Joker 2 has made headlines in cinema history, but unfortunately, it’s not for the best reasons. The highly anticipated sequel has faced a rough start, surpassing other notable films like Madame Web and Morbius in a rather dismal way.
Released on 4th October, Joker: Folie à Deux features Joaquin Phoenix reprising his award-winning role as Arthur Fleck, with Lady Gaga also joining the cast as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, also known as Harley Quinn. However, despite the star-studded lineup, early reviews from the Venice Film Festival have been mixed, with negative feedback outweighing the positive.
Currently, the film holds a disappointing 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, with audiences giving it a meagre 31% score. Making matters worse, Joker 2 has made history as the first Hollywood comic book movie to receive a D CinemaScore from opening day audiences, a stark contrast to its predecessor, Joker, which received a favourable B+ score.
This low rating puts Joker 2 in the company of films like Russell Crowe’s horror movie The Exorcism, known for its poor reception. Even with a D CinemaScore, the sequel falls behind poorly-reviewed films like Batman & Robin, Morbius, and Madame Web, all of which managed to score slightly higher.
The impact of these negative reviews is evident at the box office, with Joker 2’s projected earnings falling well below initial expectations. While predictions initially placed the film between $50m to $60m, the actual figures are now forecasted to be less than $50m, a significant drop from the original Joker’s successful debut of $96.2m.
Critics have also expressed disappointment with Joker: Folie à Deux, with some labelling it as a “half-baked, half-hearted musical.” Despite the criticism, there are still some positive remarks about Joaquin Phoenix’s performance and the film’s darker themes.
Joker: Folie à Deux is currently showing in cinemas, inviting audiences to make their own assessments of the much-debated sequel.