Joker Is Making a Staggering Amount of Money

Joker's dark content may be controversial, causing increased security at some theaters, but no one can say the film is not successful—hugely successful. Deadline reports the movie is set to make a profit of nearly half a billion dollars, close to the $500 million Avengers: Infinity War—which was much more expensive to produce—made last year. It's on track for at least $464 million in profit, per Deadline. (Infinity War cost a half-billion to produce, while the Observer reports Joker cost $55 million to $70 million, plus $120 million in marketing costs.) Joker could end up the most profitable DC film so far.

And the Hollywood Reporter notes that after its third weekend of release, it had made $737.5 million at the global box office, "exceeding all expectations"—and putting it on track to become the top-grossing R-rated movie of all time (not adjusted for inflation). The current record holder is Deadpool with $783 million, and Joker is expected to end its box office run with at least $900 million, possibly even close to $1 billion. If that happens, Deadline notes, its profit will be even higher than the aforementioned massive estimate. (The movie has created a new tourist attraction in New York City.)