Pop music icon and actress Lady Gaga recently shared her thoughts on the critical reception of her latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux. In the movie, Gaga took on the role of a more grounded version of the DC Comics villain Harley Quinn and also released a companion album titled Harlequin. Despite the film's underwhelming response since its release last October, Gaga broke her silence in an interview with Elle, discussing how she navigates negative feedback.
Gaga expressed a pragmatic view on the film's reception, stating, “People just sometimes don’t like some things. 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.” Her approach underscores the resilience required in the face of artistic critique.
Joker: Folie à Deux, a sequel to director Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed 2019 film, received a lukewarm response from both critics and audiences, currently holding a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Our own review rated it a 5/10, describing it as a "mediocre" movie that failed to capitalize on its potential as a musical, a courtroom drama, and a meaningful addition to the original Joker. The film's disappointing box office performance led to an early digital release, prompting Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav to label its performance as "disappointing."
Reflecting on the fear of failure, Gaga noted, “When that makes its way into your life, that can be hard to get control of. It’s part of the mayhem.” Despite the setback, Gaga is looking ahead with the announcement of her new studio album, Mayhem, set to release this March. This will be her first full-length record since Chromatica, ending a five-year hiatus.
For further insights into Joker: Folie à Deux, explore why Quentin Tarantino praised the sequel and Hideo Kojima's belief that the movie's reception may evolve over time. Additionally, you can view our compilation of the biggest cinematic disappointments of 2024 here.
