Joker: Folie à Deux - Did the Joker Sequel Miss the Mark?

It’s pretty tough to argue with the fact that the first Joker film was a huge success! Joaquin Phoenix really did a amazing job bringing the character to life!

The Success Of Joker & Joker: Folie a Deux

It’s not only about the DC Universe, as we all know. These types of superhero films have massive fandoms, that really go all out, and this DC film, even though it’s considered a stand-alone movie! Hit all kinds of records! Even after its premiere! Making it a $1 billion gross. But now that "Joker: Folie a Deux" has hit theaters! People have a different reaction! There's a lot more buzz!

Also Read: Joker: Folie à Deux: The Shocking Truth About Arthur Fleck's Father?

What Is The Audience Saying:

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in an intimate moment in Joker Folie a Deux pic Image

It’s pretty shocking that fans have not taken to the film. It appears this was a chance for everyone who loved the first movie, to dive even deeper. Yet! It has become a disaster for some.

One of the main reasons is that many people ask just what this movie was for and the Audience feels pretty conflicted.

Also Read: Powerless Reboot: James Gunn's DC Universe Might Bring It Back

A Mismatch of Audiences

Joker 2 Cast Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga Image

While the creators may have had a direction! What's funny is that a majority of the movie lovers may have completely missed the point or misunderstood the movie as a whole. The biggest take away. The film looks to point fingers at what might have been taken wrongly by some audiences. This idea that there's an intense relationship and connection between those that enjoy dark Movies.

Todd Philips even pointed to that idea and confirmed that he really loved all the discussion his film prompted.

Also Read: Joker: Folie à Deux - Batman, Harley Quinn, and the Twisted Relationship

The New Twist:

Joaquin-Phoenix-Joker-and-Arthur-Fleck-from-The-Joker-Franchise Image

The second movie is trying to create a very specific atmosphere, a lot like the previous film. But also add a different kind of element! The filmmakers are aiming to break that mold by bringing in Lady Gaga to play Harley Quinn, while we already know how this classic comic book DC character had a big impact on audiences, Lady Gaga is a true rock star in a league of her own!

Lady Gaga was already known as someone that fans were going to watch no matter what.
It appears they were expecting a new spin-off or even something that made her the heart of this project. The movie went in another direction that may be a bit shocking.

Also Read: Joker: Folie A Deux - Where Does It Fit in the DC Universe?

A Mismatch of Directions:

Lee Quinzel/Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) looking very serious in Joker: Folie à Deux Image

There is an interesting aspect that comes from the DC Universe that has an interesting twist, Harley Quinn! If you were to assume the movie was about how the "Harley Quinn" and her fans had something to be excited about, it seems you may have been right! But what's even more interesting, was Harley Quinn's role was much smaller, and audiences felt it was somewhat lackluster.

Even if this might seem like a big problem for audiences and the filmmakers who are attempting to give those diehard fans something amazing.

The Music

This is where the story really takes a turn.

The movie is known as "Joker: Folie a Deux"! But it isn’t just the name, there are parts of the movie that are musical. It was promoted like a standard Joker story. And then you find a lot of songs, music, and it might leave you wondering.

Even the makers of the movie went back and forth and did some interesting work around how to portray these big elements.

A musical is certainly something a great portion of audiences want to watch! However, they made this choice for an audience that loves R-rated films. Even worse! When those films go into this territory, you will see a limited number of viewers that choose to buy tickets, which ultimately made the release pretty low.

What Went Wrong?

Lee Quinzel/Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) making a hand gun shape in Joker: Folie à Deux Image

When everyone thought it was going to be a big hit! You know the Box Office has to make up for those costs and this might have been a really risky play that may not work out for this movie, particularly at the $200 million cost.

It looks like fans of "Joker" will see it as the one that brought out some bold ideas. However, a lot of those who felt disappointed, will still say it was a risky bet! If anything this could give it more time to find new audiences, as those fans might find this show down the line.

It certainly might make some think about the story more, too. If you have already seen this new movie! This article helps to understand why those diehard "Joker" fans, Harley Quinn fans, Lady Gaga fans, and musical movie fans, didn’t really take to the release. It seems to really challenge audiences!

If anything, Joker is here to stay, but maybe in the DCU this character is about to see a change in perspective, bringing up questions as to where these stories will head next.

If anything, that may be what "Joker: Folie a Deux" has really achieved, it gave people so much to discuss! That includes fans. The most dedicated, the critics, and the filmmaking team.

The only thing for sure about the latest "Joker" film, it’s really not for everyone, and there's no question that those diehards are going to have some mixed emotions!