10 Insane Facts You Might Have Missed About Recent Movies

Joaquin Phoenix has had an acting career filled with highs and lows to say the very least. There have been controversies and accusations of unprofessionalism thrown his way, while on the other side of the coin is the fact that he is a widely respected, Academy Award winner.

You would be forgiven for thinking that, since his debut cinematic appearance in 1986, Phoenix's career would have seen him do just about everything. However, quite incredibly, up until 2024, the man had never starred in a sequel.

There is something of a stigma attached to sequels in the modern cinematic landscape, with many perceived as easy cash grabs. That being said, it is still astounding that Phoenix had never appeared in a franchise's sophomore effort before reprising his role as Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie à Deux. On the face of it, a perfect film to break the trend that has lasted his entire career, but one that he may end up regretting.

The sequel to Todd Phillips' critically acclaimed Joker, with Phoenix in the titular role that won him an Oscar, was universally panned, had one of the biggest ever box office drop-offs for a sequel in history (from Joker's $1.078 billion down to $207 million), and left a real sour taste in the mouth of many who watched it. Maybe he should have continued to stay away from sequels.