Which Joker Movie Is Better?
Joker (2019) is the better film. It pairs a lean script with a career-defining lead performance, took home two Academy Awards, and became the first R-rated movie to pass $1 billion worldwide.
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Joker: Folie a Deux (2024) brings Joaquin Phoenix back and adds Lady Gaga, but its musical courtroom framing split critics and audiences. It is a bolder swing with a much softer landing.
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Joker 2019 vs Joker 2024 at a Glance
- Director: Todd Phillips on both films
- Lead: Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in both
- 2019 cast: Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy
- 2024 cast: Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener
- Runtime: 122 minutes (2019) versus 138 minutes (2024)
- Format: psychological drama (2019) versus musical thriller (2024)
- Worldwide gross: about $1.08 billion (2019) versus about $206 million (2024)
Is Joker 2019 or Joker 2024 rated higher?
Joker 2019 sits near 68% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Folie a Deux lands near 32%, the weakest reception of any film in the series.
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Did Joker 2019 or Joker 2024 make more money?
Joker 2019 earned about $1.08 billion against a budget near $55 million, a rare return of roughly 20 to 1. Folie a Deux earned about $206 million on a reported budget near $190 million, which put a sequel in doubt.
Which one won more awards?
Joker 2019 won Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix and Best Original Score for Hildur Guonadottir. Folie a Deux received no major competitive wins in the same categories.
Do you need to watch Joker 2019 before Joker 2024?
Yes. Folie a Deux opens with Arthur already in Arkham and facing trial for the Murray Franklin murders, so the emotional beats depend on the first film.
Is Joker 2024 worth watching?
For Phoenix completists and viewers who enjoy musicals, yes. Lady Gaga gives the sequel a different energy, and the fantasy sequences are the most distinctive part of the film.
Which one should you watch first?
Start with Joker 2019. It works as a standalone story, sets up every relationship the sequel leans on, and remains the version most viewers rank higher.
If you only have time for one, choose 2019. If you want the full arc of Arthur Fleck, watch both in release order and treat the sequel as an epilogue rather than a rival.