‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Premieres in Venice — Here’s What the Critics Are Saying!

One of the most eagerly awaited sequels of the year, Joker: Folie à Deux, is set to hit theaters on October 4, 2024. However, the film recently had its global premiere in Venice, reigniting conversations about its upcoming release.

Todd Phillips returns as director and co-writer, with Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Oscar-winning role from the original film, which earned two Academy Awards (Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score) and grossed over $1.079 billion worldwide. Joining him this time is Lady Gaga in a lead role, adding to the anticipation. Yet, if the initial reactions are any indication, the sequel may not have the same impact as its predecessor.

Early reviews from critics at the Venice premiere suggest that Joker: Folie à Deux might not live up to the success of the first film, though more opinions will emerge in the weeks to come.

As mentioned earlier, Joaquin Phoenix returns to his Oscar-winning role, co-starring with Lady Gaga, who takes on the role of Dr. Harleen Quinzel, also known as Harley Quinn—one of the most iconic characters in DC Comics. Zazie Beetz will also reprise her role as Sophie Dumond, and the film introduces newcomers Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, Steve Coogan, Ken Leung, and Harry Lawtey in currently undisclosed roles. Leigh Gill and Sharon Washington are set to return as Gary and Arthur’s social worker, respectively.

With the trailer already out, it’s time to dive into the first reactions from critics who have seen the movie. Here’s what they had to say:

Joker: Folie à Deux is Arthur’s movie, and Arthur just isn’t that interesting, despite how much effort Phoenix puts into rendering the character in exquisitely anguished mental and sunken-chested physical detail.

– Alison Willmore, New York Magazine/Vulture

Though it ends up as strident, laborious and often flat-out tedious as the first film, there’s an improvement.

.– Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

Joker: Folie à Deux may be ambitious and superficially outrageous, but in a basic way it’s an overly cautious sequel.

– Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Gaga is a compelling live-wire presence, splitting the difference between affinity and obsession, while endearingly giving Arthur a shot… Their musical numbers, both duets and solos, have a vitality that the more often dour film desperately needs.

– David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

Folie à Deux simply tap dances in place for the majority of its listless runtime, stringing together a series of underwhelming musical numbers that are either too on the nose… or too vaguely related to its characters to express anything at all.

– David Ehrlich, IndieWire

Phillips and co smashed back into the self-contained world, shook all the contents out on to the carpet and… had another go. The result? Messy, lifeless, derivative and exactly what you’d expect from a film that simply doesn’t want, or need, to exist.

– Kevin Maher, Times

It’s startlingly dull, a pointless procedural that seems to disdain its audience.

– Richard Lawson, Vanity Fair

To be fair, the first movie wasn’t widely embraced by critics either, yet it became a massive hit. While this sequel has received lower initial ratings, it’s still too early to predict its fate—we’ll have to wait and see how it performs upon its global release.

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