The highly anticipated “Joker: Folie à Deux,” directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, has made history as the first comic book movie to receive a D rating from CinemaScore. This sequel, which delves deeper into the enigmatic Batman villain, has certainly stirred up some polarizing reactions among moviegoers.
But what does a D rating mean? Well, CinemaScore polls audiences after they’ve seen a movie, gathering their overall reactions. A D rating is the lowest-ever score for a comic book movie, with the previous record held by 2015’s “Fantastic Four” at a C-. In contrast, the 2019 “Joker” film, for which Joaquin Phoenix won an Oscar, received a solid B+ on CinemaScore.
It’s worth noting that other critically panned films this year faired slightly better: “Borderlands” received a D+ and “Madame Web” got a C+. However, the first Joker film was a massive blockbuster, earning over $1 billion at the global box office.
Unfortunately, “Joker: Folie à Deux” had a lackluster opening weekend, falling below industry expectations with $40 million at the domestic box office. This is a significant drop compared to the original Joker movie, which set an October record with its opening weekend haul of $96.2 million domestically.
In this highly anticipated sequel, Lady Gaga joins the cast as Lee, also known as Harley Quinn. “Joker: Folie à Deux” takes audiences on a musical journey, following Arthur Fleck’s (played by Joaquin Phoenix) murder trial after the events of the first film.
Critics have been divided on the film. Tom Gliatto of PEOPLE described “Folie à Deux” as a jukebox musical from hell, filled with misery. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 33% rating from over 260 verified critics, while the audience score stands at 31%.
Director Todd Phillips, known for his work on the Hangover comedies and the first Joker film, has taken risks with this sequel, subverting expectations along the way. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Phillips mentioned that he doesn’t plan on making a third Joker movie, feeling satisfied with his contribution to the DC Universe through these two films.
Despite mixed reviews, “Joker: Folie à Deux” has received support from fellow filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. On Instagram, Coppola expressed his admiration for Phillips’ films, which always manage to surprise and captivate him. He congratulated “Joker: Folie à Deux” on its groundbreaking approach.
Don’t miss the chance to experience “Joker: Folie à Deux” in theaters now!
