So what is the latest Joker movie?
Joker: Folie à Deux is the newest Joker film. Warner Bros. released it in theaters on October 4, 2024. Todd Phillips directed it and co-wrote the script with Scott Silver, the same pairing behind the 2019 original. Joaquin Phoenix returns as Arthur Fleck, and Lady Gaga joins as Lee Quinzel, a character built around the Harley Quinn archetype. It runs about 138 minutes and carries an R rating. If you're searching for the latest one, that's the title you want, not the 2019 film.
What it's actually about
The sequel picks up with Arthur locked up in Arkham State Hospital, awaiting trial for the murders from the first movie. It's less a superhero story than a courtroom drama folded into a musical. Characters break into song, sometimes in Arthur's head, sometimes out loud. The songs are mostly standards and old pop numbers rather than original material.
That structure threw a lot of people. The first film was a grim character study with a Scorsese accent. This one is stranger and more inward, and the fantasy sequences take up real screen time. Go in expecting a character piece with musical numbers, not a comic book action film.
Latest Joker Movie: What It Is and Where to Watch It
Who's in it
- Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, reprising his Oscar-winning role
- Lady Gaga as Lee Quinzel, his love interest and partner in delusion
- Brendan Gleeson as Jackie Sullivan, a guard at Arkham
- Catherine Keener as Maryanne Stewart, Arthur's lawyer
- Zazie Beetz returns briefly as Sophie Dumond
- Steve Coogan appears as Paddy Meyers, a TV interviewer
How it connects to the 2019 film
You can watch Folie à Deux without seeing Joker first, but you'll miss a lot. The trial references specific killings. Sophie's role only lands if you remember her from the first film. The ending also depends on a very specific moment from 2019, so consider a rewatch before you sit down.
One thing to know going in: this is not part of the DC Studios continuity that James Gunn runs. It sits in its own pocket, the same way the 2019 film did. Nothing here ties into Batman or the wider Justice League slate.
How it was received
Critics were split, and audience scores were rougher than the first film's. Box office came in well below expectations, and Warner Bros. took a substantial write-down. That reception matters if you're deciding whether to spend a theater ticket or wait for streaming. I'd say watch it if you liked the first one's character work and you're curious about the musical gamble. Skip it if you wanted a bigger, louder sequel.
Where to watch it
The film finished its theatrical run and moved to digital rental and purchase, then to streaming on Max. Availability shifts by region and by month, so check your local listings before you plan a night around it. Physical Blu-ray and 4K releases came later and include behind-the-scenes material on the musical numbers.
Quick facts to keep straight
- Full title: Joker: Folie à Deux
- Release date: October 4, 2024 (US)
- Director: Todd Phillips
- Runtime: roughly 138 minutes
- Rating: R for violence, language, and some sexual content
- Sequel to: Joker (2019)