No longer set in a shared universe for its DC comics movies, Warner Bros. unveils a stand-alone Joker [JOKER], about the most iconic villain in Batman’s rogue gallery. Joaquin Phoenix [JPHOE] stars in the origin story of how an ordinary man becomes the killer clown prince of crime in Gotham. Directed by Todd Phillips [TPHIL], the R-rated film is set during the 1980s when Bruce Wayne is but a child and his father still alive. Joker premiered to great acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, winning the Golden Lion and drawing comparisons to Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. However, recent headlines have focused on its violence and the implications of portraying a mass murderer as a sympathetic anti-hero. Another comic supervillain turned anti-hero Venom set the October opening weekend record of $80.3 million a year ago, a mark likely to be broken by Joker. Advance tickets sales are pacing ahead of Venom as well as It: Chapter Two, which debuted last month at $91.1 million. Fans are apparently not afraid to rush out opening weekend. In any case, theaters have added security while police in New York and Los Angeles are stepping up their presence. Popping up in 4374 theaters, Joker could score $92 million.
Targeted at families, Abominable [EVERS] should hold 60% of its opening weekend and bring in another $12.5 million.
Downton Abbey [DWTAB] looks trailed off to about $7.5 million, ahead of Hustlers [HSTLR] at around $6 million.
Roadside Attraction expands Judy [JUDY] wide to 1450 theaters after one week of limited release. With Oscar buzz, Judy could belt out $5.0 million.
That’s the whisper on the virtual trading floor.
Tag(s): JOKER, JPHOE, TPHIL, EVERS, DWTAB, HSTLR, JUDY