Tim Dillon Calls Joker: Folie à Deux the Worst Film Ever Made

It appears the ominous calls echoing through the hallways are originating from within the notorious confines of Arkham Asylum.

Comedian Tim Dillon, who played a minor role as a guard in the highly anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, recently shared his candid views on the film during an engaging conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan. He didn’t hold back, labeling the Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga collaboration as “the worst film ever made.”

During his appearance on Rogan’s popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, which aired on November 6, Dillon opened up about his experiences working on Todd Phillips’ ambitious comic book adaptation.

“I think what happened, after the first Joker, there was a lot of talk like, ‘Oh, this was loved by incels. This was loved by the wrong kinds of people,” Dillon, 39, reflected critically. “This sent the wrong kind of message. Male rage! Nihilism! All these think pieces,” he noted, pointing to the societal discussions swirling around the original film.

The inaugural Joker film masterfully conveyed the story of Arthur Fleck, portrayed by Phoenix, as he navigates life as a deeply alienated outcast in Gotham, ultimately embracing violence. Garnering critical acclaim, it received a nomination for Best Picture in 2020. Phoenix, in a stunning performance, was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor, and the film grossed an astonishing $1 billion globally.

In stark contrast, the sequel opted for a vibrant and musical direction, incorporating elements of song and dance, which Dillon argued contributed significantly to Folie à Deux’s shortcomings.

“I think [the creators asked], ‘What if we went the other way?’” he mused to Rogan. “And now they have Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga tap dancing to a point where it’s insane,” emphasizing the unconventional choices made for the follow-up.

Another critical issue that Dillon identified was the apparent absence of a coherent plot, a topic he and other cast members found themselves discussing during their time on set.

“Me and these other guys were all dressed in these security outfits because we’re working at the Arkham Asylum, and I would turn to one of them and we’d hear this crap and I’d go, ‘What the f— is this?’” Dillon recounted. “And they’d go, ‘This is going to bomb, man.’ I go, ‘This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen,’” revealing the discontent circulating among the crew.

He further shared his confusion during informal lunch discussions, questioning, “What is the plot? Is there a plot? I don’t know, I think he falls in love with her in the prison?” portraying the film’s narrative uncertainty.

Critics echoed Dillon’s sentiments, as Joker: Folie à Deux, which chronicles Arthur’s tumultuous love story with Gaga’s character, Lee Quinzel, received a mixed bag of reviews and ultimately flopped at the box office. The film grossed a mere $40 million in its opening weekend, a stark contrast to the first installment’s rapid earnings.

In defense of his cinematic choices, Phillips conveyed to Entertainment Weekly, “What happens when a guy who hears music inside his head finds love for the first time in his life? Maybe the music that he hears inside his head starts coming out. Why wouldn’t that music come out when he meets somebody who gives him the time of day? His biggest issue in the first movie, outside of childhood trauma, was a severe lack of love.”

In the end, Dillon firmly stated that the film faltered on all fronts, leaving a lasting impression of disappointment.

“It’s not even hate-watchable. That’s how terrible it is,” he concluded, encapsulating the overall sentiment surrounding the film’s release.

**Interview⁣ with Tim Dillon‌ on ​the Controversial Sequel, *Joker: Folie à Deux***

**Editor:** Thank you‌ for joining us today, Tim!‍ You’ve⁣ stirred quite a ‍conversation‍ around ⁣the sequel, *Joker: Folie à Deux*, after your recent appearance on ‍*The Joe⁣ Rogan Experience*. You called it “the‌ worst film ever​ made.” ⁢Could​ you elaborate on what​ led you to that conclusion?

**Tim Dillon:** ⁤Absolutely, thanks for‌ having me! My ‌main issue stems from how they completely shifted the ​tone of the ‍original film. *Joker* was this deep, gritty ⁢exploration of alienation and mental ‌health. But in the sequel, they decided to throw in musical ​numbers and tap⁣ dancing ‍with Joaquin Phoenix and ​Lady Gaga, ⁣which—I’m sorry—just feels ​like a bizarre departure.

**Editor:** You mentioned during your podcast that the sequel lacked a coherent plot. Can you share what you and your fellow cast members ​discussed on⁣ set⁢ regarding this?

**Tim Dillon:** Right, so we were all dressed ⁢as guards⁢ in Arkham Asylum, and⁤ I remember looking at my colleagues and saying, “What the f— is this?” The absence of a clear storyline was palpable. It felt like ‌we were ⁣just⁤ in a series ‌of scenes that didn’t connect, and that’s⁢ worrying when ‌you’re part of ⁢a ​project that’s meant to build on something so critically acclaimed.

**Editor:** It seems like the⁤ atmosphere on set was⁣ pretty charged.⁣ Did the presence ⁤of the prior film’s controversy surrounding “male rage” and its⁢ fanbase influence the⁤ sequel’s direction?

**Tim Dillon:**‍ Definitely. The first *Joker* ignited discussions about who it resonated with and what message it sent. I think ‌the creators wanted to deliberately go a different direction to counter that narrative. But what they ended up with‌ feels almost like a parody of itself. It’s a confusing experience for audiences, to say the least.

**Editor:**⁢ With all these critiques, do you see any merit‍ in the approach they took with the musical elements, or is it all ‍just too far off base?

**Tim Dillon:** It’s not‌ that musicals can’t work—look at how brilliantly *La La Land*‍ pulled it ⁣off. But here, it feels forced. The musical numbers clash ⁤with the serious themes initially laid out in *Joker*. It’s like they didn’t know who they wanted ⁤to be anymore, and that’s where it falls ⁤apart for me.

**Editor:** ‍Thank you for sharing your ‌thoughts, Tim. It‌ will certainly​ be interesting to see‌ how audiences ⁢react‌ when the film is released.

**Tim Dillon:** ⁤Thanks for having me! It will definitely spark more conversation—whether that’s a good thing or not remains to be ​seen!