JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX's Rotten Tomatoes Score Is No Laughing Matter

The review embargo for Todd Phillips' Joker sequel lifted earlier today, and the movie's less-than stellar Rotten Tomatoes score has now been revealed...

By MarkCassidy - Sep 04, 2024 08:09 PM EST

Filed Under: Joker

The first reviews for Joker: Folie À Deux were shared online earlier today, and they were about as mixed as we had expected after the divisive reaction to the original movie.

Now, Todd Phillips' R-rated sequel is sitting at 59% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 42 reviews.

Again, this really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. The first Joker was widely praised by fans and recognized by several major awards bodies (including the Oscars), so it can be easy to forget that critics were far from won over upon its release.

While some hailed the disturbing crime drama as a masterpiece, others felt that Phillips simply "ripped off" Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy to deliver a depressing slog.

Despite high praise for the lead performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, as well as the score and cinematography, Folie À Deux is clearly destined to be just as polarizing. Still, there are plenty more reviews to come, and there's a decent chance the movie will wind up with a similar score to its predecessor (69%) before all is said and done.

Have a read through some quotes in the RT feature below, and let us know if you plan on seeing Joker 2 on the big screen when it hits theaters next month.

#JokerFolieADeux First Reviews: Critics say Todd Phillips' follow-up benefits from another phenomenal performance from its lead and a strong supporting turn from Lad Gaga, but it may potentially prove just as divisive as its predecessor. https://t.co/UUHM4Z6KpV
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) September 5, 2024

“Joker: Folie À Deux finds Arthur Fleck institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that's always been inside him."

From acclaimed writer/director/producer Todd Phillips comes Joker: Folie À Deux, the much-anticipated follow-up to 2019’s Academy Award-winning Joker, which earned more than $1 billion at the global box office and remains the (second) highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.

The new film stars Joaquin Phoenix once again in his Oscar-winning dual role as Arthur Fleck/Joker, opposite Oscar winner Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born). The film also stars Oscar nominees Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Catherine Keener (Get Out, Capote), alongside Zazie Beetz, reprising her role from Joker.

The movie is rated R for “some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality, and brief full nudity.”

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Says No JOKER 3 As The Story Is Told And Dismisses DC Studios' Involvement

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63 Comments

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Lisa89 - 9/4/2024, 9:18 PM

'Joker' (2019) made over a billion and won an Oscar with a 69% RT score. ...Let's Calm The F Down.

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 9:26 PM

@Lisa89 -

Yeah but that movie was propelled by the hype and the hysteria that was happening around that time with the riots and social unrest.
It was also propelled by the memes and intrigue.

People took it in pride and identified with Arthur.

Now 4 years after the pandemic , times have changed.
The general audience of Joker was principally men , and I don’t think straight men in general like musicals , and they definitely are not going to be brought it by Lady Gaga.

This time it’s been marketed as a two handler movie , and while the support for the movie is there on social media , it’s been driven primarily by hardcore DC fans and the LGBTQ community that supports Gaga.

Which is not enough for it to have legs at the box office or the same word of mouth as the first one.

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 9:40 PM

@Lisa89 - any dc movie is always a source of shade on this site.

Just waiting for Superman to blow away everyone and see this site change tunes

#InGunnWeTrust

Lisa89 - 9/4/2024, 9:46 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - Obviously, I'm not suggesting that 'Joker: Folie À Deux' is going to make over a billion or win an Oscar. I'm pointing out that it's ludicrous to hand wring over a sequel to a super-divisive film getting a super-divisive reaction. This is not the first (or last) "article" about the shocking revelation that 'Joker: Folie À Deux' didn't debut with a 90%+ RT score. Ridiculous.

Lisa89 - 9/4/2024, 9:50 PM

@vectorsigma - I hope 'Superman' (2025) is great, but this site will never "change tunes" because Negativity Gets Clicks.

Goldboink - 9/4/2024, 9:52 PM

@MisterDoctor217 -
An astute observation. That first one captured the zeitgeist for a segment of the populace, and not women for the most part. The Bro's like a nice sexy Harley Quinn, like Margot Robbie. With all due respect to Lady Gaga and her Meat Suit she just ain't a sex symbol, at least not to the Bros. And a musical?. It's got a lot of strikes going for it. I wasn't interested in the first one and certainly won't plunk down my money for this one so I won't pass judgement.

Goldboink - 9/4/2024, 9:53 PM

@vectorsigma -
That would make me very happy indeed, as a Marvel fan. I want a good Superman movie. We need a good Superman movie. One that embodies the hopefulness that the character used to represent. No ambiguity.

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 10:05 PM

@Lisa89 - i agree with you on "negativity gets clicks", but for marvel movies, this site will never sing that tune. 😅

Even the disasters of secret invasion and the marvels did not sound as bad here when compared to dc movies and joker 2 is the latest example

And 👊 for Superman next year

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 10:07 PM

@Goldboink - Gunn is great at characterization so im not worried at all. He will nail it for sure.

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 10:08 PM

@Lisa89 -

I know the articles gets annoying , but hey it’s a site that is supported by ads and clicks of the community. It’s obvious they’re going to write as many articles as possible about a “shocking” headline.

I understand it’s annoying, but it’s just how it is.

Lisa89 - 9/4/2024, 10:11 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - I'm glad you put "shocking" in quotes because everyone should have expected an RT score in (or around) the 60s.

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 10:12 PM

@Goldboink -

Exactly , I fully agree.
The first movie definitely knew it’s audience and came out at the perfect time where’s certain part of the population of men, where feeling a certain way.
Add to that it’s had the name Joker stamped on it , of course the Dude bros were going to rush to theaters and see it, and the memes and countless posts about the movies also helped.

And I also agree on the Harley Quinn front.
Lady Gaga is a decent actress and a good looking women , but she’s not the sex symbol that Margot Robbie is.
At least not for straight men.

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 10:17 PM

@Lisa89 -

Yeah I guess no one should be surprised.

Also if it doesn’t get nominated for the Oscars in any main category, we should also not be shocked.

After the headaches Phoenix course some Hollywood producers lately , and the fact that Lady Gaga hasn’t garner any OUTSTANDING reviews like Mr. Phoenix did in the first one, I think it’s safe to say this one will probably only be nominated in technical categories.

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 10:17 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - Phoenix caused*

captainwalker - 9/4/2024, 10:26 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - What you said.

captainwalker - 9/4/2024, 10:29 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - Lady ga ga is NOT an attractive troll.

McMurdo - 9/4/2024, 10:53 PM

@Lisa89 - these are many of the same nu-critics who are really just bloggers whom have given Rings of Power season 2 a 90+ percent. The audience score will tell the truth on this one, not the RT score.

Lisa89 - 9/4/2024, 10:56 PM

@McMurdo - The certified audience score is the ONLY useful thing on RT.

slickrickdesigns - 9/4/2024, 9:23 PM

Sooo let’s get ready for a so so movie some people will call genius. 👍

warmachinerocks - 9/4/2024, 9:42 PM

@slickrickdesigns - so just like the first one?

Spawnnn - 9/4/2024, 10:01 PM

@slickrickdesigns - Yeah, like it was with that lame Deadpool and Wolverine movie.

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 10:12 PM

@Spawnnn - i retain hope for mankind seeing this kind of comments

That film is so stupid and insulting imo. Sheep mentality at its best

WruceBayne - 9/4/2024, 10:31 PM

@Spawnnn - BINGO!

Batmangina - 9/4/2024, 9:24 PM

This won't make half the take of the first one.

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 9:27 PM

@Batmangina -

I agree.

HashTagSwagg - 9/4/2024, 9:25 PM

From 42 "people".

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 9:30 PM

Lolz

At least they have the guts to release the rt scores way ahead the release unlike those marvel oscar winners which wait for the last minute only to have about 20-40% shill reviewers

And it also means less shill reviews for this movie

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 9:34 PM

@vectorsigma - and im really out of touch this year for movies. Didnt know this will be out next month, was thinking around nov.

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 9:33 PM

It’s rare to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

I think this movie will open big but won’t have the same legs as the first one.

The LGBTQ community will be supportive of it wether it’s good or not just because of Gaga (although they weren’t there for House of Gucci , ooops) but I don’t think the general public will be as enthused with this one as they were with the first one.

And if it’s as successful and well received as the first one then I’ll happily eat crow lol

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 9:36 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - i also think this will not do as good as the first one but will be successful nonetheless.

Although the reported 200m budget will make WB ask for more in return unlike the first one with a 55m budget

Goldboink - 9/4/2024, 9:55 PM

@MisterDoctor217 -
People don't spend their money that way, to blindly support the endeavors of someone who supports a particular community.

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 10:03 PM

@vectorsigma -

Yes maybe but I don’t think it’ll be on the same level as the first one tho

And I have no idea in what way Todd Philips spent 200 million dollars 🤔

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 10:04 PM

@Goldboink -

Dude , do you even know the Stan community?
The Swifties?

The Little Monsters are going to definitely go support this movie just because Gaga is on it
I think you underestimate human stupidity lol

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 10:17 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - for sure, not the same levels, the first one was that special.

I just heard of that 200m budget and was really surprised, was ecpecting around the same as the first.

Actor salaries and way better production might be the reason. From the trailers alone i see a lot extras so it doesnt feel lonely as the first one

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 10:20 PM

@vectorsigma -
Yeah that first time came out around a very specific and perfect time.

And damn , I mean i know Phoenix is an Oscar winner now , but I can’t imagine him being paid more than 30 million max. And lady Gaga seeing as she’s not really a veteran actress, should be getting around 10-15 million.

So they really should have a better production to be spending 155 million on the rest of the movie 🤔

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 10:51 PM

@MisterDoctor217 - good point on the actors.

The trailer shows the big difference in production already imo. And Philips himself mightve asked a considerable increase 😅

We might see a big name actor and they are keeping secret? Im just guessing though.

But yeah, too much for 200m, a bit harder to get profit this time

MisterDoctor217 - 9/4/2024, 11:03 PM

@vectorsigma -

Yeah that’s a good point, Todd must have asked for a raise too lol

And well yeah hopefully it pays off for them.

I’m not being negative to be negative, I just think the hype for this movie isn’t there like it was the first time around.

Goldboink - 9/4/2024, 11:04 PM

@MisterDoctor217 -
Ain't no billion dollars worth though. And nobody ever went broke overestimating the intelligence of the American public.

bobevanz - 9/4/2024, 9:35 PM

I'm still seeing it, at least there won't be a thousand stupid jokes, bad cgi and a blue beam in the sky

vectorsigma - 9/4/2024, 9:38 PM

@bobevanz - ill also be there. Dc and marvel, im always there. Excited for Superman next year more than any marvel movie though

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JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX's Rotten Tomatoes Score Is No Laughing Matter

The review embargo for Todd Phillips' Joker sequel lifted earlier today, and the movie's less-than stellar Rotten Tomatoes score has now been revealed...

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Says No JOKER 3 As "The Story Is Told" And Dismisses DC Studios' Involvement

Major SPOILERS For JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Have Surfaced Courtesy Of Today's Reviews