Todd Phillips’ highly anticipated sequel to his 2019 hit Joker hit Russian pirate cinemas in October 2024 under the title Joker: Folie à Deux. Once again, Joaquin Phoenix dons the greasepaint as Arthur Fleck, but this time, he’s joined by pop icon Lady Gaga as a character who strongly echoes Harley Quinn. However, if you’re expecting a superhero-style follow-up or another origin tale, Folie à Deux will likely catch you off guard—just as it did many moviegoers and studio executives.
🎬 Watch the Trailer
Check out the official trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux for a first look at the film’s eerie, dreamlike tone.
What Went Wrong at the Box Office?
Following the explosive success of Joker (2019)—a film that grossed over $1 billion globally and earned the Golden Lion at Venice—Warner Bros. confidently backed the sequel with a hefty $200 million budget (compared to just $60 million for the original). Unfortunately, Folie à Deux has turned out to be one of the year’s most underwhelming box office performers.
The studio’s critical misstep? Reportedly greenlighting the massive investment without fully reviewing the script. What they got in return was not a crowd-pleasing sequel but a dark, introspective musical that deconstructs love, identity, and madness.
Plot Overview
Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is now confined to Arkham State Hospital, awaiting a trial that may end in execution—unless he can convince the jury that he is, in fact, legally insane. His attorney (played by Catherine Keener) coaches him, but Arthur appears indifferent. The only thing that reignites his spark is Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga), a fellow inmate with a troubled past and a twisted admiration for the Joker.
Lee, a delusional woman institutionalized for lesser crimes, has obsessively followed Arthur’s violent legacy through televised media. As the two form a bond through shared madness, their relationship evolves into something resembling love—complete with fantasy sequences, dance numbers, and yes, musical interludes.
A Musical, But Not Quite a Melody
Yes, Joker: Folie à Deux is technically a musical—but not in the traditional sense. The songs are often jarring, intentionally off-key, and emotionally unsettling. Lady Gaga is instructed not to lean on her vocal power, while Phoenix struggles melodically, adding to the chaotic and surreal atmosphere. Their musical duets often take place in Arthur’s mind—glitzy Broadway dreamscapes or twisted game shows—only to dissolve into scenes of violence or despair.
Todd Phillips seems to use music not for entertainment but as a mirror of Arthur’s fractured psyche.
A Response to the First Joker’s Cultural Impact
The original Joker shocked critics and audiences alike with its brutal commentary on social alienation and unchecked rage. It even sparked real-world debates about violence and media influence. In Folie à Deux, Phillips appears to be directly responding to how his original film was received—and misinterpreted.
Whereas the first film presented Arthur as a symbol of anti-establishment fury, this sequel strips away his mystique. The message is clear: People idolized the Joker, not the broken man beneath the makeup. And Lee, his lover, wants the myth—not the man.
Not For Comic Fans or the Masses
While Folie à Deux shares DNA with the DC universe, it’s lightyears away from traditional comic adaptations. This is cinema for those who remember Lars von Trier’s Dancer in the Dark—a tragic musical about a woman spiraling toward death. Like Björk’s character in that film, Arthur seems to accept his fate, rejecting every opportunity for redemption.
By the end, Joker 2 lands somewhere between despair and serenity—less an escalation of chaos, more a quiet resignation to it.
How Did It Cost $200 Million?
A burning question remains: Where did the money go? The film is largely confined to Arkham’s interiors—cells, courtrooms, and institutional corridors. There are no grand CGI battles or elaborate cityscapes. The assumption is that a significant chunk of the budget went to salaries: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, and Todd Phillips likely secured huge paychecks.
Still, the modest production values don’t reflect the staggering budget. Ironically, the film’s stripped-down aesthetics may be what makes it resonate as an uncompromising artistic statement—a rare, expensive risk in today’s formula-driven Hollywood.
Final Thoughts: A Bold, Flawed Vision
Joker: Folie à Deux isn’t trying to be liked. It’s a bold experiment destined to divide audiences. If the first Joker was about igniting a revolution, the second is about what’s left after the fire burns out. It may have disappointed at the box office, but as a fearless act of auteur cinema, it might just become a cult classic.
It’s not for everyone—but perhaps that’s the point.