Friday, December 6, 2024

Box Office: “Joker” Heads to $1B Worldwide, “Harriet” Surprise Hit Overachieves, “Motherless Brooklyn” Invites Ed Norton Puns

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Todd Phillips’s “Joker” is dark, a little depressing, and kinda violent. Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is outstanding. So are the all visuals, etc. In the last couple of weeks, a meme has taken over as fans — either set up or spontaneous– have flocked to the Bronx’s Shakespeare Avenue steps to re-enact the Joker’s jolly jaunt.

And now, the box office worldwide is eyeing 1 billion dollars. This movie has been a phenom. Tomorrow it crosses $300 million just in the US. “Joker” has held the number 1 spot for weeks. Obviously there are repeat customers. Arthur Fleck’s pathetic life has definitely struck a chord. And so far, thank goodness, no one’s gotten hurt.

For Warner Bros, “Joker” is a lifesaver. The studio tried a bunch of smaller dramas this year and really got burned. Edward Norton’s “Motherless Brooklyn” is out this weekend, it’s a dud. But it did inspire some “Ed Norton” puns from boxofficemojo.com. Hey, Art Carney would have been great in “Motherless Brooklyn.”

The big happy news is that “Harriet,” starring Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman, did better than predicted this weekend. Receipts on the underground railroad were $12 million. Erivo is heading to an Oscar nod for Best Actress and she’ll get a best song nomination. Cool stuff.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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