2 Superhero Movies Are Battling To Beat An Impressive Record In 2024

Back in 2019, Todd Phillips’ Joker set an impressive movie record that two major MCU and DC Universe projects are hoping to beat in 2024. Developed as a standalone story outside the DCEU, Joker starred Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, an aspiring stand-up comic and failed clown who ignites a revolution against Gotham City’s wealthy elite while descending into nihilism and mental illness. Joker was controversial, but revolutionary, marking the first time the iconic DC Comics villain had been focused on in such a grounded and realistic way, which led to the project becoming one of DC’s most popular installments.

During his announcement of the DCEU’s reboot into the DC Universe in January 2023, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed that Todd Phillips’ Joker would be known as a DC Elseworlds project. Alongside Matt Reeves’ The Batman and its spinoffs, DC Elseworlds projects will be released adjacent to the DC Universe. Joker’s upcoming sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, will also be a DC Elseworlds project, and will explore a new relationship for Arthur Fleck in the form of Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn, but Folie à Deux isn’t the only 2024 superhero movie hoping to match the success of its predecessor.

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Joker Is The Most Successful R-Rated Film Ever

Joker

R

Crime

Thriller

Drama

Release Date

October 4, 2019

Director

Todd Phillips

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Joker premiered on October 4, 2019, and became a fast success, reaching a total of $234 million at the global box office in its opening weekend, and setting career records for Phoenix, Robert De Niro and director Todd Phillips. Joker had the biggest October opening day ever, the fourth-largest debut for an R-rated movie, and managed to hold the number one spot in its second week. In only four weeks, Joker passed the $1 billion mark at the global box office, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, and the most profitable comic book adaptation, based on budget-to-gross ratios.

Joker later beat The Dark Knight’s record of eight Academy Award nominations by being nominated for eleven awards. Joaquin Phoenix took home the award for Best Actor, while Hildur Guðnadóttir became the first woman to win the award for Best Original Score since Anne Dudley won in 1998 for The Full Monty. Joker also clocked up several other notable accolades, becoming the most successful R-rated movie in history, and making the development of a sequel – despite being produced as a standalone project – practically inevitable. Its sequel, however, may have the opportunity to best its bigger brother.

Joker: Folie À Deux Could Beat The Success Of Its Predecessor

Joker: Folie a Deux

R

Drama

Release Date

October 4, 2024

Director

Todd Phillips

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Rumors had been circulating about a sequel to Joker following the 2019 film’s massive success, and though its development was initially denied, Todd Phillips confirmed the production of Joker: Folie à Deux in June 2022. While the DCEU faltered and fizzled out, excitement has been high for Joker: Folie à Deux, especially after confirmation of Lady Gaga’s casting as Harley Quinn, the Joker’s iconic partner-in-crime. Folie à Deux is also suspected to be inspired by movie musicals, perhaps taking on a different tone to the 2019 original, though Hildur Guðnadóttir has returned to compose the musical score for the film.

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Joker: Folie À Deux – Release Date, Cast & Everything We Know

Joker: Folie à Deux’s star-studded cast, exciting premise, and doubled budget from its predecessor all point towards a truly promising release.

Set to premiere on October 4, 2024, exactly five years after its predecessor, Joker: Folie à Deux will feature new cast members Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Harry Lawtey, among others, while Zazie Beetz is also returning. It’s too early to tell how successful Folie à Deux will actually be, but given the success of Joker, and the new star-power joining the emerging franchise, it’s likely that Joker: Folie à Deux could beat its predecessor’s impressive records. Retaining the first film’s R-rating means that Folie à Deux could become the new highest-grossing R-rated movie, but it has some serious competition.

Deadpool & Wolverine Is Also Battling For This Title In 2024 (Who Will Win?)

Deadpool & Wolverine

R

Action

Sci-Fi

Comedy

Superhero

Release Date

July 26, 2024

Director

Shawn Levy

Distributor(s)

Disney

Shortly after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox was finalized in 2019, Ryan Reynolds and Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige confirmed that Wade Wilson, a.k.a. Deadpool, would be permanently joining the MCU. Shawn Levy was hired as director in March 2022, but anticipation for Marvel Studios’ Deadpool 3 got a huge boost in September of that year as Hugh Jackman was confirmed to be reprising his role of Wolverine from Fox’s X-Men Universe. Since then, many other X-Men franchise characters have been confirmed to be returning, with Deadpool & Wolverine’s first trailer revealing the likes of Colossus, Pyro and Shatterstar.

Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool was one of the most popular aspects of Fox’s X-Men Universe, so his introduction into the MCU is hugely exciting, especially since Deadpool & Wolverine will retain the franchise’s R-rating. While Joker: Folie à Deux is certainly stiff competition, Deadpool & Wolverine’s impressive cast, the opportunity for surprise cameos, Reynolds’ raunchy comedy, and the chance to change the status quo of the MCU means that Deadpool & Wolverine will likely fair better than Folie à Deux at 2024’s box office, and perhaps even beat the massive record set by 2019’s Joker, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever.