Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix Receive 11-Minute Ovation at Venice for ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

Five years after Joker won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, director Todd Phillips returned with the highly anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. The film, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, premiered to an 11-minute standing ovation from the audience at the Sala Grande theater on Wednesday.

Joker: Folie à Deux continues the story of Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), who is now institutionalized and awaiting trial for his crimes. The film introduces Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, a character who meets Fleck in a psychiatric ward and becomes his romantic partner. Together, the two express their emotions through musical performances, a bold choice for the sequel.

Director Phillips admitted he was more nervous this time around, saying it was easier to come in as the “insurgent” rather than the “incumbent.” Nonetheless, the film’s premiere generated massive excitement, with Gaga fans filling the streets outside the theater, eager to catch a glimpse of the pop star-turned-actress. Gaga graced the red carpet in a stunning Christian Dior Haute Couture gown, paired with an intricate Philip Treacy headpiece.

The film is competing for the festival’s top honors alongside works from directors like Pedro Almodóvar, Luca Guadagnino, and Pablo Larraín. Early reviews are expected soon, which could shape the film’s prospects for another Oscar run or billion-dollar box office success.