10 Huge Recent Movie Moments That Fell Totally Flat

Joker: Folie à Deux is nothing if not a bold follow-up to 2019's acclaimed origin story for the Clown Prince of Crime and, ultimately, something of a hate-letter to everyone who enjoyed it.

The musical sequel beguilingly concludes with director Todd Phillips sticking two middle fingers up at anyone who expected Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) to fully transform into a more traditional version of The Joker by film's end.

Arthur ultimately rejects The Joker persona and accepts responsibility for his actions, resulting in his love interest Lee aka Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) rejecting him.

In the final scene, Arthur is returned to Arkham where he's confronted by another inmate, Jack Oswald White (Connor Storrie), who begins telling a joke before repeatedly stabbing Arthur in the stomach.

Arthur then bleeds to death on the floor as White sits down and begins carving a smile on his own face while cackling. 

The implication, that Arthur was just killed by the "real" Joker, naturally rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way, and seemed to indicate Phillips' keenness to completely torpedo his Joker "franchise."

It's certainly a hell of a dramatic swing, but not one that many were left appreciating.