Joker Sequel: Audiences Give It a Big 'Meh'

The much-awaited sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Joker, titled Joker: Folie à Deux, has made history in an unexpected way. It's the first Hollywood comic book movie to receive a D CinemaScore from audiences. This score, along with poor exit polls, suggests that many people aren’t happy with how the film turned out. The mixed reception is showing at the box office too. The Warner Bros. production didn’t meet expectations and raked in only about $30 million over its opening weekend in the U.S. Comparatively, other superhero flops like Marvel Studios' "The Marvels" and Warners' own "The Flash" still managed to get better CinemaScores despite their weak openings.

The film’s director, Todd Phillips, acknowledged that this sequel was an unusual follow-up to the first Joker movie. He even thanked the studio for taking a risk with the unconventional storyline. Critics have praised the performances and visuals but found the narrative lacking. Despite the box office performance, there’s hope that Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga could still shine during awards season. Joker: Folie à Deux reunites Phillips with Phoenix, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck/Joker in the first film. The sequel has a much bigger budget and introduces Lady Gaga as a character inspired by Harley Quinn. However, neither the studio nor the director is comfortable labeling it a full-fledged musical since only two characters sing. Overseas, Joker 2 is performing better than in the U.S., with an opening weekend gross of around $80 million, excluding Japan and China where it will launch later.

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