'Joker 2' Isn't Even the Best Movie About a Murderous Clown's Doomed Romance

The saddest clown you know just can't get a break. Joker: Folie Deux, Todd Phillips' sequel to his original 2019 film Joker, has suffered disappointing box office returns and a torrent of negative reviews from fans and critics alike following its theatrical debut. The film follows the journey of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) through his trial, following the events of the original, when his life is upended by the arrival of Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga). Quinzel is a smart but twisted young woman inspired by Fleck's very public criminal misdeeds, but their growing relationship is tested by his increasing identity crisis over the Joker persona.