Joker: Folie à Deux has finally hit theaters, and it is already causing a stir due to its mixed reception so far. After the award-winning Joker, the sequel brings back Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck and introduces Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn in a musical in the gritty world of Gotham.
It is rarely seen that the audience’s view closely matches that of the critics, as both watch movies from a different perspective. When critics try to analyze a film, audiences are usually just there for entertainment. However, there have been cases where both have similar views, and it seems like Joker 2 is one of those cases.
Joker: Folie à Deux Brings Audience and Critics Together for Wrong Reasons
The original Joker became a phenomenon. It made over $1.07 billion (as per Box Office Mojo), won 2 Academy Awards, and earned 11 nominations. However, the movie itself had differing opinions, as critics rated it 68% and the audience rated it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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However, some movies manage to have an equal or almost equal impact on both critics and the audience. Movies like Guardians of the Galaxy (92%), Whiplash (94%), and The Martian (91%) have the same ratings from both sides on Rotten Tomatoes.
The most appreciated Joker performance brought critics and the audience together in The Dark Knight with a 94% score. Joaquin Phoenix‘s movie Beau Is Afraid also has similar views, with a 67% critic score and a 71% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Phoenix’s new movie Joker: Folie à Deux has also joined this rare club, but not in the way the creators would have wanted. As of now, the movie is sitting at a 33% critic score and 34% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Instead of mutual appreciation, it’s a case of mutual disappointment.
Critics have not been that kind to Joker 2. Toronto Star said the writers and director “obviously had no idea what kind of movie they were trying to make.” IndieWire called the musical numbers “underwhelming.” It looks like the decision to shift from the gritty realism of the first film to dance and music didn’t sit well with anyone.
Joker: Folie à Deux‘s Box Office Performance
Sometimes, poorly rated movies also make profitable business because of the hype. However, the box office predictions for Joker: Folie à Deux also do not look great. According to Deadline, the film was initially predicted to open at $70 million. Expectations have now dropped to around $50 million.
It is much less than the $96 million opening weekend of Joker. According to Variety, Joker 2‘s Thursday previews brought in $7 million, which sounds okay until it is compared to the original, which made $13.3 million.
The budget for the sequel is $200 million, which is almost three times the $65 million budget of the first movie. International markets might provide some relief. Deadline predicts that the movie might have a global opening of $140 million, which is not that bad.
However, Deadline also predicts that domestic collections might dip as low as $45 million over the weekend. The harsh reality is that Joker: Folie à Deux is facing an uphill battle. It will take some serious box office miracle to recover its large production budget and other marketing expenses, let alone earn a profit.
Joker: Folie à Deux is now running in theaters.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Joker: Folie à Deux enter a rare club of films for the wrong reasons?
The article describes a rare “club” of films where critics and audiences land in close agreement, such as The Dark Knight (cited at a 94% score that, per the piece, “brought critics and the audience together”), alongside titles like Guardians of the Galaxy (92%), Whiplash (94%) and The Martian (91%). Joker: Folie à Deux earns its place in that aligned-scores club for the wrong reasons: instead of shared praise, it drew matching low scores on Rotten Tomatoes, reportedly 33% from critics and 34% from audiences. The piece frames this as a rare case of mutual disappointment rather than mutual appreciation.
How did Joker: Folie à Deux’s reviews and ratings compare to the original Joker?
The original Joker earned a 68% critic score and 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, grossed over $1.07 billion (per Box Office Mojo), and won two Academy Awards from 11 nominations. By contrast, the article reports the sequel sitting at 33% critic and 34% audience scores. Among the critics cited, the Toronto Star said the filmmakers “obviously had no idea what kind of movie they were trying to make,” while IndieWire called the musical numbers “underwhelming.”
What were the box office expectations for Joker: Folie à Deux?
According to figures cited in the article, Deadline initially predicted a $70 million opening, later lowered to around $50 million, versus the original’s $96 million debut. Variety reported the sequel’s Thursday previews made $7 million against the first film’s $13.3 million. With a $200 million budget, described as almost three times the original’s $65 million, Deadline projected a $140 million global opening and a possible domestic dip to $45 million.
