They did not follow the 'formula'. You know the one that says you must destroy anyone who disagrees with you and then salt their fields and kill their livestock. Which is what usually happens in these films. Might makes right.

since the average American thinks Adam Sandler a genius, and only a handful of critics have liked it. I'm planning on seeing it tomorrow so maybe I'll see where those critics are coming from.

And, I concur that the likely reason audiences haven't liked it is probably due to not enough shit blowing up. I'm sure the musical numbers didn't help, either.

They despise GaGa because she's a lovely person who has empathy. Plus, she's immensely talented. Those MAGA clowns let their hate infect and affect all thinking. Very consuming. That's my take on that.

Edit: Sounds cool based on this review:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/joker-ending-2-folie-a-deux

I liked the original too. I didn’t see an incel theme and I see a lot of subtle men’s rights subtext out there. Those first 3 guys he kills were misogynists harassing that woman on the train. They would be Musk style Maga today.

One reason for its failure could be that it was not advertised as a musical.

I am not a fan of musicals myself (with the exception of My Fair Lady). Had I not known that, that might have annoyed me in a theatre.

Musicals are not for everyone. I dislike it when the plot stops and everyone breaks into song and dance.

But since I will be watching it on streaming vid, I will fast fwd the songs if they drag on too much.

Edit: And it is good that someone gave the middle finger to that victimhood and violence bs. Now if only someone would also give the middle finger to the very self -consciously “stable, moderate, sensible” voices of reason who “unlike all those emotional fools operate purely on logic and facts” .

I am wary of excessive emotion, but I also find it funny when people clearly think they are logical and sensible with no awareness of the fact that their self-perceptions are on display as much as those of any “emotional fools”. None of us see ourselves as others see us.

I once went on a blind date with a guy who hadn't even seen The Wizard of Oz because he "didn't like musicals".

The Joker sequel, as a musical, was an enormous risk to take and considering that it cost $200 Million to make, its hopes of even breaking even are slim. Spielberg's "West Side Story" was well received by critics, but a box office bomb, making only $76 Million on a $100 Million budget.

Conversely, "La La Land" was a huge critical and box office success, BUT it only cost $30 Million to make. So the lesson is, if you are going to take a big risk, keep the budget low to medium.

The only ones I have ever seen are My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music.
I think Moulin Rouge was another high budget one that bombed.

I am also never thrilled when shows have the odd musical episode. I was bummed that the entire fourth season of Dear White People was musical!

I will say I prefer movies WITH music over traditional musicals where people break out into song. The Commitments is one of my favorites in that category.

I’ll keep an eye out for The Commitments.

From a fanboy standpoint, I can see why they didn't like it. It is for all intents and purposes, a musical. It just happens to be a musical about a character that was much better illustrated in a movie five years ago. I guess that's my biggest takeaway from it: it really makes me appreciate the first movie a lot more by comparison. As for canon, it's relation to Batman is just about zero. Gotham and Arkham are mentioned, and the prosecutor is Harvey Dent, but while the first movie gave you a definite feel for the Joker/Batman world, I can see why fanboys would stay away from this one in droves. You could have easily changed the names of the characters and its setting and not have missed a beat. And I don't mean that in a good way.

Kudos to the director and screenwriter for taking chances, I'm just not that impressed with their results. YMMV.

I'll add that I was the only one in the theater at the showing I chose. It was an early afternoon showing on discount day, too. Those tend to attract more folks given the price of tickets. I can't believe that bodes well for the movie's bottom line.