Looking at the Metacritic score, the Joker is not amused. Image source: Warner Bros.
Will it be a musical or not?
This question has occupied many fans in recent years when it comes to Joker 2, the sequel to the somewhat different DC film from 2019 starring Joaquin Phoenix.
But: Will Joker 2 be good or not?
That’s the much more important question! The good news: We have both answers ready for you. But things aren’t looking particularly great for the film.
Not much fun
Let’s get straight to the point: Joker 2 fails with film critics worldwide. On Metacritic At the time of writing, 23 reviews have already accumulated and they do not paint a good picture, which is reflected in a disappointing metascore of only 54 points.
What is being praised? The acting and musical performances of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga are highlighted positively almost across the board. The musical sections also come off well. Yes, there you have your first answer: Joker 2 is apparently more of a musical than previously thought.
What is being criticized? Unfortunately, some technical aspects seem to be lacking. The pacing, the story and the direction in general are not particularly good. Director Todd Phillips is getting a lot of criticism in many reviews.
Reviews of Joker 2 at a glance
The Independent (score: 80 points)
Phoenix’s performance remains powerful and gripping. The genius is that we can’t help but like Arthur despite his neediness and derangement. Even in the film’s most apocalyptic and violent moments, we are always aware that beneath the Joker’s garish war paint lies the weak little Arthur. Against all expect ations, this brilliant and deeply disturbing film even makes us cry a little by the end.
Slashfilm (score: 80 points)
The film seems remarkably honest and authentic and proves once again that there is nothing to laugh about when you take such a popular character seriously.
– Click here for the full review
Empire (Score: 80 points)
The sweetest, most beguiling musical romance possible between two murderous psychopaths. The wacky approach won’t please all comic book fans, but it finds a strange, tragic hope that’s all its own.
– Click here for the full review
Screen Rant (Score: 70 points)
Joker: Folie à Deux isn’t always fully thought out. That’s why the original was often misunderstood. This film is full of quality craftsmanship, performances and imagery. There’s a lot to appreciate here, especially visually, and I enjoyed my time with it. But I’d recommend not asking for much more than that.
– Click here for the full review
The Guardian (Score: 60 points)
Although it ends up being just as shrill, laborious and often boring as the first film, there is an improvement.
IGN (Rating: 50 points)
The worst thing about Joker: Folie à Deux is its untapped potential. It starts with the promise of a new take on the Joker and Harley Quinn by placing them in a world where the opposite of cruelty is a musical romance. Unfortunately, the DC sequel gets bogged down in a lengthy courtroom saga that not only keeps the dazzling Lady Gaga out of the spotlight, but centers the film entirely on its own predecessor without doing or saying anything new.
– Click here for the full review
The Hollywood Reporter (Score: 50 points)
Lady Gaga is an irresistible, vibrant presence, showing the difference between affection and obsession, while endearingly giving Arthur a shot of joy and hope that keeps him going on the way to court. When You’re Smiling sing. Their musical numbers, both duets and solos, have a liveliness that the often dark film desperately needs.
– Click here for the full review
Variety (score: 50 points)
Joker: Folie à Deux may be ambitious and outrageous on the surface, but at its core it’s an overly cautious sequel.
– Click here for the full review
Collider (Score: 40 points)
Even during the musical fantasy numbers that stand out from the film’s overall aesthetic, Phillips is unable to exude the polish required for the genre that would certainly complement the Joker’s personality.
– Click here for the full review
Vanity Fair (score: 30 points)
Very little happens beyond its boundaries, reducing the film to a strained psychodrama. It is terrifyingly boring, a pointless procedural that its audience seems to despise.
– Click here for the full review
3:02
In the new trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux, chaos breaks out in Gotham
Are the bad reviews becoming a problem?
So, no good omens for Joker 2 on 3. October 2024 in Europe cinemas. But a look into the past could give the sweating executives at Warner Bros. hope: The first Joker did only slightly better with a metascore of 59, but became a real audience favorite and played worldwide over one billion US dollars a.
A lot of money that Joker 2 also urgently needsThe production costs of the sequel are said to be over 200 million US dollars, a significant portion of which will have gone towards Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s salaries.
A rough rule of thumb is that Hollywood films have to gross about two and a half times their production budget to cover all costs incurred, such as marketing.
If the figures circulating are correct, Joker 2 would have to break the 500 million mark to end up in the black. As its predecessor proves, this is possible despite bad reviews – but they definitely won’t help with this ambitious goal.
