Joker: Folie à Deux
Musical sequel focusing on Arthur's trial and relationship with fellow Arkham patient
The brief
Phillips takes his grimy Gotham and turns it into an unexpected musical, with Phoenix's Arthur finding his voice through song alongside Gaga's fellow Arkham patient. The courtroom drama framework gives structure to what's essentially a two-hander about shared delusion, though at 138 minutes it definitely feels every minute of its runtime. Gaga brings genuine tenderness to match Phoenix's committed unraveling, but the musical numbers land more as character study than showstoppers. If you loved the psychological deep dive of the first film but can handle it being slower and more introspective, this delivers on character over spectacle.
The verdict
If you're drawn to character-driven psychological studies and can embrace a slower, more introspective musical approach to the Joker story, this delivers a committed two-hander between Phoenix and Gaga. If you're expecting the dark energy of the original or want your musicals to actually soar, the 138-minute runtime and middling execution will test your patience.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for deep character study
- ⚠️ Avoid if you need upbeat entertainment
Heads up
- Mental health deterioration and delusion (frequent)
- Violence and disturbing psychological content (moderate)
- Suicide ideation and self-harm themes (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Todd Phillips
- Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey
Official synopsis
While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur Fleck not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that's always been inside him.
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Perfect Blue (1998)
Both explore fractured identity and psychological breakdown through distorted reality.
Total runtime: 2h 18m + 1h 22m = 3h 40m
