The highly anticipated “Joker” sequel starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga has been handed a rare R rating by the Motion Picture Association due to a scene featuring full nudity.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” received the restrictive rating for “some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality, and brief full nudity,” according to the ratings bulletin released on April 3rd. While R ratings are common for gritty dramas and horror films, they are relatively uncommon in the superhero movie genre.
Of the 33 films in the massively popular Marvel Cinematic Universe, only the “Deadpool” movies have received R ratings. R ratings have been slightly more frequent in the DC Extended Universe, with “Birds of Prey,” “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” and “The Suicide Squad” also earning the mature audience classification.
The first “Joker” film in 2019 was a box office smash, grossing over $1 billion globally despite its R rating which restricted viewers under 17 from watching without adult supervision. Joaquin Phoenix won the Best Actor Oscar for his haunting portrayal of the troubled Arthur Fleck descending into madness as Batman’s iconic villain.
For the sequel, Lady Gaga joins the cast as Harley Quinn, the unhinged girlfriend and partner-in-crime to the Joker. Returning director Todd Phillips has described “Folie à Deux” as a musical of sorts, with the film reportedly including 15 or more cover songs performed by the stars.
“I think people will be surprised. I don’t think it’s going to be what they expect, around it being musical,” said co-star Zazie Beetz in an interview with Variety. “We all sort of express musically and dancing in our lives day-to-day. I think it’s going to work really well.”
With its mature content and nudity, the Joker sequel looks to push boundaries and take the dark, gritty world established in the first film to even more unhinged territory. The R rating signals this is not a conventional comic book movie, but a daring, artistic vision from Phillips and Phoenix.
Fans will have to wait until the film’s October 4th release to see exactly what outrageous scenes earned that restrictive rating. But the advanced buzz indicates “Joker: Folie à Deux” will be a bold, uncompromising entry in DC’s catalog of films.
