Paul Schrader did not hold back when sharing his negative opinion about Joker 2.
What Did Paul Schrader Say About Joker 2?
Schrader recently sat down with Jeremy O. Harris before the New York Film Festival premiere of his next film, Oh, Canada. During their conversation for Interview Magazine, Harris asked Schrader about new TV shows and movies. Schrader mentioned he went to the theater to see Joker: Folie à Deux. It was not a productive experience, to say the least.
“I saw about 10 or 15 minutes of it,” Schrader said. “I left, bought something, came back, saw another 10 minutes. That was enough.”
The conversation then shifted to Netflix’s Emilia Perez and musicals. When Harris shared his love for the genre, Schrader compared it to Joker 2, with the First Reformed director calling the DC sequel a “really bad musical.” Schrader’s opinion stems from his dislike for the film’s two leads, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.
“I don’t like either of those people,” Schrader said. “I don’t like them as actors. I don’t like them as characters. I don’t like the whole thing. I mean, those are people who, if they came to your house, you’d slip out the back door.”
Schrader isn’t the only one who rejected Joker 2. Folie à Deux has received terrible reviews upon its release, with a 33% on Rotten Tomatoes and a “D” CinemaScore.
Since its October 4 release, Joker 2 has grossed only $51 million domestically and $164 million globally. For comparison, Joker made $96 million domestically during its opening weekend and went on to surpass a $1 billion gross worldwide.
With a rumored budget of $200 million, Joker: Folie à Deux is set to lose around $150 million to $200 million for Warner Bros.
Due to its disappointing box office performance, Joker 2 will be available for digital release on October 29, 2024.
(Source: Interview Magazine)
