Why are people walking out of the new Joker film?

Joker: Folie A Deux has not gone down too well at the box office - nor has it impressed the critics… and certainly not fans. The new Joker instalment has plummeted to a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes and people are walking out of movie theatres. Why?

The first film was a huge success. Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the disturbed character, along with the dark atmosphere created by production and direction alike catapulted the 2019 film to a $1bn grossing masterpiece. Joker: Folie A Deux has not had the same reception.

Image: Warner Bros.

The film did hit the number one spot at the box office on opening weekend but reportedly grossed an estimated $US40 million, less than half what the original movie grossed in its 2019 debut.

Image: Warner Bros.

Fans are put off initially from the critics' scathing reviews of the film. For example, Richard Lawson from Vanity Fair summed up his experience: "It’s startlingly dull, a pointless procedural that seems to disdain its audience."

Image: Warner Bros.

It is a startling response to the film, considering it was one of the most anticipated films of the year, with many penning Lady Gaga for the Oscar nomination. At the Venice Film festival, the movie even received an 11 minute standing ovation, according to Joe.com. But, despite the hype, the film did not deliver.

Image: Warner Bros.

The biggest issue for many fans was the musical element of the movie. According to X users, reported by The London Economic, “every time there was another song, more people walked out.”

Image: Warner Bros.

As the London Economic mentions, there have been reported mass walk outs at the cinemas with fans surprised and disappointed to find out the film was a musical. One user even stated that the trailer was ‘a scam’ as it mentioned nothing at all about being a musical. 

Image: Warner Bros.

The first ‘Joker’ film was a gritty, psychological thriller, but, as Screen Rant tell us, Todd Philips decided to direct the sequel as a jukebox musical. Mix this with a courtroom drama vibe, critics were unimpressed with this experiment. 

Image: Warner Bros.

“Most of the scenes play out as imaginary performances in Arthur and Harley’s minds, not adding much to the actual storyline of the film. As a result, the musical scenes end up distracting the view from the main narrative of Arthur’s ongoing trial,” Screen Rant reported. 

Image: Warner Bros.

The music was not the only reason for negative reviews. The Daily Mail states that fans were walking out of the movie theatres due to being ‘terrified’ of the glamorisation of gun violence and mental health issues. 

Image: Warner Bros.

Fans have even called for the movie to be banned in some theaters as it ‘promotes violence’ and can even inspire a ‘mass shooting’, The Daily Mail confirms.

Image: Warner Bros.

Joaquin Phoenix has said he trusts audiences to know the difference between right and wrong and director Todd Phillips has himself defended the film, saying at the movie’s East Coast Premiere that “it's very responsible to make it [the violence] feel real and make it have weight and implications."

“Instead of yet another serving of continuity-laden CGI slop, we’re treated to a genuinely weird musical/legal drama that kind of hates its audience — all dressed up in homicidal clown face paint,” Agnus Truskett from ABC wrote. “And that’s a pretty funny joke.”

Image: Warner Bros.

Johnny Olekinski from the New York Post said: ‘For nearly two and a half hours, director Todd Phillips’ pathologically unnecessary movie cycles through so many potential reasons to exist… it ultimately never finds a satisfying one.’

Dana Stevens sums up in her scathing review for slate.com, saying, “Joker 2 Is So Bad It’s Almost Laughable. Even Lady Gaga can’t save this horrible movie”.

In fact, it seems Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix themselves may not be pleased with the movie. In an interview with ITV, they were asked if they were happy with the final cut… their response? An awkward glance towards each other before they burst out laughing. 

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