Joker will be laughing all the way to the bank this weekend.
The big screen comic book adaptation focusing on Batman’s iconic enemy is currently tracking to take in $80 million at the domestic box office with another $75 million in tickets sold overseas for a worldwide total of $155 million. That take will mark the film as the second highest October opening of all time, landing just behind last year’s Venom – also a comic book adaptation focusing on a villainous character as its lead – and that film’s box off receipts of $207.4 million.
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker premiered at the Venice Film Festival last month to largely rave reviews and some discussion on the topic of how the film treats the violent acts portrayed by its titular character. Both of these factors are thought to be the driving forces behind advanced and projected ticket purchases for the weekend.
Such is the interest in the film that even its R rating, which by its very nature limits somewhat the potential ticket-buying audience for a film, has not really slowed the film’s box office forecast. Given that Warner executives were trepidatious about the film to begin with – the film’s somewhat paltry $55 million budget was not much of a sign of confidence on their part – there must be some excitement in the brass’s office suites as we head towards the weekend.
