Pop superstar and actor Lady Gaga has addressed the mixed reception to her latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux. Since the film's release, Gaga, who portrays Harley Quinn, has remained largely silent—a silence broken only by the release of her companion album, Harlequin. In a recent interview with Elle, she finally shared her perspective on the film's less-than-stellar reviews. Gaga explained that she navigates negative feedback, as she does with any challenging project, by managing her expectations beforehand.
“People just sometimes don’t like some things,” Gaga stated. “It’s that simple. 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.”
AnswerSee ResultsJoker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to Todd Phillips' 2019 blockbuster, premiered last October to a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences alike. Currently holding a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reviews have described the film as mediocre, criticizing its failure to fully capitalize on 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 its performance "disappointing."
Gaga acknowledged the impact of this less-than-enthusiastic response, stating, “When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem.”
Despite the mixed reaction to Joker: Folie à Deux, Gaga is moving forward with other projects. Her new studio album, Mayhem, is slated for release this March, marking the end of a five-year hiatus since her last album, Chromatica. For further perspectives on Joker 2, you can read why Quentin Tarantino praised the sequel and why Hideo Kojima believes its reception will evolve over time. You can also find our list of 2024's biggest cinematic disappointments [here].
