“Joker: Folie à Deux” has struck a discordant note with some viewers. The eagerly awaited sequel to “Joker,” which premiered in theaters on Friday, has failed to impress at the box office, and those who did watch the film weren’t sticking around for long. Social media has been abuzz with reasons why Joaquin Phoenix, reprising his role as the Joker, and Lady Gaga, as Harley Quinn, didn’t meet audience expectations.
One TikTok user shared, “Guys, me and my wife are at the theater, and we’re going to watch ‘Joker 2’ and the screening before us, everyone’s leaving. Like everyone is leaving early, it can’t be that bad, right?” Another user, Kate, expressed her disappointment, “Don’t waste your money on going to the ‘Joker.’ I am so disappointed.” Her boyfriend added, “If you’re expecting to see the ‘Joker’ and some action, you will not see any. It is basically a musical. It’s like watching ‘Matilda’ or some s–t.”
Despite mixed reviews, “Joker: Folie à Deux” debuted at No. 1 with $40 million, significantly lower than the original’s $96.2 million in 2019. Some social media users appreciated the film for what it was—a musical project. One fan commented, “I really don’t think it was that bad. I know all you’ve seen for the past three days was hate for this movie, but it’s not that bad.”
