‘Joker 2’ stumbles at box office amid poor reviews from audiences and critics

RoblibOct. 7 08:46 am JST

I was really excited about seeing this Joker sequel but when I started reading reviews and learned it's kind of a musical style then that was it for me. What the heck is this recent trend in movies with making them musicals? I guess I'll wait to watch it on streaming somewhere, what a huge disappointment!

I was really excited too...until I spoke to a trusted friend who told me the same thing you and others wrote here. He did not like it one bit so I think I'll wait until it shows up on my cable channel. I was quite impressed by Joaquin Phoenix' acting and the storyline in the first film but now we get a Gene Kelly movie with Lady Gaga. WTF? Hollywood has gone bananas. Is this some new progressive b.s.?

rcch

It will probably be on Netflix in a few months anyway, you know.

“ The sequel has already been the subject of many think pieces, some who posit that the sequel was deliberately alienating fans of the first movie. In cruder terms, it’s been called a “middle finger.” “

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“ The first film was also divisive and the subject of much discourse, then about whether it might send the wrong message to the wrong type of person. “

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Hmm, the Joker is not a hero, he’s not someone you should admire, praise or look up to and his character is not supposed to have sequels, prequels and a franchise (Joker 1 was always intended to be a standalone film)—

maybe that’s what they’re trying to say (considering how bad/different it is (again, from the perspective of those who liked the first movie) and what happens to the character in the movie (I haven’t seen the movie yet but I heard that it’s ugly));

I still think it’s incredibly stupid to worry about sending the wrong message—this is a big FU to fans of the first movie (even after hearing it was a musical, I was still excited to see it on the big screen but nah, I’m not spending 2000 yen to see this…).

Joker 1 was a divisive movie. I personally liked the very dark origin story that highlighted societal ills on the weak and mentally ill. Especially Phoenix's performance. Others disliked the ultraviolence and the parallels to today's society. Many though agreed that it was a stand alone film that didn't need a sequel per say. Reading comments and reviews, there was little demand for a sequel in the first place. But we got one anyway.

We also know who the main demographic for comic book films is and the majority aren't fans of musicals. The moment Lady Gaga was cast, there were rumblings that it would include several musical sequences. Not a great thematic or business idea considering the main demographic.

The production budget is said to be double that of Joker 1; around $200mil yet little CGI, no expensive filming locations, little to no practical effects. Disney's Acolyte cost $230mil for 8 episodes with each running between 30 - 40min with a bunch of no name actors, crappy CGI, and no on-location filming. Japan's Toho studios made Godzilla -1 for $15mil.

I was really excited about seeing this Joker sequel but when I started reading reviews and learned it's kind of a musical style then that was it for me.

To be completely fair the sequel was always announced to be a musical, which is why people said they were not interested in seeing it from years ago. It was anything but a surprise.

The sequel is a musical! A musical of all things. Well, I don’t like stuff like that at all and it seems that others feel the same judging by the poor reaction to the flick.

Hollywood ruins everything, best sticking thing to do is just stick with books and novels, less disappointments

Despite an impressive performance by Joaquin Phoenix, I couldn't make it even halfway through the first one. If there isn't a leading character you can empathize with in any way, what's the point of watching?

I was really excited about seeing this Joker sequel but when I started reading reviews and learned it's kind of a musical style then that was it for me. What the heck is this recent trend in movies with making them musicals? I guess I'll wait to watch it on streaming somewhere, what a huge disappointment!

Are people really surprised by this? None of the grit of Heith Ledger's performance and no Batman I bet. We're just supposed to like a-holes sticking it to the man.