This article contains spoilers for Joker: Folie a Deux
The new DC Universe film Joker: Folie à Deux is embroiled in a controversy that could make it one of the biggest comic book movie failures in recent memory. Joker 2The box office numbers are terrible and suggest that the film could be a disaster, even though it is only on its first weekend. Still, there’s a lot to be said for the response to the film, which has been overwhelmingly negative. With the return of Joaquin Phoenix and the addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, the studio obviously expects the film to be a bigger hit.
DC is in a tough spot with its films, and Joker 2 Looks to be the next in a long line of box office failures. yet The bottle And Blue bug Unable to connect with audience, Warner Bros clearly hoped that a return to a popular film and character with a Joker sequel would be the best way forward. This involved investing a lot of money, and a lot of time and effort from the parties involved. Unfortunately, the film they decided to make doesn’t seem to be something anyone wanted.
Joker: Folie a Deux was never meant to exist
Joker was never intended to have a sequel
Joker was intended as a standalone movie from the beginning. Director Todd Phillips had an original idea for an Arthur Fleck origin story that would be separate from the events of any Batman universe. However, when the film became a huge success, the studio decided it would be worth exploring the world further. This led to slow development on a sequel, culminating in a film many seem to find pointless and meandering.
After the film’s disappointing opening weekend, there was much discussion about who was to blame Joker 2. At the end of the day, this film was a tough business decision, after the huge success of the first film. The film did not grow out of any exciting or original creative idea But is instead commissioned by the box office receipts of its predecessor. There remains no creative reason for the film to exist.
Joker: Folie a Deux debuted to terrible reviews and poor box office results
The new film did not resonate with critics or audiences
While there were reasons to be excited about the new film, and while the first teaser certainly generated some interest, Joker 2‘s box office fell drastically short of expectations after its first weekend. With a $190 million price tag, the film’s worldwide opening of $121.1 million is a massive disappointment For the studio. With the following weekends likely to drop due to poor word of mouth, the film seems unlikely to achieve profitability over the rest of its theatrical run.
Despite debuting with a score of just under 60% upon its premiere, Rotten Tomatoes’ score of Joker 2 has cratered with the film’s wide release. The film currently has a 33% approval rating with critics after 292 reviews. Worse, the film’s audience reception is even lower, only scoring 31% on the Popcornmeter. It seems that the audience and critics did not enjoy the new movie, and all hopes of recovering their losses on the film are probably already broken.
The biggest complaints about Joker: Folie à Deux Explained
The music did not add anything to the film
The new sequel has tried to do something interesting by incorporating music throughout the film. Integrating songs into the story was a bold choice that could have been effective. however, One of the biggest criticisms of these sequences is that they didn’t add anything to the story. Instead, everything in the movie came to a screeching halt when a musical sequence began, and the film wouldn’t resume its story until it came to an unremarkable end.
Adding a skilled vocalist and pop star like Lady Gaga to the cast could have highlighted the songs and turned them into something special. However, none of the style of the sequences, or the performances in the songs themselves, add anything to the film. Rather than a feature in the story, the songs brought the movie to a screeching halt Which would not resume until they are over. None of the sequences were memorable, and they each left a bad taste in the mouth of viewers.
The end of the story was weak
The end of Joker 2 Feels like it’s trying to be too smart for its own good. Rather than engaging with the story of the film or the character, The film’s conclusion decided to use its ending as a meta-commentary on the Joker And his place in the world of Batman. With this, it is established that Arthur Fleck is no longer the Joker. This creates an opportunity for another Clown Prince of Crime to take his place.
Joker 2 Seems to misunderstand his main character from the first film, and the ending makes that abundantly clear. after that, Arthur Fleck is unceremoniously killed by an unnamed character, bringing his sad life to an unhappy end. The ending doesn’t address the themes of the first movie, but instead decides to wander into its own misery. The ending did not resonate with the audience and brought the story of Arthur Fleck to a disappointing close.
Arthur Fleck takes nothing but abuse
This sequel follows the first film’s idea that you get what you deserve. The line is spoken when Arthur is killed, although the scene almost feels like a mercy after all the abuse the character has experienced in this film and its predecessor. Arthur is beaten, ridiculed and treated poorly by almost everyone in his life, Including the guards who are supposed to protect him. Seeing him suffer constantly in this film is hard to watch.
Arthur Fleck is a complex character, and he certainly deserves punishment for the acts he has committed. However, looking at it from such an individual punishment perspective also seems to undo the work of the first film, which took a much more nuanced look at crime. Joker Try to examine the huge social issues that can turn a person into someone like the Joker. The sequel, instead, focuses on punishing the individual and not the society that created him.
Damn report explains The Joker 2’s failure
Many factors contributed to the failure of the DC film
Find out exactly what to charge for Joker 2 is a difficult proposition. The film was green-lit by the old regime at Warner Bros. and DC, Including Toby Emmerich, who brokered the initial deals with Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix. This led to huge paydays for the director and star, neither of whom envisioned the first film as anything more than a stand-alone story. After the corporate decision, the sequel began to be made, whether anyone had a good idea for it or not.
on paper, Joker 2 Promised to make a lot of money for the studio. Unfortunately, it appears that a project like this, if commissioned by budgetary rather than creative decisions, can go very poorly.
With turmoil at Warner Bros during a merger that saw David Zazlav stepping in as CEO, the film became a priority for the studio from a financial perspective. After the disastrous decision that saw Warner Bros release their entire film slate in 2021 directly to HBO Max, the studio was in a difficult financial stream. And needed a big box office win. on paper, Joker 2 Promised to make a lot of money for the studio. Unfortunately, it appears that a project like this, if commissioned by budgetary rather than creative decisions, can go very poorly.
Why Joker was so important to so many people
The first film had strong resonances with audiences
The first Joker is a much smarter film than its sequel. Rather than expanding the world of the Batman mythos, The film instead took the style of a Martin Sorcerer drama and used Batman comics as an entry point To discuss issues of mental health in contemporary society. Many audiences saw it reflected in the character of Arthur Fleck, who worked hard and struggled to find help and acceptance in his society. Although this culminates in violence for Arthur, much of it is a relevant and relatable experience.
Most who enjoy the former Joker Didn’t want to go out and cause violence on others, but there was still inspiration to be gained from Arthur’s experience. Resistance in any social order is important, And that will be more likely to happen when people like Arthur and the viewers are pushed to the fringes of society because of who they are. Seeing those struggles validated was an important experience, so to see them instead pushed aside in the sequel feels insulting to many fans of the film.
Related
Joker: Folie à Deux It won’t be a hit like its predecessor was, and there are many reasons why that is the case. However, perhaps the worst thing the new film had was how it treated his legacy. While Joker Was taken the wrong way by some viewers, there was much to learn from its dark but realistic story. Slamming the door on the Joker in this fashion is in poor taste and, unfortunately for the studio, has translated into audience giving Joker: Folie à Deux Exactly the success that it deserves.
Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Todd Phillips’ critically acclaimed comic thriller Joker. Joaquin Phoenix reprises his Academy Award-winning performance as failed comedian Arthur Fleck, and revisits the iconic DC character alongside Lady Gaga, who makes her debut as Joker’s lover Harley Quinn in this standalone DC Universe continuation.
- Director
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Todd Phillips
- Release date
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October 4, 2024
- studio(s)
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Warner Bros. Pictures
- Figure
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Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Gill, Jacob Lofland, Sharon Washington, Troy Fromin, Bill Smitrovich, John Lacy, Ken Leung.
- runtime
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138 minutes
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