Razzies 2025: ‘Joker 2’ taps seven nods, Gaga and Phoenix face the heat

The long-awaited announcement of this year's Academy Award nominations, postponed due to the devastating Los Angeles fires, is now scheduled for Thursday (January 23). In the meantime, the annual Golden Raspberry Awards, known for spotlighting the "worst" in cinema, unveiled their nominees on Tuesday. Leading the pack is "Joker: Folie à Deux" with seven nominations, followed closely by "Madame Web", "Megalopolis", "Borderlands", and "Reagan", each securing six nods.

The musical sequel "Joker: Folie à Deux", following Todd Phillips' Oscar-nominated "Joker", has found itself at the forefront of the Golden Raspberry Awards with nominations for worst picture, director, screenplay, and the category for worst prequel, remake, rip-off, or sequel. Both Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix are contenders for worst actress and worst actor, respectively, as well as worst on-screen combo. 

Despite high expectations, the sequel debuted to lackluster reviews at the Venice Film Festival and performed poorly at the box office, earning just $206 million globally against its $200 million production budget. This starkly contrasts with the original "Joker", which grossed over $1 billion worldwide and won Phoenix an Academy Award for best actor.

Interestingly, the Golden Raspberry Awards' official nomination announcement included an error, incorrectly stating that "Joker: Folie à Deux" tied for the most nominations at six, when it actually received seven. However, the Razzies, founded in 1981, have never been known for taking themselves too seriously. 

The organisation has faced its own share of controversies in recent years, including issuing a public apology for nominating child actor Ryan Kiera Armstrong for her role in the horror remake "Firestarter", calling the decision "insensitive." They also rescinded a category dedicated to Bruce Willis' performances in 2021 after the actor's family revealed his diagnosis of aphasia.

This year's Golden Raspberry nominations were decided through ballots sent to over 1,200 voters, each of whom paid either $40 for an annual membership or $500 for a lifetime membership. In true Razzies fashion, anyone can join the voting pool, as long as they're willing to spend the money—because, in America, spending within legal boundaries is fair game.

The winners will be decided by the larger voting base and announced on March 1, just one day ahead of the Academy Awards.

Here is the Razzie nominations list: 

Worst Picture
"Borderlands"
"Joker: Folie a Deux"
"Madame Web"
"Megalopolis"
"Reagan"

Worst Actor
Jack Black, "Dear Santa"
Zachary Levi, "Harold and the Purple Crayon"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Joker: Folie a Deux"
Dennis Quaid, "Reagan"
Jerry Seinfeld, "Unfrosted"

Worst Actress
Cate Blanchett, "Borderlands"
Lady Gaga, "Joker: Folie a Deux"
Bryce Dallas Howard , "Argylle"
Dakota Johnson, "Madame Web"
Jennifer Lopez, "Atlas"

Supporting Actor
Jack Black (Voice Only), "Borderlands"
Kevin Hart, "Borderlands"
Shia LaBeouf (in drag), "Megalopolis"
Tahar Rahim, "Madame Web"
Jon Voight, "Megalopolis," "Reagan," "Shadow Land" and "Strangers"
 

Supporting Actress
Ariana DeBose, "Argylle" and "Kraven the Hunter"
Leslie Anne Down (as Margaret Thatcher), "Reagan"
Emma Roberts, "Madame Web"
Amy Schumer, "Unfrosted"
FKA twigs, "The Crow

Director
S.J. Clarkson, "Madame Web"
Francis Ford Coppola, "Megalopolis"
Todd Phillips, "Joker: Folie a Deux"
Eli Roth, "Borderlands"
Jerry Seinfeld, "Unfrosted"

Screen Combo
Any Two Obnoxious Characters (But Especially Jack Black), "Borderlands"
Any Two Unfunny "Comedic Actors," "Unfrosted"
The Entire Cast of "Megalopolis"
Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, "Joker: Folie a Deux"
Dennis Quaid and Penelope Ann Miller (as "Ronnie and Nancy"), "Reagan"

Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel
"The Crow"
"Joker: Folie a Deux"
"Kraven the Hunter"
"Mufasa: The Lion King"
"Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver"

Screenplay
"Joker: Folie a Deux"
"Kraven the Hunter"
"Madame Web"
"Megalopolis"
"Reagan"