The Academy Awards have always been a night of celebration, but thanks to host Conan O'Brien, the 97th Oscars also became a night of comedic reckoning. O'Brien, known for his sharp wit and impeccable timing, turned his monologue into a cultural event, tackling Hollywood's highs and lows with surgical precision. One of his most talked-about moments? A fiery jab at Joker: Folie à Deux that had audiences roaring.
The Set-Up: Firefighters and a Scorching Punchline
Midway through the ceremony, O'Brien invited Los Angeles Fire Department captains on stage to honor their heroic efforts in battling the devastating wildfires that plagued California in 2024. But he had something else in mind, too—letting them deliver the kind of savage jokes that even he wouldn't dare touch.
And then came the zinger:
“Our hearts go out to all of those who have lost their homes… and I'm talking about the producers of Joker 2.”
The crowd erupted. It was a masterclass in comedic timing—a punchline that didn't just land, but sent shockwaves through the Dolby Theatre. The 2019 Joker film was an awards darling, but its 2024 sequel had a very different fate.
Joker: Folie à Deux—A Risk That Didn't Pay Off
Joker: Folie à Deux was a gamble from the start. Todd Phillips, after initially resisting the idea of a sequel, eventually returned to direct. Joaquin Phoenix reprised his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck, and pop superstar Lady Gaga was brought in to play Harley Quinn. The boldest creative choice? Making it a full-fledged musical.
While that artistic risk was intriguing, the execution didn't resonate with audiences or critics. The film flopped spectacularly, pulling in only $206 million at the global box office—a devastating contrast to the original Joker, which raked in over $1 billion on a fraction of the budget. With a staggering $200 million price tag, Folie à Deux barely broke even, earning a dismal 31% on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences. It was, by all accounts, one of the biggest disappointments of the year.
A Brutal Contrast to Joker's Oscars Legacy
The first Joker film was a cinematic phenomenon. It dominated the 92nd Academy Awards with 11 nominations, winning Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score for Hildur Guðnadóttir. But its sequel? Completely absent—except for O'Brien's punchline.
This Oscars moment wasn't just about roasting a failed film; it was about marking a cultural shift. In 2019, audiences and critics embraced Joker as a daring, psychologically intense character study. By 2024, the landscape had changed. Superhero fatigue had set in, and audiences were no longer willing to give franchises a free pass just because of their legacy. The box office results and lukewarm reception of Joker 2 were proof that even once-celebrated IPs weren't immune to rejection.
Final Thoughts: A Joke That Will Outlive Joker 2
Conan O'Brien's Oscars hosting gig will be remembered for many things—his razor-sharp humor, his effortless charisma, and, perhaps most of all, his mercilessly accurate critique of Joker: Folie à Deux. The joke wasn't just funny; it was a cultural milestone, solidifying the sequel's legacy not as a misunderstood masterpiece, but as a cautionary tale of Hollywood excess and miscalculated ambition.
The first Joker redefined what a comic book film could be. The sequel, however, ended up being little more than the punchline to a joke heard 'round the world.
What Do You Think?
Did Joker: Folie à Deux deserve the harsh reception, or was it unfairly judged? Let us know your thoughts!
