Lady Gaga, known for her versatility in music and film, is facing an unexpected setback following the poor reception of Joker: Folie à Deux. Despite high expectations, the sequel to Todd Phillips’ Joker has bombed at the box office and received one of the lowest audience scores for a comic book movie. Insiders reveal that Gaga and her team are now strategizing to move past the disappointment as quickly as possible. But what went wrong for the highly anticipated sequel, and how is Lady Gaga handling the backlash?
The Joker 2 Disappointment: Released on October 4, Joker: Folie à Deux was projected to be a box office success. The original 2019 Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, raked in over $1 billion globally and earned Phoenix an Academy Award. The sequel, however, has failed to capture the same magic, with opening weekend numbers just shy of $40 million—far below expectations. Adding to the disappointment is the film’s D rating on CinemaScore, making it the lowest-rated comic book film in history.
For Gaga, who portrayed the iconic Harley Quinn in the film, this reaction has been shocking. An insider shared, “Gaga is surprised by the response to Joker 2 and is shocked that people don’t love it after the positive reaction it received at the Venice Film Festival.” The film even garnered a 12-minute standing ovation at its Venice screening last month, which had Gaga and her team confident in the project’s success.
Backlash and Criticism: Fans and critics alike have not held back on social media. Many expressed confusion over the film's musical sequences and questioned the direction of the story. One viewer wrote, “Stop making sequels as musicals if the original wasn’t a musical,” while another criticized the film as “pretentious and dull.” Even the film's final scene, featuring a brutal death for Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, left fans unsatisfied.
Some fans were also upset by the tonal shift from the dark, gritty character study of the first Joker film to a musical-style sequel. “The audience that loved the first movie is not the same audience running to see musicals. This was a gigantic mistake,” said one social media user, reflecting the sentiment of many disappointed fans.
Gaga's Reaction and Future Plans: Though disappointed by the film’s performance, Gaga is determined to bounce back. Insiders reveal that her team is quickly shifting gears to focus on new projects to help divert attention from the Joker 2 flop. Gaga is already eyeing her next move—landing a role in Quentin Tarantino’s much-anticipated final film. “She is disappointed that Joker is pretty much a bomb,” a source said, “but she’s not letting it deter her. She’s going to push hard to be involved in Tarantino’s last film. It’s a bucket list moment for her.”
Tarantino, known for his iconic and final 10th film, is believed to be working on a new project after The Movie Critic was reportedly canceled earlier this year. Gaga is eager to get a meeting with the renowned director once a script is ready.
What Went Wrong? There are many factors contributing to Joker: Folie à Deux's failure. The film’s budget ballooned to around $200 million, a far cry from the more modest budget of the original. The decision to pivot towards a musical format also alienated a significant portion of the fanbase who adored the raw, gritty style of the first film. The mixed reviews before its release already hinted at trouble, with many predicting that the film would fall short of its predecessor.
Some fans have defended the film, applauding its ambition and creative risks. One social media user said, “I kinda loved Joker 2. It was structured as a meta-exploration of the first film’s fandom, and the musical elements were a lot of fun.” Another fan added, “This film is clever. It doesn’t try to be a traditional sequel, and that’s what makes it stand out.”
Despite these positive comments, the general consensus remains unfavorable, and Gaga’s team is doing everything possible to distance her from the film’s failure.
While Joker: Folie à Deux may not have been the success Lady Gaga hoped for, the pop icon remains focused on her career and is ready to move on to new projects. With her sights set on a potential Tarantino collaboration, Gaga’s ambition and resilience shine through. This setback will likely become just a small blip in her otherwise illustrious career.
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