Joker: Folie à Deux has debuted to a 59% score on Rotten Tomatoes following its much anticipated premiere at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

The sequel to 2019’s two-time Oscar-winner Joker sees Joaquin Phoenix reprise his role as the Clown Prince of Crime, alongside new addition to the cast Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.

The plot synopsis states that Joker: Folie à Deux finds “Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) institutionalised at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker”.

“While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him,” it adds.

Joker: Folie à Deux has debuted to a 59% score on Rotten Tomatoes following its much anticipated premiere at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

Also featuring amongst its cast Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Harry Lawtey, Steve Coogan and Zazie Beetz, Folie à Deux – which has been described as a musical – premiered at Venice yesterday (4 September) where it reportedly earned an 11-minute standing ovation.

That said, it appears to have split critics right down the middle – debuting on Rotten Tomatoes to a rotten score of 59% before later rising to 60% as the aggregation site took more reviews into consideration. This is a drop from the original’s 69% score.

Joker 2 has earned some praise from critics for its ambition, its serious themes and its lead turn from Phoenix.

Joker: Folie à Deux dances into Irish and UK cinemas on October 4.