Pop music icon and acclaimed actress Lady Gaga has recently shared her thoughts on the lukewarm reception of her latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux. Having largely remained silent about her role since the movie's release, Gaga finally opened up in a candid interview with Elle. In the film, she portrayed a nuanced take on the iconic DC villain Harley Quinn, and also contributed to the project with her companion album, Harlequin. Despite the film's underwhelming response, Gaga discussed her approach to dealing with criticism, emphasizing the importance of managing expectations and maintaining resilience.
"People just sometimes don’t like some things," Gaga remarked. "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 follow-up to director Todd Phillips' blockbuster 2019 film, premiered last October but failed to impress both critics and audiences. It currently holds a disappointing 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and viewers. Our review rated it a 5/10, describing it as a "mediocre" film that "wastes its potential as a movie musical, a courtroom drama, and a sequel that has anything meaningful to say about or add to the first Joker." The film's theatrical run was so lackluster that it quickly transitioned to a digital release. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav even labeled the film’s box office performance as "disappointing."
Reflecting on the film's reception, Gaga admitted, "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 with Joker: Folie à Deux, Lady Gaga is not slowing down. She recently announced that her new studio album, Mayhem, is set to release this March, ending a five-year hiatus since her last album, Chromatica. For further insights into Joker 2, explore why Quentin Tarantino says he loved the sequel, and why Hideo Kojima believes the movie’s reception will change over time. Additionally, you can review our list of the biggest disappointments of 2024 here.
