When Joaquin Phoenix was announced as the lead in the 2019 film Joker, many wondered how he could build on a character that Heath Ledger had seemingly perfected in The Dark Knight. And yet, he pulled it off. Phoenix’s Joker, whose real name is Arthur Fleck, is a downtrodden professional clown and stand-up comic when we meet him, a man who grapples with a neurological disorder that causes him to laugh uncontrollably. Joker left off with Fleck’s complete transformation into a murderous villain, and forced viewers to wonder whether he was truly evil, a victim of mental illness, or both. The sequel makes this conundrum its focal point. Fleck’s case is a national story; to some, he’s become a martyr. While awaiting trial for his crimes at Arkham State Hospital, Fleck forms a relationship with fellow inmate Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga). Without spoiling the plot, expect chaos, musical numbers, and more of the chilling uncertainty of the film’s predecessor. —Jack Sullivan