Lady Gaga Speaks Out on ‘Joker 2’ Reception
Lady Gaga, who stars as Harley Quinn alongside Joaquin Phoenix in Joker: Folie à Deux, has broken her silence regarding the film’s negative reviews and disappointing box office performance.
Despite being one of 2024’s most anticipated films, the sequel struggled to impress critics and audiences. It received multiple Razzie nominations, an award recognising the worst in cinema, and underperformed at the box office.
In an interview with ELLE Magazine, Gaga addressed the criticism:
🗨️ “Sometimes, people just don’t like certain things. That’s how it is. Being an artist means accepting that not everything will connect the way you hoped.”
She added that fear of failure can be damaging to creativity:
🗨️ “When that fear takes over, it becomes difficult to control. It’s part of the chaos of being an artist.”
Why Did ‘Joker 2’ Fail?
The decline of Joker: Folie à Deux is particularly striking compared to the 2019 original. The first Joker, directed by Todd Phillips, was a global phenomenon, earning over $1 billion and 11 Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix.
However, the sequel, which incorporated musical elements and a new narrative style, grossed just $207 million worldwide on a $190 million budget.
📉 Key issues contributing to its failure:
- A 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
- A “D” grade from audiences on CinemaScore
- A poor $37.6 million US opening weekend, compared to $96.2 million for the original
Comedian Tim Dillon, who appears in the film, was among the harshest critics:
🗨️ “It’s the worst film ever made. There’s no plot. We kept asking, ‘What’s the story?’ It’s so bad it’s not even fun to hate.”
Mixed Industry Reactions
Not everyone was critical of Joker 2. Quentin Tarantino praised Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, calling it “one of the best I’ve ever seen.” He also commended director Todd Phillips for taking risks:
🗨️ “Phillips succeeded in provoking everyone—fans, the superhero genre, even Hollywood itself.”
Lady Gaga defended the bold creative choices, supporting Phillips’ vision of crafting something unique rather than following a traditional love story.
‘Joker 2’ Leads 2025 Razzie Nominations
The film is now a frontrunner at the 2025 Razzie Awards, leading with seven nominations, including:
🏆 Worst Film
🏆 Worst Director – Todd Phillips
🏆 Worst Actress – Lady Gaga
🏆 Worst Actor – Joaquin Phoenix
Other contenders for worst film include Borderlands (starring Cate Blanchett), Madame Web (with Dakota Johnson), and Megalopolis, the ambitious project by Francis Ford Coppola.
Lady Gaga’s Next Move: New Album ‘Mayhem’
Despite the backlash, Lady Gaga is focusing on her music career. She is set to release her highly anticipated new album, Mayhem, on 7th March 2025.