2024 Superhero Box Office Battle: Which R-Rated Movie Will Win – Deadpool 3 Or Joker 2?

Deadpool 3 and Joker: Folie à Deux will fight an interesting battle for the top of the 2024 superhero box office. While Sony’s Venom 3 could get close to the two movies, both Deadpool 3 and Joker: Folie à Deux have a decent shot of breaking the $1 billion mark and fighting for the title of the highest-grossing superhero movie of the year. After years of having several releases — with three Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and four DCEU films in 2023 — Marvel Studios and DC Studios have only one theatrical release each in 2024.

Deadpool 3 and Joker: Folie à Deux carry some interesting similarities and also great differences. Both movies are R-rated entries that deal with more violent and/or mature themes than the usual superhero fare. However, Deadpool 3 is firmly set in a cinematic universe, the MCU, while Joker: Folie à Deux is the first of DC’s Elseworlds movies, serving in a transitional role between the last DCEU film and the first movie in the new DC Universe, 2025’s Superman: Legacy. While both movies have exciting elements, one of them should beat the other at the box office.

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Deadpool 3 Box Office Pros And Cons

Deadpool 3 Is An MCU Event Movie, But Marvel Is On A Downturn

Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool franchise signaled a change for superhero movies. It is no surprise that getting the first Deadpool movie off the ground was a Herculean effort that was only made possible after test footage of Reynolds in costume leaked. The movie was different from what came before, showing that superhero films could be R-rated and still maintain a wide commercial appeal. With its raunchy comedy and violent action scenes, Deadpool became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever, being later surpassed by Deadpool 2. According to Box Office Mojo, Deadpool and Deadpool 2 amassed $782 million and $785 million worldwide, respectively.

Following the franchise’s first two movies, Deadpool 3 has a major element that could help the trilogy finale get to new heights for the franchise, breaking the $1 billion barrier and even claiming the title of highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. Deadpool 3 is being made under Marvel Studios, with the movie part of the MCU after Disney bought 20th Century Fox. Reynolds’ Deadpool is one of the most popular live-action superheroes, so many fans are excited about seeing how the character joining the MCU will play out. Reynolds aside, Deadpool 3‘s MCU connection is important in another way.

Deadpool 3 will be the first MCU movie to focus on a character that was part of Fox’s Marvel movies. While the MCU’s version of the X-Men might still be some time away, having Deadpool act as the first film for one of the mutants who have only appeared in Fox’s X-Men universe is a major moment. Another cause for excitement that could help Deadpool 3 beat Joker: Folie à Deux at the box office comes from the other characters that will be supporting Reynolds’ Deadpool in his MCU debut. After all, Deadpool 3‘s cast features exciting names.

Hugh Jackman is returning as Wolverine, the fan-favorite mutant from Fox’s X-Men films, finally wearing Wolverine’s comic book-accurate yellow and blue costume. Deadpool 3 will also feature the returns of multiple characters from the first two Deadpool movies, the arrival of new faces to the franchise, the surprise inclusion of Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, the original Sabretooth from Fox’s movies, and more. With several X-Men characters rumored for Deadpool 3 — including Cyclops, Professor X, Magneto, Storm, and more — the film could exceed projections and pull in gargantuan numbers at the box office like Spider-Man: No Way Home did.

Joker 2 Box Office Pros And Cons

Joker Was The Highest Grossing R-Rated Movie Ever, But Joker 2 Is A Musical

While DC Studios will release a few animated movies in 2024 — Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part One already having been the first of them — Joker: Folie à Deux will be the studio’s only theatrical and live-action movie of the year. The sequel to 2019’s Joker will bring back Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck. When the original Joker was released, both the movie and Phoenix got something that the Deadpool movies never really did — major attention during the awards season. While Reynolds and the Deadpool movies were remembered by the Critics’ Choice Awards, Joker went beyond.

Joker secured several nominations for the highest stage in film: the Academy Awards. Phoenix ended up taking home the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as the Joker. That has raised the anticipation for what director Todd Phillips and his lead actor will bring to the table with Joker: Folie à Deux, ensuring that the movie will have a strong box office run. Another advantage that Joker: Folie à Deux has over Deadpool 3 in their box office battle is that the original Joker dethroned Deadpool 2 to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

Joker ended its global box office run with just over $1 billion, with a lead of almost $300 million over Deadpool 2. Another reason for excitement for Joker: Folie à Deux is that the movie will serve as the first project of DC’s new Elseworlds line, which exists outside the canon of the new DC Universe. With the final movies in the old DCEU being released in 2023 and the first film of the new DCU, Superman: Legacy, coming in 2025, Joker: Folie à Deux should get a bump for serving as the only DC movie amid the transition.

While not many details have been revealed about Joker: Folie à Deux, a few major announcements have been made. The Joker sequel will see Phoenix star opposite Lady Gaga, who debuts in the franchise as Harley Quinn. The singer-turned-actress’ casting makes a lot of sense, as Gaga can excel as the Harley Quinn of Joker: Folie à Deux for a key reason. The DC movie will be a musical, the first of its kind among superhero films. While Joker‘s score and musical influences played a strong role in the film, Joker: Folie à Deux will be going into uncharted territory.

Deadpool 3 Will Beat Joker 2 At The 2024 Box Office

Deadpool 3 Has Wider Audience Appeal And More Exciting Box Office Draws

Joker might have outgrossed the first Deadpool movies; however, given all the elements surrounding Deadpool 3 and Joker: Folie à Deux, the Marvel movie is likely to be crowned the highest-grossing superhero movie of 2024. Deadpool 3 will continue what worked for the first two movies in the franchise, bringing back most of its fan-favorite stars while also being part of the MCU and having several rumored multiversal cameos. While Joker: Folie à Deux is exciting with Phoenix’s return and Gaga as Harley Quinn, the movie being a musical should limit its box office performance, making Deadpool 3 beat it.