Joker 2 aka Joker: Folie à Deux recently debuted in theatres. The film, which is a sequel to 2019 hit Joker, got disappointing reviews on Rotten Tomatoes even before its release. As of now, the movie has a 39% approval rating from professional critics, based on 166 reviews. This “rotten” score is much lower than the 69% “fresh” of 2019’s Joker, which went on to garner over $1 billion in worldwide box office earnings and 11 Oscar nominations. In contrast to the original film, Joker 2 is a jukebox musical which seems to be the aspect that has divided critics the most. The movie watchers felt that all of the musical sequences in the sequel were unnecessary and dragged down the action.
Days after the film’s release, fans’ verdict seems to be echoing critics’ sentiments as the Popcornmeter of Joker 2 is stuck at 38%. For those who don’t know, Popcornmeter is based on the audience’s review. Previously, it was called Audience Score but the name was changed to Popcornmeter in August 2024. The critics’ consensus review on Rotten Tomatoes can be read as, “Joaquin Phoenix’s eponymous Joker takes the stand in a sequel that dances around while the story remains still, although Lady Gaga’s wildcard energy gives Folie á Deux some verve.”
Joker 2 got a three-star verdict from News18 and an excerpt from the review read: “As simple as this sounds, in an attempt to make it an artistic experience, Todd Phillips complicates this with too many ingredients – music, undercooked subplots and even a pregnancy angle. These take the script into different directions but the writing limits to just that. Todd fails to push the envelope to truly explore either the trial in process or the relationship Joker has with Harley.”
Joker 2 picks up after the events of the first film. The Joker, also known as Arthur Fleck, is presently awaiting trial in an asylum. As the plot develops, he eventually finds his true love in Harley Quinn and is set free. Apart from Joaquin and Lady Gaga, the movie features Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, and Zazie Beetz in prominent roles. Joker 2 premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September and received a standing ovation.
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