Joker: Folie a Deux carries an age rating that varies by country, but it is generally rated for mature audiences due to severe violence, gore, strong sexual content, nudity, and intense scenes. In the United States, it has not yet received an official MPAA rating as of early 2026, though parent guides suggest it aligns with R-rated content similar to the original Joker film, which was rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, disturbing behavior, and some language. For comparison, the first Joker (2019) earned a 14A rating in Canada according to streaming sites like JustWatch, indicating suitability for viewers 14 and older with parental guidance.
The film’s sequel, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, dives deeper into dark themes of mental illness, chaos, and romance in a musical courtroom drama. IMDb’s detailed parents guide, updated in April 2024, flags several reasons for its mature classification. Under violence and gore, it rates severe with scenes like a graphic C-section birth filmed in closeup, an abortion showing brief blood over the genital area from the side, a woman being slapped, and an offscreen autopsy on a dead newborn. These elements can disturb sensitive viewers, as noted by user votes where 4 out of 8 found the violence severe.
Sex and nudity also rate severe, with strong graphic nudity throughout and explicit sexual content. Frightening and intense scenes are severe too, starting with a striking childbirth from above in the opening minutes, plus an alien-like old woman figure stalking symbolically through landscapes into homes. Profanity is mild, and there’s no alcohol, drugs, or smoking. The guide warns of disturbing thematic material overall. You can check the full breakdown here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31350080/parentalguide/.
Internationally, certifications reflect this intensity. In the United Kingdom, it’s rated 15, meaning unsuitable for under 15s. Spain gives it a 16, Taiwan 18+, Portugal M/14, Singapore M18, Norway 15, and Lithuania N-16. These align with the original Joker’s ratings, like PG-13 in the US but 12A in the UK and 13+ in Quebec for violence. French library listings for Joker: Folie a Deux note access rules for under 13s needing accompaniment, hinting at broad accessibility in some regions but caution advised. Details appear on sites like BM Grenoble: https://bm-grenoble.fr/default/cinema.aspx?_lg=fr-FR.
Parents should preview trailers or guides before deciding, especially with the film’s blend of musical numbers and psychological horror. Streaming options like JustWatch list the original as 14A in Canada, with no free streams currently but rentals on platforms like Apple TV. See: https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/joker-2019.
Sources
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Knight_:_Le_Chevalier_noir
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31350080/parentalguide/
https://bm-grenoble.fr/default/cinema.aspx?_lg=fr-FR
https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/joker-2019
http://lestoilesheroiques.fr/2026/01
