After causing many a frowny face and very few smiles among critics, audiences, and at the box office, the DC sequel Joker: Folie à Deux will soon bring its seemingly intentional divisive nature to homes everywhere a lot sooner than we would’ve guessed. As per a report by Variety, the Joker sequel now has a Digital release date, with the (say the first part quietly) musical thriller landing an at home release less than a month after the sequel hit theaters.
In what’s becoming a concerning trend these days, Joker: Folie à Deux will make its Digital debut for rental or purchase later this month on October 29. The comic book movie sequel hit theaters just a few weeks ago on October 4, and has been met with scathing reviews and a seriously lackluster box office return, having grossed just $165 million worldwide against its $200 million budget. For context, the first Joker had garnered $248.4 million globally after its first three days, with the follow-up reportedly set to lose Warner Bros. $150 – $200 million by the time it leaves theaters.
Written and directed by Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie À Deux stars Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix alongside Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born), Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin) and Catherine Keener (Get Out, Capote), Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge), Harry Lawtey (Industry), and Joker star Zazie Beetz. The sequel picks up quickly after the first, hugely successful first outing, following Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck as he is 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.
Joker 2 Has Seriously Faltered With Both Critics & Audiences Alike
As well as its tragic financials, Joker: Folie à Deux has also left both critics and audiences feeling like a sad clown. The movie now sits at just 33% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes alongside 32% on the Popcornmeter. So, while the Joker sequel may have been divisive in terms of some of the critical reactions, it seems that, generally speaking, it has united critics and audiences in their disappointment.
One critic who shares in that disappointment is Owen Gleiberman of Variety, who said of the movie, “Joker: Folie à Deux may be ambitious and superficially outrageous, but in a basic way it’s an overly cautious sequel.” Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com, meanwhile, gave Joker 2 a 1/4 and says, “The best thing I can say about it is that it clearly does not take marketing, as it’s conventionally understood, into consideration.”
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10 Reasons Fans Are Justifiably Angry With Joker: Folie a Deux
Since the movie was released, numerous complaints about Joker: Folie a Deux have popped up. The following are the most valid ones.
However, MovieWeb’s own Will Sayre found much to enjoy, describing Joker: Folie à Deux as “a Daring Hybrid-Musical.”
“DC Comics diehards who might be looking “for a bit of the ol’ ultraviolence” (to paraphrase one of Joker’s biggest influences) in this sequel might be a bit disappointed by the lack thereof, with even less action than the first film. Some audiences may even cry “boredom” at times, but others will soak in the absurd but dramatic sequences that perhaps strike more of a nerve due to their ability to speak volumes about Arthur’s perpetually conflicted headspace.”