Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
'Joker' Laughs Its Way to October Box Office Record
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
October 7, 2019

Share

LOS ANGELES — The filmmakers and studio behind “Joker” have reason to put on a happy face. Despite concerns over its violent themes and ramped up theater security, audiences flocked to the multiplex to check out the R-rated film this weekend resulting in a record October opening.

“Putting records aside, we’re just thrilled that audiences are embracing the movie as strong as they are.” — Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.’ president of domestic distribution
Warner Bros. said Sunday that “Joker” grossed an estimated $93.5 million in ticket sales from 4,374 screens in North America. The previous October record-holder was the Spider-Man spinoff “Venom” which opened to $80 million last year. Internationally, “Joker” earned $140.5 million from 73 markets, resulting in a stunning $234 million global debut.
“This was a much larger result at the box office than we had ever anticipated globally,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.’ president of domestic distribution. “Putting records aside, we’re just thrilled that audiences are embracing the movie as strong as they are.”

Dark Spin on Batman Villain

Since debuting at the Venice Film Festival where it won the prestigious Golden Lion last month, “Joker” has been both praised and criticized for its dark spin on the classic Batman villain played by Joaquin Phoenix. The film from director and co-writer Todd Phillips was always seen as a bit of a gamble with one of the studios’ most valuable pieces of intellectual property, hence its modest-for-a-comic-book-film $55 million budget.
But in the weeks leading up to its release, hype and uneasiness intensified beyond how audiences would react to placing this character in a realistic and unambiguously adult setting with “Taxi Driver” undertones. Responding to anxiety that the film might have the potential to inspire violence, multiple theater chains banned costumes or reaffirmed earlier policies regarding masks and authorities in numerous cities said they were stepping police patrols around theaters. Some relatives of the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting even asked Warner Bros . to commit to gun control causes — the studio said it always has.
While some worried this would impact the box office, it did not ultimately detract audiences from turning out opening weekend; the box office surpassed industry expectations and may rise even higher when weekend actuals are reported Monday. Although the film got a B+ CinemaScore from opening night audiences, the studio is optimistic about its long-term playability.

Young Audiences Give Positive Reviews

“Sixty-six percent of the audience was under the age of 35,” Goldstein said. “That tells you that the audience will expand out with that younger group as time goes on.” The younger audience also gave the film a more favorable A- CinemaScore.
Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for box office tracker Comscore, said that the convergence of critical acclaim and controversy actually helped the film become bigger than expected at the box office.
“It’s the ultimate water-cooler movie right now,” Dergarabedian said.
He added that it was important that “Joker” was always marketed as a “very dark, R-rated film.”
“It always had an element of mystery and danger surrounding it,” Dergarabedian said. “If it were a G-rated film, controversy like this would not be a good thing.”
In the landscape of R-rated comic book films, “Joker” is nestled between “Deadpool” and its sequel, both of which opened over $125 million, and “Logan,” which launched with $88.4 million.

Holdover Movies Dominate the Top 10

“Joker” was the only new wide release this weekend, which is down from last year when both “Venom” and “A Star is Born” opened. Holdovers populated the top 10: The more family-friendly “Abominable” landed in second place with $12 million in its second weekend and “Downton Abbey” took third in its third weekend with $8 million.
With awards buzz behind it, the Judy Garland biopic “Judy,” starring Renee Zellweger, added nearly 1,000 screens this weekend and placed seventh with $4.5 million from 1,458 locations.
And in limited release, Pedro Almodóvar’s critically acclaimed “Pain and Glory” launched on four screens to a solid $160,087. Less fortunate was the Natalie Portman-led astronaut drama “Lucy in the Sky” which earned only $55,000 from 37 theaters resulting in a dismal $1,500 per screen average.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1.”Joker,” $93.5 million ($140.5 million international).
2.”Abominable,” $12 million ($24.6 million international).
3.”Downton Abbey,” $8 million ($6.6 million international).
4.”Hustlers,” $6.3 million ($1.9 million international).
5.”It Chapter Two,” $5.4 million ($5.6 million international).
6.”Ad Astra,” $4.6 million ($7.3 million international).
7.”Judy,” $4.4 million ($1.9 million international).
8.”Rambo: Last Blood,” $3.6 million ($4.3 million international).
9.”War,” $1.5 million ($2.9 million international).
10.”Good Boys,” $900,000.
 

DON'T MISS

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Men Arrested in Armed Robbery Near Sanger High, Sanger Academy

DON'T MISS

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

DON'T MISS

Conservative Professors and Students Are Suing California’s Community Colleges, and Winning

DON'T MISS

How Trump Can Earn a Place in History That He Did Not Expect

DON'T MISS

Love Seeks Redemption as Packers Prepare for 49ers Rematch

DON'T MISS

Suspect Arrested After Oakhurst Crime Spree Leaves K9 Injured

DON'T MISS

Top War-Crimes Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Officials

DON'T MISS

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

DON'T MISS

Classes for Cannabis? UC Merced Extension Launching Weed Workforce Training

UP NEXT

Looking for a Night Out? Bill Burr, Ralph Barbosa and West Coast Takeover Are Up Next

UP NEXT

Comcast to Spin Off Cable Networks, Once Star Performers for the Entertainment Giant

UP NEXT

‘Tis the Season for Holiday Albums, From Jennifer Hudson to Toby Keith and Jimmy Fallon

UP NEXT

Budget-Friendly Hacks for a Friendsgiving Feast to Remember

UP NEXT

Rock Great Jeff Beck’s Guitars Are Going up for Auction

UP NEXT

Dan Forrest’s ‘Creation’ Is a Feast for the Ears. Fresno Master Chorale Performs It Sunday.

UP NEXT

Which Landmarks and Businesses Are Featured on Monopoly Fresno Edition?

UP NEXT

Veteran NBC Host Craig Melvin Tapped to Replace Hoda Kotb for the First Hours of ‘Today’ Show

UP NEXT

R&B Concerts, Comedy, & Worship Take Center Stage This Weekend

UP NEXT

Missouri Prosecutor Says He Won’t Charge Nelly After an August Drug Arrest

Conservative Professors and Students Are Suing California’s Community Colleges, and Winning

47 minutes ago

How Trump Can Earn a Place in History That He Did Not Expect

1 hour ago

Love Seeks Redemption as Packers Prepare for 49ers Rematch

1 hour ago

Suspect Arrested After Oakhurst Crime Spree Leaves K9 Injured

2 hours ago

Top War-Crimes Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Officials

2 hours ago

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

5 hours ago

Classes for Cannabis? UC Merced Extension Launching Weed Workforce Training

6 hours ago

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

6 hours ago

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

6 hours ago

FBI Arrested a Man Who’s Been Charged With Planning an Attack on the New York Stock Exchange

16 hours ago

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

WASHINGTON — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following continued scrutiny over a fe...

4 minutes ago

4 minutes ago

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

4 minutes ago

Fresno County Men Arrested in Armed Robbery Near Sanger High, Sanger Academy

18 minutes ago

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

47 minutes ago

Conservative Professors and Students Are Suing California’s Community Colleges, and Winning

President Donald Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, Sept. 15, 2020. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
1 hour ago

How Trump Can Earn a Place in History That He Did Not Expect

1 hour ago

Love Seeks Redemption as Packers Prepare for 49ers Rematch

A Mariposa man was arrested after a violent crime spree in Oakhurst, injuring a sheriff's K9 and prompting multiple investigations. (Instagram/FresnoDAIA))
2 hours ago

Suspect Arrested After Oakhurst Crime Spree Leaves K9 Injured

2 hours ago

Top War-Crimes Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Officials

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend