Joaquin Phoenix Discusses the Controversial Ending of Joker 2

<p>Whether you enjoyed it or found it disappointing, the conclusion of Joker 2 is a hot topic that’s making waves online, and Joaquin Phoenix has finally shared his thoughts.

The film has only been in theaters for under a week, but it’s clear that Joker 2 isn’t aligning with the expectations of many DC fans. The ending has sparked intense debate, and we believe it sets the stage for a potential Harley Quinn follow-up.

Here’s a brief summary: Arthur is convicted of multiple murders, realizes Harley has moved on from him, is apprehended and returned to prison, and ultimately meets his end at the hands of another inmate.

While the final death scene of Joker 2 generated mixed reactions, at least one person, Joaquin Phoenix, described it as “pretty good.”

In a recent discussion with IGN, he <a href=”https://www.ign.com/articles/joker-2-folie-a-deux-post-credits-scene-ending-explained”rel=”noreferrer noopener nofollow”target=”_blank”>stated</a>, “There’s a warmth in that [death] scene, which is nice. That’s all that I was thinking about that I was after, is here’s this young man who’s telling me a joke and he’s nervous to tell me the joke, I can tell that he’s nervous, and I’m going to hear him out. And it’s a pretty good setup.”

Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker 2 — Warner Bros.

Director Todd Phillips, facing criticism for the film’s reception, concurred with Phoenix, suggesting that the ending provided Arthur with a resolution that the first installment lacked.

“I think Joaquin is so beautiful in that scene. It’s such a small nothing. I mean, beyond the death thing. That moment where he’s looking at the kid and he’s kind of giving the kid a polite laugh in the setup. He’s showing appreciation for the comedy and appreciation for putting yourself out there,” he remarked.

Despite the positivity from Phillips and Phoenix, not all viewers share their sentiment.

One fan lamented on X/Twitter, “Joker 2 ending so bad it might create the real f**king Joker,” while another added, “The ending to Joker 2 really killed every last ounce of interest I had in that world.”

As we pointed out, “It’s not a bad ending to Arthur’s story. The problem is that Phillips doesn’t invest the payoff that U-turn. Everything about the film is non-committal: its identity as a comic book movie, its nods to wider Gotham (Harvey Dent ends up with half his face scarred, a grace note included as nothing more than an Easter egg), and its half-hearted, aggravating musical numbers.”

Joker 2 is currently showing in theaters. Stay tuned to discover our theories regarding Arthur Fleck’s demise, the film’s most disappointing scene, and answers to all the queries you might have after watching.

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