Joker: Folie à Deux parent guide: Violence and language factor into R rating

Joker: Folie à Deux has arrived in theaters. The film has been the subject of much speculation and debate since it was first announced. It helped, of course, that its predecessor, Joker, was one of the biggest films of 2019.

The origin story of the Batman villain took the world by storm, and fans were captivated by the gritty and often intensely violent treatment of the source material. The world of Joker was a far cry from Jack Nicholson's or even Heath Ledger's versions of the character.

Joker: Folie à Deux contains "severe" violence

With all that said, the sequel keeps this intense violence in tow. Like its predecessor, Joker: Folie à Deux is rated R, which means the show is meant for mature viewing audiences and not recommended for younger viewers. In fact, a person under the age of 18 cannot legally obtain a ticket to see the film unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

There are several reasons why the blockbuster sequel has obtained an R rating. For one, the violence caused by the Joker continues to be a prevalent trend in these films. The character kills several other people in ways that prove to be exceedingly bizarre, and typically gruesome. The violence has been characterized as "severe" by the MPA, or the Motion Picture Association.

The sequel also has brief nudity and sexuality

Language also played a role in securing the film's rating. The four letter words are flying here, and while they don't occur as often as do in say, director Todd Phillips' other franchise, The Hangover, they are definitely often enough to note.

IMDb cites additional, though less prevalent reasons for what to be mindful of heading into Joker: Folie à Deux. These include brief full nudity and sexuality, as well as drugs, alcohol and smoking. It takes places in the early 1980s, so there definitely lots of Gotham city denizens lighting up every chance they get.