Joker is now the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time
Joker isn't nearly done tearing through box office records.
The DC comic book film has officially become the highest-grossing R-rated movie in box office history, having grossed $788 million, The Hollywood Reporter writes. This breaks the $783 million worldwide record previously held by Deadpool, unadjusted for inflation. Deadpool 2 also grossed $785 million worldwide, but this includes a subsequent re-release.
After hitting theaters mired in controversy, Joker has been continuously impressing at the box office, getting started by shattering the record for biggest opening weekend ever for an October release. Now, it's racking up worldwide grosses on par with a major superhero action blockbuster, despite the film being a slower-paced character study in the vein of Taxi Driver, and despite not even having a release in China, where superhero films often rack up a huge chunk of change.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In fact, Joker, which reportedly cost about $60 million to make, will take in more than $400 million in profits, Deadline reports. That would make it nearly as profitable as Avengers: Infinity War, Deadline notes, a film that grossed far more but also had a significantly higher budget.
Now the question becomes whether Joker, set to surge past $800 million, can actually break $1 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming only the second non-Disney movie of the year to do so. Box office prognosticators once thought that impossible, but Warner Bros. may have the last laugh.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
People of the year 2024
In the Spotlight Remember the people who hit the headlines this year?
By The Week UK Published
-
The Christmas quiz 2024
From the magazine Test your grasp of current affairs and general knowledge with our quiz
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: December 25, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published