The new Joker movie, Joker: Folie à Deux, has left many fans disappointed, sparking a wave of negative feedback online. Unlike the first Joker film with Joaquin Phoenix, which received widespread praise, this musical sequel has missed the mark for many fans. A lot of the criticism focuses on the unexpected musical elements, with viewers expressing confusion and dissatisfaction with the direction of the film.
On Reddit and other forums, fans are particularly vocal about how the movie deviated from their expectations. Some viewers felt misled by the trailers, which didn’t fully showcase the extent of the musical component. A Reddit user commented, “I went in expecting a gritty sequel, but left feeling like I was watching A Star is Born meets Joker – totally not what I signed up for.” Many echoed this sentiment, saying the musical sequences broke the dark, intense atmosphere that they loved in the first film.
CinemaBlend highlighted one review that stated, “Take out the musical elements and you have a story that could have been a 40-minute TV special.” Others, like one user on Reddit, described the film as “pointless and a betrayal of the first movie’s tone.” According to Cinemablend, some fans even walked out of the theaters halfway through, frustrated by the movie’s abrupt genre shift.
Film critics have also pointed out that Joker 2’s mixed reception began at its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The movie currently holds a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, well below the original’s rating. Despite strong performances from Phoenix and Lady Gaga, the musical direction left many questioning whether the sequel should have been made at all.
Ultimately, while some fans appreciate the bold risks the film took, the general consensus is that it didn’t live up to the expectations set by the first Joker movie. Many are left disappointed by the shift in tone and the decision to focus so heavily on musical elements, calling it a misstep for what could have been a powerful sequel.