First ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ Reviews Split Critics From ‘Gloriously Twisted’ to ‘Out of Tune’ and ‘Underwhelming’

Todd Phillips’ highly anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie À Deux, was unveiled to the public on Wednesday at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. As the follow-up to his critically acclaimed and commercially successful Joker (2019), the film has drawn significant attention, especially with the return of Joaquin Phoenix in his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck. Phoenix’s portrayal of the tormented, chaotic character earned him widespread praise, and the anticipation for his return has been palpable.

This time around, Joker: Folie À Deux introduces a new dynamic with the addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, the Joker’s equally damaged and dangerous counterpart. In the sequel, Arthur Fleck finds himself institutionalized at Arkham Asylum, awaiting trial for his previous crimes as the Joker. It is within the confines of the asylum where Fleck encounters Harley Quinn, and their twisted love story begins to unfold.

However, the first reviews have divided critics sharply. Empire’s John Nugent describing Gaga & Phoenix’s encounters as “gloriously twisted,” as the pair bond over shared trauma, he praises the dark chemistry between Phoenix and Gaga. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw finds it “out of tune” commenting “Todd Phillips’ much-hyped Gotham sequel proves claustrophobic and repetitive.” While the BBC have even gone as far as to call the sequel “underwhelming.” or “a dreary, underwhelming, unnecessary slog.” to be precise.

This mixed reception, of course, may mean little in the long run. The original Joker faced a similar critical divide upon its 2019 debut, landing with a 69% score on Rotten Tomatoes—just 8 points higher than the 61% Folie À Deux currently holds. Despite the lukewarm start, the first film went on to gross over a billion dollars worldwide, earning immense fan praise and an Oscar for Joaquin Phoenix. So before drawing conclusions, perhaps it’s best to wait and see Folie À Deux for ourselves.

Folie À Deux picks up after the events of the first film, with Arthur Fleck now a minor celebrity and an anti-establishment icon. His violent actions have sparked a counter-cultural movement, and his infamy even earns him the subject of a TV movie about his life. This newfound notoriety catches the eye of Harley ‘Lee’ Quinn. Harley is a deeply disturbed psychiatric patient who becomes enamored with the Joker. The two meet in a music therapy class, a privilege Arthur is granted for good behavior while awaiting trial for the five murders he committed.

Many reviews have also confirmed that Folie À Deux is, in fact, a musical—a creative choice that has stirred significant division among viewers. This approach may not appeal to every type of comic-book fan, with some describing it as “kooky” and unconventional. You’ll have the chance to judge for yourself when it hits theaters on October 4.

Joker: Folie à Deux will be in cinemas worldwide October 4.

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