“Bro knew the movie was trash”: Todd Phillips’ Thanos-like Move After Joker 2 Bombing is Raising Suspicions
- Todd Phillips isolates after 'Joker 2' flops with $37.8 million.
- The film becomes the first comic movie to score a D CinemaScore.
- Warner Bros. faces fallout as Phillips reflects on his choices.
Todd Phillips, the director behind the iconic Joker, is chilling on his ranch while Joker: Folie à Deux drops. Much like Thanos after wiping out half of the universe’s population and becoming a farmer, Phillips seems to be hiding from the chaos.
His latest film flopped harder at the box office, pulling in just $37.8 million during its opening weekend. Yes, that’s all. It’s the first comic book movie ever to score a D on CinemaScore. Oof.
The director who once ruled the box office is now hiding out, probably sipping tea and contemplating life choices. But wait, what went wrong? This sequel was supposed to be epic! The original Joker made over a billion bucks and snagged awards, setting the bar high.
So, did Phillips go rogue, or did Warner Bros. set him up for a fall? As whispers circulate about this ‘collective failure,’ the film industry watches closely. Can Phillips bounce back, or is he planning to stay on that ranch forever?
Todd Phillips Goes Into Hiding After Joker 2 Failure
Imagine Todd Phillips, our superhero director, taking a cue from Thanos. After Joker 2 flopped, he ghosted Hollywood for a secluded weekend on his ranch. It’s just like the Mad Titan, who retired to a peaceful farm, claiming the Infinity Gauntlet and snapping away half of all life.
The 53-year-old seems to be trying to escape the noise. While execs at Warner Bros. were in panic mode, wondering how their successful franchise turned into a flop, Phillips was probably contemplating life’s big questions—like, was this sequel even a good idea in the first place? Check out some fan reactions:
The sequel to the Oscar-winning hit was a no-brainer for the studio. They were banking on Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix, to bring back the magic. But with a budget ballooning to $200 million (via Variety), they expected fireworks, not fizzle. Critics and fans had high hopes, but they were met with a yawn.
Opening weekend numbers were way behind DC’s The Flash and MCU’s The Marvels, both of which also crashed and burned last year. So, what happened? Did Phillips trust his gut too much? Was the film too different? Or did audiences just not vibe with it? So many questions ahead.
And to add salt to the wound, insiders claim there were zero test screenings. Yes, that’s right—no sneak peeks, no audience reactions. Maybe Phillips thought the plot was too secretive for a test run, but c’mon, even spoiler-heavy movies like Avengers: Endgame had screenings.
Todd Phillips Left to Face the Fallout After Joker 2 Bombs
Now, the aftermath is all about damage control. Todd Phillips is in deep thought, possibly crafting his next masterpiece—or hiding from the world. Warner Bros. is left to pick up the pieces while their studio heads, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, face the fallout.
They thought they were securing a hit but ended up with a punchline. Insiders are wondering who’s getting the blame for this debacle. Interestingly, James Gunn and Peter Safran, the new heads at DC Studios, are quick to distance themselves from Folie à Deux.
Joker 2: Todd Phillips Quits DC After Disastrous Sequel That Shouldn’t Have Been Made at First Place
Recently, Gunn responded to a fan on Threads who asked why the DC Studios logo wasn’t featured at the start of Joker 2. He clarified, “Because it’s not a DC Studios film” and added, “All future films with DC characters will be DC Studios.”
The DC heads have a fresh slate to work with and want to shake off the stink of previous bombs. This makes sense—they’re trying to revive the DC brand while Phillips is left holding the bag. With all these factors in play, everyone is anxious about the future of Joker.
Joker: Folie à Deux is currently screening in theatres.
