Update: Film Records An Average Sunday

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