Pop superstar and actor Lady Gaga has addressed the mixed reception to her recent film, Joker: Folie à Deux. Following the film's release, Gaga, who portrays Harley Quinn, remained largely silent on the matter. Her performance, coupled with the companion album Harlequin, generated significant interest, yet the film's overall reception proved less enthusiastic. In a recent interview with Elle, Gaga shared her perspective, explaining she navigates negative feedback by managing expectations beforehand. "People just sometimes don’t like some things," she stated. "And I think to be an artist, you have to be willing for people to sometimes not like it. And you keep going even if something didn’t connect in the way that you intended."
Joker: Folie à Deux, a sequel to Todd Phillips' 2019 hit, premiered last October to underwhelming reviews from critics and audiences alike. Currently holding a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film's performance has been described as "mediocre" and failing to fully utilize its potential as a musical, courtroom drama, or meaningful sequel. Its theatrical run was short-lived, leading to a swift digital release and prompting Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to label the film's performance "disappointing."
Gaga acknowledged the challenges of facing such criticism, stating, "When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem."
Despite Joker: Folie à Deux's less-than-stellar reception, Gaga continues to focus on future projects. Her new studio album, Mayhem, is set for release this March, marking the culmination of a five-year wait since her last album, Chromatica. For further insights into Joker 2, explore Quentin Tarantino's positive review and Hideo Kojima's prediction of a shifting reception over time. You can also find our list of 2024's biggest cinematic disappointments [here].
