Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)
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While awaiting trial at Arkham State Hospital, Arthur Fleck forms a complex, delusional bond with fellow inmate Lee.
The story
Arthur Fleck is in custody at Arkham State Hospital awaiting trial for crimes committed two years prior. During a music therapy session, he meets Harleen "Lee" Quinzel, a fellow inmate who shares his admiration for the Joker persona. As their relationship develops, they begin imagining their lives as a stage musical. As the legal proceedings begin, Arthur must navigate his identity and the reality of his situation while Lee becomes increasingly entwined in his world. The film explores their shared delusion and the blurred lines between their reality and the performance they create together.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Arthur Fleck is imprisoned at Arkham State Hospital awaiting trial for his crimes. He meets Harleen "Lee" Quinzel during music therapy; she claims to be a local and expresses admiration for his Joker persona. They begin to imagine their lives as a musical. During the trial, Arthur's lawyer argues he has dissociative identity disorder. Lee is revealed to be a former student who lied about her past to get close to him. She claims to be pregnant and moves into his old apartment. Arthur eventually renounces his Joker persona during his closing argument, leading to a chaotic scene where a bomb explodes outside the courthouse. He escapes but is rejected by Lee for abandoning his persona. He is returned to Arkham, where he is eventually cornered by a young inmate who stabs him. As he bleeds out, he envisions a final scene where Lee shoots him, while the assailant carves a smile on his own face.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 138
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Todd Phillips
- Writers
- Scott Silver · writer; Todd Phillips · writer
- Cast and characters
- Joaquin Phoenix · Arthur Fleck / Joker; Lady Gaga · Harleen "Lee" Quinzel; Brendan Gleeson · Jackie Sullivan; Catherine Keener · Maryanne Stewart; Zazie Beetz · Sophie Dumond; Steve Coogan · Paddy Meyers; Harry Lawtey · Harvey Dent; Leigh Gill · Gary Puddles
- Genres
- musical; legal drama; crime drama; thriller
- Themes
- identity; duality; metafiction
- Tone and mood
- unsettling; dark; gritty
- Setting
- Arkham State Hospital and Gotham City during a legal trial.
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; courtroom drama; psychological thriller
- Source material / true-story basis
- DC Comics
- Franchise connections
- Joker
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and was considered a box-office bomb.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 46 · scale: 100 · review count: 64; CinemaScore · score: D · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 40% · scale: 5 stars
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel · Win; Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Screen Combo · Win
- Production trivia
- The film features 16 musical numbers, including one original song by Lady Gaga.; The film's budget was approximately $190–200 million.; The film was intended to be a standalone film before its success led to a sequel.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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