2024 had a lot of highs and lows for the superhero genre. For one, there weren't as many cinematic releases as usual, so that's already a low point, but between the disappointing end to the Venom movie series and Sony's other two misses in Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter, it wasn't the best year for the comic book movies.
There was a huge high to balance those lows out, with Deadpool and Wolverine bringing the Marvel Cinematic Universe back to the top of the box office as it earned over $1.3 billion. But there was an equally high-profile low, with the intriguing, daring Joker: Folie à Deux flopping at the box office, earning just a small fraction of what its billion-dollar predecessor made in 2019.
Joaquin Phoenix reprised the titular role while Lady Gaga starred as a variation of Harley Quinn. The film, met with mixed to negative reviews (partially due to the fact that it was a musical), has been playfully dragged since its release, with fans questioning if it ever needed to happen. Gaga herself isn't taking the criticism of the film to heart, playfully promising to never do a sequel.
Lady Gaga makes a Joker 3 promise to fans on SNL
Lady Gaga entertained us all as the host of NBC's Saturday Night Live as she took to the stage to take part in multiple skits and perform her new single "Abracadabra". The appearance lined up with the release of her seventh studio album, Mayhem, which has been dominating streaming platforms and sales all week, and it also included a live performance of album track "Killah". But those aren't the only elements of Gaga's appearance that have got people talking.
The star opened the show with an opening monologue that reflected on her previous SNL appearance and her flourishing career as an actress in the years since. She then promised to entertain viewers on the night, poking a little bit of fun at Joker 2 while also also making a very different promise to fans:
"Tonight, I promise to act, to sing, and to not do Joker 3."
Realistically, Joker 3 is not an option, both for creative reasons and performance reasons. Director Todd Phillips never planned on making a second film until the theatrical idea came to mind, but there are no plans for a third one. Even if there were at one point in time, the second film's dramatic underperformance has ensured that it will never happen.
2019's Joker made history, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time as it made over $1 billion at the box office. Deadpool and Wolverine broke that record last year, and it looked as if the film's sequel Joker: Folie à Deux was going to put up a fight to try and allow the franchise to reclaim that record. But it never happened; it never even came close.
The initial reviews for Joker 2 were mixed, but they leaned positive, with the majority of praise going towards Lady Gaga's performance as Lee Quinzel (a.k.a. Harley Quinn). But the second wave of reviews were heavily negative, with criticism going towards the musical elements, the pacing, and the lack of a need for a sequel.
The box office projections told a similar story, as the film was initially expected to earn more than its record-breaking predecessor during opening weekend, but those estimates were significantly lowered. The film still underperformed, earning $207 million on a budget of $190 - $200 million.
Joker: Folie à Deux is one of Hollywood's most intriguing failures in recent memory. Given the DC Comics source material, the success of the first film, and the star power of Gaga, it shouldn't have flopped. But it once again raises the question of whether everything needs a sequel. The people clearly felt that Joker did not.
Even with all of that, it's great to see that Gaga isn't taking the film's reception to heart. She even joked about her and Phoenix's Razzie Award win, which is not something a lot of people do (Halle Berry received praise for showing up to the 2005 Razzie Awards ceremony to collect her Worst Actress award for her performance in Catwoman). What a good sport!
Watch Lady Gaga's opening monologue on SNL here: