This fall’s cinema lineup is dominated by both nostalgia and regret with a wave of sequels and reboots taking center stage such as “Beetlejuice” and “Joker.” These follow-up films have been anticipated—or dreaded—for quite some time. Fans are now asking: do these new movies live up to the reputation of the originals?
Recently released movies have been facing mixed reviews. Audiences are split when deciding if a sequel to an already fantastic movie is necessary or if it is a well-executed addition. Two of the most prominent examples of this are “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” and “Joker: Folie à Deux.”
“Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,” as the name implies, is a sequel to the household Halloween classic “Beetlejuice” that was originally released in 1988. Actor Michael Keaton and actress Winona Ryder, who played Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz in both the original movie and sequel, are often credited with much of the charm of both movies. “Beetlejuice” received a 7.5 out of 10 score on IMDb and 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the sequel received a 6.9 out of 10 on IMDb and 77% on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Joker” was one of the most highly-anticipated movies of 2019. DC fans were left wanting more after Jared Leto’s infamous Joker performance in “Suicide Squad,” released in 2016, because of his appearance and unique approach to the character. Phoenix blew audiences away with his new approach to the character, and when the sequel “Joker: Folie à Deux” was announced with the addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, fans were both excited and concerned for the musical approach that the film would take.
“Joker” scored an 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb and 68% on Rotten Tomatoes. “Joker: Folie à Deux” has a comparatively unimpressive 5.3 out of 10 on IMDb and 33% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The ratings speak for themselves: the fall 2024 sequels were either met with success or a fall from grace.
Despite the negative reviews that “Joker: Folie à Deux” has been facing, CHS film teacher David Salowe has high hopes for the film.
“I have heard that Joker [Folie à Deux] is awful… but I actually hated Joker from 2019,” Salowe said. “So even if it’s a bad-good movie, I really hope that [Joker: Folie à Deux] will be good.”
