User reviews

This feels more like a spin-off than a true sequel, spending most of its runtime rehashing the original through court scenes and interviews, rather than pushing the story forward. The writing is serviceable at best, often relying on thin threads to loosely tie one musical dream sequence to the next. Joaquin Phoenix's performance is fine, but it lacks the raw intensity that defined his portrayal in the original. Lady Gaga, on the other hand, seemed to intentionally tone down her usual flamboyance, likely to avoid overshadowing him, which, while understandable, feels like a missed opportunity for a more dynamic performance.

The musical numbers, full of energy and spectacle, are easily the highlight of the film, with the singing and dancing offering moments of reprieve from the otherwise sluggish narrative. Unfortunately, these sequences can't sustain the film's momentum. The lack of a substantial plot causes the movie to feel overlong, dragging on for more than two hours, making it feel unnecessarily stretched. Without the gripping psychological tension of its predecessor, the film struggles to find its footing, leaving it more of an indulgent showcase for musical theatrics than a coherent, engaging continuation of the story.

I'm so irritated. "Joker" was a gritty, intense psychological thriller that explored complex themes of mental illness and societal breakdown. It was a raw, dark film that didn't need gimmicks or unnecessary changes to make a statement. So WHY in the world would anyone think it's a good idea to turn "Joker 2" into a musical?

This is a slap in the face to fans of the original. We didn't ask for dancing and singing - we wanted more of the same unsettling atmosphere, not a Broadway-style number in the middle of Gotham's madness. I signed up for a continuation of Arthur Fleck's descent into chaos, not a flashy musical break that completely destroys the tone.

The first "Joker" was a masterpiece. This sequel choice feels like a desperate attempt to be "different" without respecting the core of what made the character and story so compelling. Ridiculous decision.

It was a complete waste of time. As a massive fan of Joker, I expected a strong comeback five years later. The movie was a complete drag. Whenever I thought the movie was taking a turn for the better, it got worse. Save yourself the time and money. Joaquin Phoenix's performance was excellent, but the script was terrible. Through no fault of his own, Joker Folie A Deux is in line as one of the worst sequels ever. The movie seemed more like a display of Lady Gaga's singing and acting ability, which isn't great. I believe this may be the biggest box office flop of 2024. This movie should have been released on Tubi for free.

Joker: Folie à Deux, a sequel that disappoints, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga offer a good performance giving life to two tormented and complex characters. However, it is the story that is full of holes.

While the first film had won us over with its psychological depth and its powerful social criticism, this second chapter seems to struggle to find its own identity. The plot, at times fragmented and predictable, cannot hold its own against its predecessor. The characters, although interesting, remain in the background compared to an action that gets lost in useless digressions.

In conclusion, Joker: Folie à Deux is a film that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, it is often even boring. Despite the technical merits and the excellent performances, the story is weak.

A sequel that disappoints expectations, with a poor plot and a much lower emotional impact than the first film.

If Joker 2 was meant to expand on the tortured psyche of Arthur Fleck, it succeeded only in expanding my boredom. What made the first film so intriguing-the slow descent into madness-was replaced with a frantic, disjointed attempt to outdo its predecessor without any real sense of direction. Fleck's evolution (or lack thereof) feels more like a series of erratic, isolated scenes than a cohesive narrative.

The film struggles to find its tone, oscillating between forced social commentary and a carnival of absurdity, leaving neither thought-provoking nor entertaining moments to cling to. It's as if the filmmakers believed that more chaos automatically equals more depth, but instead, it comes off as empty spectacle with none of the philosophical grit that made the original resonate. The character development was shallow, almost as if they hoped we wouldn't notice the lack of story under the avalanche of neon-lit chaos and ominous laughs.

Joaquin Phoenix, ever the committed actor, did his best, but even his performance couldn't save a script that feels more like a checklist of provocations than an actual journey. Joker 2 is a poor imitation of its own predecessor, like trying to laugh at the same joke twice-only this time, it falls flat, and you're left wondering why you ever found it funny in the first place.

Verdict? Skip this punchline.

• Rating is 6.5/10
• Watched on Sept. 30 2024 @ Fan First Premiere (First Watch)
• Format: (Digital) IMAX

Todd Phillips repeats exactly what he did to The Hangover trilogy with Joker 2. The director goes on to make a sequel that is unfortunately empty and has no character development.

Phillips outdone himself in directing a film that has an outstanding cinematography/visuals that portrays every feeling and emotion that it wants to tell and express. BUT, he failed in creating an engaging storyline. From a part one to a part two, usually the characters of the film change. Their arc either declines or inclines. Their personalities change. Events/obstacles come along their way to shift their lives. OR new character/s enter their life which opens the door for more interesting events to come along their way resulting in a "Folie à Deux". In this film, Joker's/Arthur Fleck's life doesn't seem to change much as Gaga's character, Lee, is added. Instead, the film keeps repeating its events by REvisiting the past (the first Joker film) or reacting some of its scenes. It also keeps coming back and forth to the same locations and events within this film itself. Resulting in an overall dull film that is ONLY visually entertaining.

This film introduces two major characters within the Gotham world, Harvey Dent, who is played terribly by Harry Lawtey and written even worse. By the end of the film, I felt like he was useless and is taken advantage of because of his 'name' within the comic books fandom. Same goes to Lady Gaga's Lee that simply felt like it wasn't even in this film.

I enjoyed how this film uses music/songs to showcase that it's an ESCAPE for our inner selves. But, the song choices weren't on point. On the other hand, their performance was well done by Gaga or Joaquin Phoenix and Lawrence Sher's cinematography skills.

The height of narcissism in Hollywood arrives in the form of "Joker: Folie a Deux", a production that no one asked for, and one that continues the modern day film industries' complete disdain for art, culture, and the consumer. More than one online periodical is arguing that this movie was made with malice towards the Batman franchise, as well as its fans, some news outlets even applauding this decision: hailing it as a "subversion" of the superhero genre.

Fans of the comic books and prior Batman movies regard the Joker as the criminal mastermind and complex character he was originally written to be. Those moviegoers are expecting a tense and violent drama, hearty action sequences, and blood and gore. The decision to greenlight a musical and legal procedural Joker sequel is a massive faux pas; one that cannot be excused thru ignorance or even creativity. No, this decision was done knowing the consequences, which are now manifesting as disbelief, anger, frustration and a pathetic box office reception.

One of my acting teachers in Manhattan explained to me that "America does not want to come home to Medea", meaning that the average American comes home from a brutal day at work and is received by chores, disobedient children, bills, endless worries and never-ending demands. They want to relax. They want to be entertained. There is a time and place for thoughtful, deeply reflective cinema, and this is not it. -- There is absolutely nothing wrong with a subculture of action movie goers -- They appreciate the fun and excitement the excessive violence causes them to feel. It's fiction and fantasy and has its place in our life as a distraction; one that the incredibly responsible working class deserves.

For Hollywood millionaires and their lackeys to be able to suggest, authorize, produce and distribute such an incredibly pompous and miserly film using a franchise that stands for the exact opposite themes it embodies is a clear sign of an industry gone terribly wrong. An industry that answers to no one and is funded under feigned interest to inform and educate when it clearly patronizes with disdain, untroubled by any repercussions.

Crowdthink will tell you different. But crowdthink gets its kicks from tiktok and being spoon-fed lightweight cultural candyfloss.

This movie is the bravest and most experimental mainstream release you'll catch in some time. Todd Phillips, take a bow.

A musical that's not a musical and a courtroom drama that's not a courtroom drama, hooked on some bemusing, dazzling hybrid of the two, utilising raw, rough musical numbers to as a mechanism to convey depth, motivation and explore character relationships.

Phoenix blows the mind with his range and command of minutae, Gaga et al are wonderful in support; what a voice that *disturbingly* hot psychotic chick has...

This is not what you expect but damn sure you need from a mainstream release that dares to experiment with genre styles, and delivers some wildly entertaining sequences.

Not to mention contentious nods to the Batman canon, at times shot like a sprawling Nolan landscape, or even a Burton surrealist piece.

No spoilers, but the jaw-dropping ending will have you either spewing nerd outrage or grinning like, well Arthur Fleck, as the bait and switch hits... Hey, we did say it was an origin story, right? And you do know he was the Joker, right?

Nobody said it was THE Joker, riiiight...

LOL. Fantastic.

Shut out the noise of the easily confused. Don't miss this treat for eyes, ears and mind. Easy 9/10.

Joker 2 attempts to once again dive into the mind of Arthur Fleck, but unfortunately, it treads too much of the same ground as the first film. The original Joker was such a meticulous and thorough character study that by the end, it felt like there was little left to uncover. That exact feeling haunts this sequel, as it struggles to find new dimensions to Arthur's complex psyche, leaving the film feeling more like an epilogue rather than a fresh narrative.

Joaquin Phoenix, as expected, delivers an excellent performance as Arthur Fleck, further cementing his unsettling portrayal of the Joker. Lady Gaga also brings depth to her role as Harley Quinn, adding a new dynamic to Arthur's story. However, the movie continuously pulls away from their strong performances with unnecessary musical numbers and courtroom drama that feel out of place.

Ironically, the movie feels its best when it alludes to the iconic scenes and atmosphere of the first film, rather than when it tries to experiment with new elements. The callbacks to Arthur's lonely and disturbed journey in the original film evoke the same eerie tension and emotional weight that made Joker so powerful. However, the attempts to add new layers with the courtroom drama and out-of-nowhere musical sequences ultimately detract from the story's flow, feeling more like distractions than meaningful additions.

The film shines brightest when it focuses on the twisted and toxic relationship between Joker and Harley. The chemistry between Phoenix and Gaga adds a fascinating layer to the film, but unfortunately, these moments are too few and far between.

Ultimately, Joker 2 feels more like a continuation that didn't have much more to say. While it has its highlights, particularly in its performances, the film feels like an unnecessary add-on to the first rather than a compelling new chapter. For fans of the original, it might feel redundant, offering little new exploration of Arthur's character or the world he inhabits.

I absolutely loved the first Joker movie directed by Todd Phillips, but I have to say, what the hell were they thinking when they decided to go into the sequel. Unlike the first film, this movie has practically no story, but rather a series of strange delusional vignettes that were thrown together along with musical numbers that got old very fast and made the run time way longer than needed for how unentertaining it actually was. Joaquin Phoenix delivers a decent performance, but it's nowhere near as good as he was in the first film. I kept waiting in anticipation thinking this must be building towards some big moment that unfortunately never arrives, and instead was left with nothing but disappointment as the movie ends on a worse note than it began.

I was on the fence when I watched the trailer, but now having seen it I kind of wish I wouldn't have. If you're a fan of the first movie, it's a pretty big toss up whether you'll like this one or not, but I wouldn't recommend it.

This was a monumental, brightly burning dumpster fire. If you're a fan of the first one, don't waste your time. It lost the entire spirit and message of the first one.

The first hour was next to pointless and felt like a long, strung out, snoozefest. The second half had a spark of something acceptable, but that dumpster quickly caught fire again and led to one of the worst endings imaginable. Cutting the awful music would've saved 45 minutes of movie.

If the goal was to make a bad movie, it would win film of the year and I swear I gave it to the last frame to be good, but it just fell flat on its face. I'm going to pretend it was never made, and that I didn't waste two hours of my life on this. If you actually want to watch this, wait until it's free.

If I were to say one thing positive, it did have ONE good song and sequence to accompany it, "Every Deck Has a Joker, and That Joker Is Me".

Moral of the story is, I'm never going to watch this again.

The sequel to "Joker" promised a lot, but the final result fell short of expectations, also a bad movie. The ambitious choice to transform the film into a musical, although bold, was not interesting.

The story does not add anything truly new or original. The relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn, although central to the plot, fails to convince, lacking that emotional depth that could have made it memorable.

Joaquin Phoenix confirms his talent, but his interpretation is also a bit repetitive compared to the first film. Lady Gaga, in the role of Harley Quinn, offers a solid performance, but the character seems crushed by the dominant figure of the Joker.

Ultimately, "Joker: Folie à Deux" is a film that leaves a sense of incompleteness, I did not like it. A bad film overall.

I really wanted this one to be a good movie but..., but I have to be honest this one just didn't land for me. My actual rating would probably be around 4 or 5, but I'm giving it a 6 because I know this film is going to get a lot of negative votes, and it does have some merit.

First off, it felt more like a musical promoting Lady Gaga's "new album" than the dark psychological thriller I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, Gaga is talented, and her performance was solid, but the excessive musical numbers really disrupted the mood. This isn't the kind of film where I want to be pulled into a Broadway show mid-story. It just ruins the atmosphere and tension that worked so well in the first Joker movie.

One thing I've never seen before: so many people left the theater before the movie was even over. Unbelievably, I even saw some people fall asleep during the film! The pacing dragged, and it lacked the intense energy that kept the original Joker engaging from start to finish.

On the positive side, the cinematography was beautiful, and Joaquin Phoenix is still excellent as Arthur Fleck. The acting was there, no doubt about that. But even with these strong elements, something was off. The film felt overly long, and by the end, it just seemed to lose direction.

In the end, Joker: Folie à Deux had its moments, but the musical direction and uneven pacing left me feeling underwhelmed.

I'm shocked at how terrible this film was. I never write reviews but I want to warn people away from wasting their time. Its basically a lady gaga musical featuring the joker, in parts. Terrible. It was very slow and tedious, felt like it topk ages to get into, and then when it did get going, it just as quickly went flat, don't really know what even really happened. Joaquin's acting was obviously fantastic, and lady gaga obviously has a great voice and her acting skills were ok, but that's about it. I'm normally such a fan of the batman and joker franchise, but this was just shocking. I don't know who approved it.

Before watching the movie, I avoided reading reviews or watching trailers because I had incredibly high expectations. With stars like Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, I was hoping for an intense and profound portrayal of the Joker-a character known for his dark, complex, and psychopathic nature.

While Phoenix and Gaga give solid performances, the film falls flat in delivering the story we all wanted. Instead of diving deep into the Joker's twisted psyche, we're given an odd mix of musical numbers and dance sequences that feel out of place, often popping up every few minutes without any real purpose. The Joker's torment, his darkness, and his complexity-all of that is missing.

What makes it worse is that we all know this isn't the *real* Joker from the comics or earlier films. But even with that freedom, the movie wastes the potential to explore the more psychological, chaotic side of the character. Instead, we're left with a shallow version of what could've been a gripping dive into madness.

The supporting characters, like Harley Quinn (played by Gaga), are equally underserved. Instead of playing into their notorious, toxic dynamic, her character feels one-dimensional, with little depth to their connection. The lack of meaningful interaction between the Joker and figures like Murray Franklin or even Arkham inmates drains the story of any tension or intrigue.

It's a real shame because, with the right direction, this could've easily been one of the best films of the year. Instead, it's a disappointment. Save yourself the time and money-this one doesn't live up to the hype.

I can see why people don't like this film. However those wanting a repeat of the first film will be very disappointed. This film is a complete reverse of the first film where we saw Arthur Fleck grow into Joker. This film dismantles all of that, and our expectations. The cinematography and lighting is incredible as is the acting, aside from Steve Coogan who jars but even Alan Partridge pronunciations are picked up by Arthur! Gaga Iis brilliant and so is Gleason as a hatedul prison guard. This is not the film people want but is is the one they f"""inf deserve and I for one loved it, musical numbers and all!

I cannot express how disappointed I am with the general public for rating this movie so poorly, but I believe I understand why it suffers. Joker 2 is a complex and sophisticated film that does not hold the viewer's hand. There are parts of the movie where the audience is forced to make inferences and appreciate the development of extremely flawed characters and the average movie viewer is not interested in doing these things. There are also a number of scenes in which it is easy to assume to assume a mistake has occurred when it has not. We are so trained by the garbage movies that we are force fed to not put any trust in our films anymore. We see a scene in which things don't add up and we immediately think the writers have erred when in fact we just need to consider more deeply.

Spoilers ahead:

I believe most people don't even understand what this movie is about. They've gone to the theatre with the expectation of a redemption story where Joker busts out of the asylum with Harley and rides off into the sunset to commit the heinous crimes we know and love from the Batman movies, but that is not what this movie is. The entire film, on the contrary, is about Arthur NOT being the joker. The entire world wants him to be the joker (including you, the audience) and Arthur tries his best to be what we want him to be because he needs love and acceptance that the real Arthur has never received, but the fact is that he is not who we want him to be and he tells us as much. He is not smart, he is not charismatic, he is manipulated by Harley Quinn rather than manipulating her. It should come as no surprise when the movie ends and we discover that Arthur is murdered by the real joker, a detail of the film that a great many of the people watching didn't even pick up on despite the fact that Arthur's murderer cuts his own face into a smile after stabbing him.

Another common complaint is that the musical aspect of the movie was pointless. People say that the songs were random, often not fitting with the mood of the scene. THAT WAS THE POINT. The musical numbers are a representation of what is going on in Arthur's head. The music is jarring and incongruous with what is going on in the plot because Arthur is a nut case who lives in a fantasy world and the music serves to show us how his reality and actual reality are often the opposite of each other. Arthur fires his lawyer and decides to represent himself, almost certainly damning himself, but instead of feeling despair we get a song where he feels like the star of a show where Harley is his loving lady and all is how it should be.

I could go on for pages and pages about all the complaints I've seen about this film and how they are made from a place of ignorance, but I think it's more helpful to leave a piece of advice: Watch the Joker 2 with and open mind and full confidence that you are in good hands. Trust the film. There are no mistakes. There are no leaps in logic. If you are confused about a scene, stop and think and you may be able to appreciate what I consider to easily be the best film of the year.

I have been longing for this sequel since 'Joker' released in 2019. Unfortunately, after reading several reviews, I watched it with very low expectations...these are my thoughts:

In general, it is a good movie with some inconsistencies. First, putting Arthur on the stand. I thought that we agreed that he was not himself after all the traumas he went through...

Second, the music scenes. Yes, they got on my nerves. I understood the point but they could have been shortened.

Here the questions are still the same: as a society, do we really think about the outcast? Do we really see them? If so, are we doing what it takes to make them feel they are part of?

I still felt Arthur' pain and in many scenes you can see that he is more coherent than most of the people that were supporting him. After all, he wanted to redeem himself.

Joaquin Phoenix' s performance is stunning as always, he never dissapoints!!!!!

Joker: Folie à Deux was a huge disappointment. The movie failed to capture the essence of the Joker character, feeling more like a hollow follow-up than a meaningful sequel. Harley Quinn's introduction brought no impact or depth, and her presence felt unnecessary rather than complementary. The story lacked the intensity and psychological complexity that made the first Joker film so compelling. Honestly, it didn't feel like a Joker film at all !!! It should have been titled something else because it didn't represent what fans expect from the Joker universe... I'm sure lots of people will leave the movie from the half because the story is not moving forward at all !!

The story falls flat due to weak writing. While a few scenes are dramatically well-executed, they fail to captivate the audience, making the movie feel tedious from the start. The progression in both writing and direction is lacking, raising the question of whether a sequel was necessary in the first place.

Joaquin Phoenix once again delivers a remarkable performance, but it is difficult to fully appreciate or enjoy it given the film's flaws.

Lady Gaga's portrayal of Harley Quinn is underwhelming.

Even Todd Phillips' competent direction does little to elevate the movie.

I don't recommend watching this film. Instead, revisit the original "Joker."

Not the comic book super villain story . Musical numbers? Not what I generally watch. The previous Joaquin Phoenix Joker movie was well done but so sad it's hard to watch. This is similar in tone and while I don't care much for musical numbers in a drama, it fit in just fine. Lady Gaga plays darker characters well and her musical talent made the delivery natural. Music as an expression of a mad fantasy worked well for these two. Maybe that's chemistry. Still a very sad depiction of life.

This look at tragic madness was entertaining and the musical parts were good in context and superbly performed. This Folie could even fit as the human origin of a super villain Joker who later emerges from a vat of toxic sludge.