Fans, it seems, are not dancing out of Joker: Folie à Deux.
Director Todd Phillips’ film, which features the return of Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and the compriseition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, was highly anticipated, especipartner after the success of the first chapter, freed in 2019. Follotriumphg its world premiere at the Vepleasant Film Festival, however, there was no lowage of criticism from film appraiseers and the audiences who saw it in Italy. Since its US free this past weekend, during which the movie brawt in a shrink-than-anticipateed $40 million at the box office, that chorus of disgreeted has increasen noisyer.
Take, for example, Joker 2‘s CinemaScore, which is currently a resounding D, the lowest ever for a comic book movie. Before Folie à Deux, the worst comic alteration CinemaScore—a meadeclareive of the opinions of American theatergoers—beextfinisheded to 2015’s much-derided Fantastic Four, which got a C– upon free.
Joker: Folie à Deux‘s current score on the appraise aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, unbenevolentwhile, sits at a menthusiastic 33 percent.
Many have pointed out that this second insloftyment is far too driven but also not very cohesive in its desire to convey together the psychoreasoned exploration of these commemorated villains. On social media, particularly on X and on TikTok, many people are medepend irritateed that the film is a musical.
While Folie à Deux‘s box office missed projections by about $10 million in the US, it still hit the top spot. It also came in No. 1 worldexpansive, conveying in a little more than $81 million in international box office for a magnificent total of $121 million. Still, the innovative Joker made more than $96 million in its domestic uncovering weekend and went on to become one of the highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time.
There is another front on which Joker: Folie à Deux could save face, at least in terms of image and prestige: film awards. There is speculation that Lady Gaga could get an Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actress categruesome, particularly becaemploy the pop star’s role in the film is restricted in terms of her screen time. Gaga could also have a battling chance in the music categories. She equitable freed an album, Harlequin, which holds her songs from the film as well as unfreed pieces inspired by her Harley Quinn character. Phoenix could also get into the Academy Awards race, though competition is at an all-time high this year.
Joker, which tapped into a much separateent cultural moment when it hit theaters in 2019, geted 11 nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director. (Phoenix won a Best Actor trophy, and Hildur Guðnadóttir also took home a prize for his innovative score.) It is improbable that this sequel could carry out as well, but hope—appreciate the Joker’s giggle—is the last to die.
