5 Shocking Reasons Why ‘Joker 2: Folie à Deux’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Crashed Below 40%

The highly anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, has landed with a disastrous thud, delivering one of the most shocking critical and commercial declines in recent blockbuster history. As of this writing in mid-December 2025, the film’s official Rotten Tomatoes score sits firmly in the "Rotten" category, a stunning reversal from the original 2019 film which was both a critical darling and a billion-dollar smash. This article breaks down the catastrophic reception, the final, low Rotten Tomatoes score, and the five major reasons why the musical-infused sequel failed to capture the magic of its predecessor.

The sequel, which premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2024, and saw its wide release on October 4, 2024, has become a cautionary tale for ambitious follow-ups. The film's critical and audience scores have converged on a remarkably low figure, signaling widespread disappointment that has been compounded by a poor box office performance. The central question for fans is simple: How did director Todd Phillips’ follow-up to an Oscar-winning phenomenon go so wrong?

Joker: Folie à Deux - Full Cast and Production Biography

The sequel brought back much of the original creative team and added a global superstar to the mix, making its failure all the more surprising. The film is a dark, musical-infused psychological thriller that continues the journey of Arthur Fleck.

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• Original Title: Joker: Folie à Deux (translates to "madness for two")
• Release Date: October 4, 2024 (US)
• Director: Todd Phillips
• Writers: Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
• Studio/Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics
• Genre: Musical, Psychological Thriller, Crime Drama
• Run Time: 2 hours 21 minutes (approx.)
• Original Film's RT Score: Joker (2019) achieved a 69% Critics Score (Certified Fresh) and 88% Audience Score.

Main Cast & Key Entities

• Joaquin Phoenix: Reprises his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck / The Joker.
• Lady Gaga: Stars as Dr. Harleen "Lee" Quinzel, who becomes Harley Quinn.
• Zazie Beetz: Reprises her role as Sophie Dumond.
• Brendan Gleeson: Plays a new, undisclosed role.
• Catherine Keener: Plays a supporting role.
• Jacob Lofland: Plays a patient at Arkham Asylum.

The Shocking Rotten Tomatoes Score Breakdown and Comparison

The defining metric of the film’s failure is its stark contrast to the original film's success. The first Joker was praised for its gritty realism, grounded performance, and social commentary, earning it a "Certified Fresh" status. The sequel, however, has been universally deemed "Rotten" by the aggregator.

Joker: Folie à Deux Rotten Tomatoes Scores (Latest Update):

• Critics Score: Approximately 34% - 39% (ROTTEN)
• Audience Score: Approximately 31% - 37% (ROTTEN)

This result is almost unprecedented for a sequel to a film that grossed over $1 billion worldwide and won two Academy Awards. The audience score, in particular, is shockingly low, indicating that the general public was just as disappointed as the professional critics.

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1. The Disastrous Musical Element: A Pointless Distraction

The single biggest factor contributing to the film’s "Rotten" rating is its decision to pivot into a musical format. While the original was a dark, character-driven psychological study, Folie à Deux is a jukebox musical featuring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix performing cover songs.

Critics widely complained that the musical numbers felt forced, unnecessary, and constantly interrupted the psychological tension established in the first film. One critic described the film as a "pointless distraction full of musical numbers that won't ever freaking end." The film was accused of not respecting the musical genre, using its songs as filler rather than as an integral part of the narrative or character development.

This stylistic shift alienated the core fanbase who expected a continuation of the gritty, realistic tone of Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness. The film’s focus on Arthur and Harley Quinn’s shared psychosis, or "madness for two," was overshadowed by the constant, ill-fitting song and dance sequences, leading to reports of "mass walk outs" during theatrical screenings.

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2. Failure at the Box Office: The Commercial Flop

The low Rotten Tomatoes scores directly correlated with a disastrous commercial performance. The original Joker (2019) had a budget of around $55 million and grossed over $1.079 billion globally, making it a monumental success.

In contrast, Joker: Folie à Deux reportedly had a production budget in the same ballpark as its worldwide gross, which was approximately $206 million. The domestic box office run was particularly weak, with the film ending its run after just six weeks, making $15 million less than the infamously panned Morbius (2022). The sequel suffered an alarming 81% drop in its second weekend, a clear indicator that poor word-of-mouth and negative reviews were driving audiences away.

This financial failure is a significant entity in the film's overall narrative, proving that the artistic risk of the musical format did not pay off with either critics or the general movie-going public.

3. Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn: A Mixed Reception

The casting of Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the psychiatrist who falls in love with Arthur Fleck at Arkham Asylum, was one of the film's most anticipated elements. While the idea of a musical sequel starring two powerhouse performers was intriguing, the execution divided critics and fans.

While some reviews praised Lady Gaga's commitment to the role and her chemistry with Joaquin Phoenix, others felt her portrayal lacked the depth and nuance required for the character’s complex psychological journey. The character of Harley Quinn, a fan-favorite from DC Comics, was often reduced to a vehicle for the musical numbers, failing to deliver the compelling origin story many had hoped for. The focus on the "madness for two" theme, while central to the title, ultimately failed to enrich the characters, leading to a sense of minimal character development.

4. Lacking the Original's Social Commentary and Edge

The 2019 Joker was lauded for its timely and uncomfortable exploration of mental illness, social inequality, and the creation of a supervillain in a decaying Gotham City. The film felt raw, relevant, and dangerous.

Folie à Deux struggled to find a new, compelling theme. Instead of deepening the commentary, the sequel became self-referential and overly ambitious without a clear focus. Critics found the film to be a "complicated, intense, and entertaining" movie, but one that ultimately suffered from plot holes and a lack of the original's gritty edge. The two-and-a-half-hour runtime was also cited as a major issue, with some critics suggesting the film was "really tough to watch till the end," feeling like a wasted afternoon.

5. The Final Verdict: A Rare Sequel Triple Crown of Failure

The combination of a "Rotten" Critics Score, a "Rotten" Audience Score, and a catastrophic Box Office performance has led some analysts to label Joker: Folie à Deux as having completed the rare "Triple Crown of Failed Sequels." The film simply failed to justify its existence, especially when contrasted with the monumental legacy of the first movie.

Ultimately, the sequel serves as a stark reminder that ambition alone cannot guarantee success. The decision by Todd Phillips and Warner Bros. to turn a dark, Oscar-winning psychological thriller into a musical was a creative gamble that did not pay off, resulting in one of the most disappointing and critically panned comic book follow-ups in modern cinema. Fans eagerly awaiting a return to the dark streets of Gotham were instead served a perplexing, song-filled spectacle that left both critics and audiences cold.