- Set to be one of the biggest movies of 2024, Joker: Folie à Deux premiered at the Venice Film Festival this week, ahead of its October release date
- The movie split opinion among critics, with many taking to Twitter/X to voice their thoughts
- Joaquin Phoenix also caused a stir as fans gave his performance a standing ovation
It’s one of the most-anticipated movies of the year.
And now Joker: Folie à Deux has premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
The picture once again stars Joaquin Phoenix as the infamous DC Comics character, who will this time be joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.
Taking place two years after the events of the first Joker movie – which was released in 2019 – Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), now a patient at Arkham State Hospital, falls in love with music therapist Harleen ‘Lee’ Quinzel (Gaga). As the duo experiences musical madness through their shared delusions, Arthur’s followers start a movement to liberate him.
Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lawtey also star, with Zazie Beetz returning as Sophie from the first film. It will premiere in the US on October 4.
Much like the first movie – which earned Phoenix an Oscar for his role – the film garnered a mixed response from critics when it was shown at the Italian festival on September 4, who weighed in with their opinions on Twitter/X.
Here’s what they had to say…
How Twitter/X responded to the Joker: Folie à Deux premiere
Phoenix leaves premiere early
While, obviously, the movie itself was the main focal point of the premiere, Phoenix also stole the show on two occasions.
After earning a standing ovation for the film which lasted 12 and a half minutes, the actor, 49, can be seen in footage gesturing to his co-star, 38, as she graciously accepts the recognition for her performance.
And after Gaga returned the gesture back to Phoenix, the applause clearly began to take its toll… as the actor left the auditorium before it had finished!
Leaving the rest of the cast and crew in their seats, Phoenix and his entourage slipped out of the theater a few minutes before the clapping died down.
