Many movie fans have asked the straightforward question Is Joker 2 on Rotten Tomatoes? The answer is yes-in fact, Joker’s much-anticipated sequel, Joker Folie à Deux, is available on Rotten Tomatoes and currently holds what many would call a rotten rating. This review aggregator reflects critical and audience responses to films, and for this sequel, both groups appear to have mixed to negative sentiments. Below is a closer look at how the sequel fares on Rotten Tomatoes, what the scores mean, and how they compare to the original Joker movie.
Rotten Tomatoes Scores for Joker Folie à Deux
On the Rotten Tomatoes site, Joker Folie à Deux shows a Tomatometer score of about 31 % based on over 370 critic reviews. This low percentage places the film in the rotten category by the site’s standards (usually below 60 % is considered rotten). The consensus among critics, according to the site, is that while Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga deliver strong performances, much of the film’s plot struggles under the weight of its own stylistic ambitions.
As for the audience score (sometimes called the PopcornMeter), Joker Folie à Deux has a rating that more closely mirrors the critical score-around 36 %-meaning many moviegoers feel similarly ambivalent or negative toward the sequel. It’s relatively rare for a film’s audience score to align so closely with the critical rating, and in this case, it suggests that the sequel didn’t quite win over either group in large numbers.
Why Is It Considered Rotten?
The low rating on Rotten Tomatoes is the result of consensus among critics and audiences over several perceived issues. Here are some of the commonly cited reasons
- Pacing and coherence complaints Critics say the story sometimes dances around without fully committing to its dramatic moments.
- Musical elements Because Folie à Deux integrates musical sequences, some found them jarring or inconsistent with what they expected from a Joker story.
- High expectations The original Joker set a high bar-68 % Tomatometer and an 89 % audience score. Viewers and critics often compare the sequel to its predecessor, and many feel it comes up short.
- Mixed critical reception While some praise the visual style or the performances, others say the narrative lacks substance or clarity.
Fluctuations and Updates
It’s worth noting that Rotten Tomatoes scores can change over time as new reviews are added. There were earlier reports of Joker 2 starting with higher ratings (around 59 %) during festival premieres and then gradually descending as wider critics’ reviews came in. Some news outlets reported ratings dropping to 33 % or so as more reviews accumulated.
Because Rotten Tomatoes includes an ever-growing pool of critic reviews, the Tomatometer is meant to represent a consensus snapshot. In this sequel’s case, that snapshot leans heavily toward disappointment.
How It Compares with the First Joker
To understand the impact of the sequel’s Rotten Tomatoes score, it helps to compare it with Joker (2019). The original film holds a 68 % critic score and an 89 % audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. That combination made it both a critical and commercial success, setting expectations high for any follow-up.
Because the successor veers into more experimental territory-with musical elements, a courtroom setting, and a tighter emphasis on metaphorical symbolism-many viewers felt it diverged too far from what made the original compelling. The contrast between the original’s more grounded tone and the sequel’s ambivalent reception contributes to why Joker Folie à Deux is now considered rotten by Rotten Tomatoes standards.
What Rotten Tomatoes Ratings Mean-and Don’t Mean
Rotten Tomatoes aggregates reviews to show a percentage of positive vs. negative ratings (Tomatometer) and combines user reviews into an audience score. While those ratings give useful insight into reception, they don’t tell the full story. A score like 31 % doesn’t mean everyone hated the film-some critics and viewers did praise parts of it.
Some caveats to consider
- The Tomatometer doesn’t measure how much a reviewer liked or disliked a film-just whether they rated it generally favorable or not.
- Occasionally, reviewers change their scores or new reviews come in, shifting the balance.
- Some people argue that transforming a franchise or pushing creative boundaries will often polarize critics and fans alike-and that’s reflected in ratings.
What the Ratings Suggest for Viewers
So, if you’re wondering whether Joker 2 is rotten on Rotten Tomatoes-the answer is yes, by the site’s current metrics. Its low Tomatometer and audience alignment suggest that the sequel did not resonate strongly with broad audiences or critics. That said, films with unconventional or risky creative choices often provoke divided opinions, and some viewers may still find value or enjoyment in specific performances, visuals, or thematic risks.
If you’re deciding whether to watch it, it might help to look at individual reviews or video breakdowns that explain what works and what doesn’t, rather than relying solely on the percentage score.
Joker Folie à Deux, the sequel to the 2019 Joker, is indeed listed on Rotten Tomatoes and currently holds a Tomatometer score of about 31 %, which places it in the rotten category. Its audience score sits near 36 %, showing that both critics and viewers lean skeptical of this sequel. While the original Joker enjoyed strong critical and popular favor, the sequel’s bold creative choices-especially the musical elements and uneven narrative reception-seem to have divided opinion. Ultimately, the Rotten Tomatoes rating tells us that Joker 2 is polarizing, and whether you’ll like it may depend on your tolerance for experimentation and mood for the dark, psychological tone the film attempts to sustain.