Joker 2 Review: A Meta Masterpiece That Flips the Script

First, a disclaimer: I have nothing but contempt for the superhero genre. I find superhero movies, much like anime, to be children's entertainment, pandering to shallow fantasies. So, going into Joker 2, I already had strong opinions, but what I experienced was something quite different.

It’s probably one of my favorite films of 2024. First, it made me realize how some films work better in a cinema with an audience that can react in real time—especially when the filmmaker knows how to play with expectations.

People keep telling themselves, "Nobody asked for a Joker sequel." But they were asking for it—whether they realized it or not—proven by the huge hype surrounding the film and its ticket sales. The first Joker was so well done that a sequel was bound to be made, and destined to fail the audience's expectations.

Speaking of the audience, they are the real Joker. The same way the people in the film bullied and shaped Arthur into the Joker, the audience’s secret desire for a sequel, for spectacle, for more, is what gave birth to Joker 2. The meta-commentary here is brilliant: Joker 2 exists because of the public’s demands, their bullying expectations. And the Joker within Arthur exists due to his past bullying.

There’s a pivotal moment in Joker 2—a musical scene—that spoon-feeds the message: "This movie will disappoint you. It’s not what you came here for."

The director gave a giant middle finger to those expectations, and I loved every second of it. Given my disdain for the super-hero genre, the fact that so many people hated this movie only made me appreciate it more. And the choice to present it as a musical? Pure genius. It’s one of the least popular genres in modern cinema. I couldn't stop smiling watching the audience squirm every time Lady Gaga burst into song. It’s Lady-fucking-Gaga! How could anyone miss the director’s intent with that casting choice?

This movie is pure meta. Arthur stares directly at the camera—breaking the fourth wall in what many would consider a cinematic "sin." But Arthur knows. The character knows the joke is on us. The Joker, as a person, is despicable, and the movie, like the character, deserves a "bad" ending. And by “bad,” I mean for both the character and the audience. A "bad" ending for the character and the movie sequel is a good ending for humanity.

I believe people live in quiet despair and secretly wish for chaos and destruction. People crave the apocalypse, to be free of society's shackles. They wish for nuclear disaster, for a return to medieval life. They want Trump and to go to Mars, to reset the world, and their lives. I don't subscribe to that message anymore. Enough.

The audience came to see and wished for the Joker. They wanted Arthur to continue his spiral of destruction, but what they got was Arthur Fleck killing his shadow.

And for those asking, this is not a "so bad it’s good" movie. Far from it. This is a genuinely well-made film, with good performances, striking visuals, and perfectly measured pacing. But that’s only true if you interpret it the same way I did.

So, to everyone who got upset about the movie, I have just one question:

Why so serious?