Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s musical psychological thriller “Joker: Folie à Deux” received mixed reactions from fans and critics. A section of the audience claimed that the film did not live up to expectations. As a result, the film experienced a steady decline in Rotten Tomatoes ratings. (Also Read: Joker Folie a Deux’s First Reactions: Film Gets 11-Minute Standing Ovation at Venice Film Festival, But Bad Reviews)

Joker: Folie à Deux sees a downward trend in ratings

The Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus for the film reads: “Joaquin Phoenix’s eponymous Joker takes a stand in a sequel that dances around while the story stands still, though Lady Gaga’s wildcard energy adds some oomph to Folie á Deux.” On The American film and television review aggregation website gave the film a score of 39%. The Rotten Tomatoes rating indicates the proportion of reviews a film receives. Anything below 60% is considered “rotten,” while anything above that is considered “fresh.”

Joker: Folie à Deux’s rating puts it just below Justice League (2017), which achieved a score of 40% despite major backlash. However, the noir thriller is still a far cry from DC’s worst-rated films such as Suicide Squad (2016) at 26% and Green Lantern (2011) at 25%.

The declining trend in ratings also raises concerns for the film’s box office performance. The film was criticized for its narrative style. While Joaquin and Lady Gaga were praised for their outstanding acting skills, the plot and pacing failed to impress most viewers.

Joker: Folie à Deux’s uncertainty at the box office

Currently, the film’s success is uncertain as it has not yet been released in many theaters in North America. Fans and industry experts are eager to see whether Joker: Folie à Deux can recover and reach a wider viewer base despite its rocky start. The film’s box office earnings could be affected by its valuation, especially as it aims to reach the $1 billion mark set by Joker in 2019.

Joker: Folie à Deux is directed by Todd Phillips. The film was released on October 4, 2024.