Joker: Folie à DeuxMakes History as First Comic Book Movie to Earn a D CinemaScore as It Flops at Box Office

Mar. 15, 2025

Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in “Joker: Folie a Deux”.Photo:Niko Tavernise

Niko Tavernise

Reactions toJoker: Folie à Deux’s opening weekend are no laughing matter.The sequel, a continuation of a grittier portrayal of the iconic Batman villain, received aD rating from CinemaScore, which polls moviegoers after seeing a movie to aggregate reactions.According toVariety, that’s the lowest-ever score for a comic-book movie, the most recent record-holder being 2015’sFantastic Four, which had a C-.By comparison, the 2019Joker, which wonJoaquin Phoenixan Oscar for Best Actor, got a B+ on CinemaScore. Other critically panned films from this year fared slightly better thanFolie à Deux — Borderlandsgot a D+,whileMadame Webgot a C+.The firstJokerfilm went on to be a blockbuster, earning over $1 billion at the global box office.Folie à Deux, though, had an opening weekend that came lower than industry predictions: $40 million at the domestic box office,per multiple outlets. (The budget for the film was reportedly $200 million, though director Todd Phillips hascalled that estimate “absurd.")The originalJokerset an October record in 2019 when it opened to $96.2 million domestically.Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in “Joker: Folie a Deux”.Warner Bros. Entertainment IncLady Gagajoined the cast of theJokersequel, taking on the role of Lee, a.k.a. Harley Quinn.The film is a musicaland tracks Arthur Fleck’s (Phoenix) murder trial after the events of the first film.InPEOPLE’s review, critic Tom Gliattowrote thatFolie à Deux is"turgid with misery, it’s basically the jukebox musical from hell.” OnRotten Tomatoes, the average among over 260 verified critics equals a 33% rating, and the audience score sits at 31%.Director Phillips, 53, who also made the firstJokerand the trilogy ofHangovercomedies, has spoken in various interviews about taking risks with the sequel and subverting expectations. He also recently toldThe Hollywood Reporterhe doesn’t plan on making a thirdJokerfilm: “I feel like my time in the DC Universe was these two films.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Another filmmaker showed support for Phillips andFolie à Deuxon Instagram over the weekend.Francis Ford Coppola, whose latest big-budget movieMegalopolisgot a D+ on CinemaScoreand fizzled at the box office,wrotethat Phillips' films “always amaze me and I enjoy them thoroughly. Ever since the wonderfulThe Hangoverhe’s always one step ahead of the audience never doing what they expect. Congratulations toJoker: Folie à Deux!“Joker: Folie à Deuxis in theaters now.

Reactions toJoker: Folie à Deux’s opening weekend are no laughing matter.

The sequel, a continuation of a grittier portrayal of the iconic Batman villain, received aD rating from CinemaScore, which polls moviegoers after seeing a movie to aggregate reactions.

According toVariety, that’s the lowest-ever score for a comic-book movie, the most recent record-holder being 2015’sFantastic Four, which had a C-.

By comparison, the 2019Joker, which wonJoaquin Phoenixan Oscar for Best Actor, got a B+ on CinemaScore. Other critically panned films from this year fared slightly better thanFolie à Deux — Borderlandsgot a D+,whileMadame Webgot a C+.

The firstJokerfilm went on to be a blockbuster, earning over $1 billion at the global box office.Folie à Deux, though, had an opening weekend that came lower than industry predictions: $40 million at the domestic box office,per multiple outlets. (The budget for the film was reportedly $200 million, though director Todd Phillips hascalled that estimate “absurd.")

The originalJokerset an October record in 2019 when it opened to $96.2 million domestically.

Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in “Joker: Folie a Deux”.Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

Lady Gagajoined the cast of theJokersequel, taking on the role of Lee, a.k.a. Harley Quinn.The film is a musicaland tracks Arthur Fleck’s (Phoenix) murder trial after the events of the first film.

InPEOPLE’s review, critic Tom Gliattowrote thatFolie à Deux is"turgid with misery, it’s basically the jukebox musical from hell.” OnRotten Tomatoes, the average among over 260 verified critics equals a 33% rating, and the audience score sits at 31%.

Director Phillips, 53, who also made the firstJokerand the trilogy ofHangovercomedies, has spoken in various interviews about taking risks with the sequel and subverting expectations. He also recently toldThe Hollywood Reporterhe doesn’t plan on making a thirdJokerfilm: “I feel like my time in the DC Universe was these two films.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Another filmmaker showed support for Phillips andFolie à Deuxon Instagram over the weekend.

Francis Ford Coppola, whose latest big-budget movieMegalopolisgot a D+ on CinemaScoreand fizzled at the box office,wrotethat Phillips' films “always amaze me and I enjoy them thoroughly. Ever since the wonderfulThe Hangoverhe’s always one step ahead of the audience never doing what they expect. Congratulations toJoker: Folie à Deux!”

Joker: Folie à Deuxis in theaters now.

source: people.com