Is 'Joker: Folie á Deux' a Musical or Not?

The sequel to the 2019 film Joker has been met with confusion since its announcement from director Todd Phillips in 2022. Many argue that the original film works far better as a standalone and does not warrant a sequel. However, the massive box office returns were too remarkable to ignore, and Joker: Folie á Deux will be starring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role alongside Lady Gaga, who will play the notorious Harley Quinn. Gaga rose to fame thanks to her music, and such skills will be at the forefront in Joker 2, which has been described by one early viewer as “mostly a jukebox musical”.

The decision to make this quasi-superhero flick a musical is certainly an odd one, and many involved with the film have attempted to reframe this description. Todd Phillips stated that it is not technically a musical, clarifying that, “Most of the music in the movie is really just dialogue.” Recently, Lady Gaga corroborated, saying she doesn’t view the film as a musical because, “The music is used to really give the characters a way to express what they need to say because the scene and dialogue is just not enough.” Which, if we're not mistaken, is the textbook definition of a musical?

So, what’s the truth then? We know for certain that there are several musical numbers in the film, so why have the cast and crew made such an effort to distance themselves from this genre? Well, in Hollywood, there’s been a recent phenomenon of actual musicals not being marketed as such. We saw this with films like Wonka, The Color Purple, and Mean Girls. According to Deadline, studios are taking this approach due to feedback from test audiences. Allegedly, many of these groups tend to dislike musicals, giving studios an idea that they have a smaller potential for box office returns. This would make sense for why Warner Bros. wouldn’t want Joker: Folie á Deux to have a preconceived reputation as a musical, especially considering its main audience. The first film appealed mainly to younger men, becoming a pop culture phenomenon among the demographic. Additionally, both films are rated R, which is extremely uncommon for a musical. 

The ethics of hiding Joker 2’s genre are questionable and have led to discussions of what may qualify as false advertising when it comes to movie marketing. We’ll see if such efforts prove profitable when Joker: Folie á Deux releases in cinemas on October 4!