Examine individual changes

'{{Short description|2019 DC film by Todd Phillips}} {{Good article}} {{Use American English|date=December 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox film | name = Joker | image = Joker (2019 film) poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | alt = The Joker dances on a set of stairs. And he says "Why so serious?", "A Todd Phillips film", "Joker", the billing block, and "October 4". | director = [[Todd Phillips]] | writer = {{Plainlist| * Todd Phillips * [[Scott Silver]] }} | based_on = {{based on|[[Joker (character)|The Joker]]|[[Bob Kane]]<br>[[Bill Finger]]<br>[[Jerry Robinson]]}}<br>{{based on|Characters|[[DC Comics]]}} | producer = {{Plainlist| * Todd Phillips * [[Bradley Cooper]] * [[Emma Tillinger Koskoff]] }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Joaquin Phoenix]] * [[Robert De Niro]] * [[Zazie Beetz]] * [[Frances Conroy]] }} | cinematography = [[Lawrence Sher]] | editing = [[Jeff Groth (film editor)|Jeff Groth]] | music = [[Hildur Guðnadóttir]] | production_companies = {{Plainlist| * [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] * [[DC Studios|DC Films]] * [[Village Roadshow Pictures]] * [[Bron Studios|Bron Creative]] * Joint Effort }} | distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures | released = {{Film date|2019|8|31|[[76th Venice International Film Festival|Venice]]|2019|10|4|United States}} | runtime = 122 minutes<ref name="BBFC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/joker-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00odgzmjq|title=''Joker'' (15)|website=[[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]]|date=September 24, 2019|access-date=October 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930135237/https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/joker-film-0 |archive-date=September 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $55–70 million | gross = $1.079&nbsp;billion<ref name="BOM">{{Cite Box Office Mojo |id=7286456 |title=Joker |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213033325/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7286456/ |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NUM">{{Cite The Numbers |id=Joker-(2019) |title=Joker (2019) |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109195928/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Joker-(2019) |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> }} '''''Joker''''' is a 2019 American [[psychological thriller]] film<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/joker-am170003|title=Joker (2019)|website=[[AllMovie]]|access-date=August 3, 2024}}</ref> directed by [[Todd Phillips]] from a screenplay he co-wrote with [[Scott Silver]]. The film stars [[Joaquin Phoenix]] and is loosely based on [[DC Comics]] characters, including the [[Joker (character)|Joker]]. It follows Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and aspiring stand-up comedian whose descent into mental illness and [[nihilism]] culminates with the emergence of an alter-ego known as "Joker" and inspires a violent countercultural revolution against the wealthy in a decaying [[Gotham City]]. [[Robert De Niro]], [[Zazie Beetz]], and [[Frances Conroy]] appear in supporting roles. Distributed by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], ''Joker'' was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and [[DC Films]] in association with [[Village Roadshow Pictures]], [[Bron Creative]] and Joint Effort. Phillips conceived ''Joker'' in 2016 and wrote the script with Silver throughout 2017. The two were inspired by 1970s character studies and the films of [[Martin Scorsese]], particularly ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' (1976) and ''[[The King of Comedy (film)|The King of Comedy]]'' (1982); Scorsese was initially attached to the project as a producer. The film loosely adapts plot elements from ''[[Batman: The Killing Joke]]'' (1988) and ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'' (1986), but Phillips and Silver otherwise did not look to specific comics for inspiration, nor did he wish for it to be connected to any prior ''Batman'' film continuity. Phoenix became attached in February 2018 and was cast that July, while the majority of the cast signed on by August. [[Principal photography]] took place in [[New York City]], [[Jersey City, New Jersey|Jersey City]] and [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], from September to December 2018. ''Joker'' is the first live-action [[Batman in film|theatrical ''Batman'' film]] to receive an [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#MPAA film ratings|R rating]] from the [[Motion Picture Association]].{{efn|''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Ultimate Edition]]'', released in 2016, received an R rating and was given a limited theatrical release, but was ultimately intended for home media release.}} ''Joker'' premiered at the [[76th Venice International SKIBIDI JONKLER Festival]] on August 31, 2019, where it won the [[Golden Lion]], and was theatrically released in the United States on October 4. The film was a box office success and set records for an October release. It grossed over $1 billion, becoming the first R-rated film to do so, and it was the [[List of highest-grossing R-rated films|highest-grossing R-rated film]] until being surpassed by ''[[Deadpool & Wolverine]]'' in 2024. It was also the [[2019 in film#Highest-grossing films|sixth-highest-grossing film of 2019]]. The film received [[List of accolades received by Joker (2019 film)|numerous accolades]], including two [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] wins at the [[92nd Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Phoenix) and [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] out of 11 nominations including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], becoming the first DC film to do so. A sequel, ''[[Joker: Folie à Deux]]'', was released on October 4, 2024. ==Plot== <!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. Please check the word count before making any additions. --> Arthur Fleck is a professional clown and aspiring stand-up comedian who lives with his mother, Penny, in the crime-and [[early 1980s recession|recession]]-ridden city of [[Gotham City |Gotham]], [[New York (state)| New York]]. He suffers from a [[Pseudobulbar affect|neurological disorder]] that causes him to have random, uncontrollable laughing fits, requiring medication for which he depends on social services to obtain. One day, after Arthur is attacked by street youths while on the job, his co-worker Randall gives him a [[revolver]] for self-defense. Arthur pursues a relationship with his neighbor, single mother Sophie Dumond, and invites her to see his routine at a comedy club. Arthur is dismissed from his job after he accidentally exposes the gun while performing at a children's hospital, despite explaining that it was given to him by Randall, who denies this. While riding home on the subway, still donning his clown make-up, Arthur is mocked and assaulted by three drunk businessmen from [[Wayne Enterprises|Wayne Investments]]. Arthur fatally shoots two of them in [[self-defense]] and murders the third as he attempts to flee. Their employer, billionaire mayoral candidate [[Thomas Wayne]], condemns the killings but protesters begin sporting clown masks in Arthur's image. Budget cuts shut down the social services program, leaving Arthur without his medication. Sophie attends Arthur's stand-up routine, which fails due to his disorder and his jokes falling flat. Arthur intercepts a letter from Penny to Thomas, revealing that he is Thomas's illegitimate son, and berates his mother for hiding the truth of his parentage. He goes to [[Wayne Manor]], where he meets Thomas's young son [[Batman|Bruce]], but flees after a scuffle with family butler [[Alfred Pennyworth]]. Penny suffers a stroke and is hospitalized. Arthur's idol, popular [[late-night talk show]] host Murray Franklin, presents clips of Arthur's failed performance on his show and mockingly calls him a "joker". Arthur confronts Thomas at a movie theatre. Thomas denies being his father, claiming that Penny is not his biological mother. In denial, Arthur visits [[Arkham Asylum|Arkham State Hospital]] and reads Penny's file, which states she was a delusional narcissist who adopted Arthur while working as a housekeeper for the Waynes. She developed an imaginary intimate relationship with Thomas, which included Arthur being their biological son. At the same time, Penny raised Arthur with an abusive boyfriend who physically and sexually abused Arthur, which Penny ignored, leading to his neurological disorder. A distraught Arthur enters Sophie's apartment unannounced. Frightened, she kindly asks him to leave, revealing their relationship to be a figment of Arthur's imagination. The following day, Arthur smothers Penny with a pillow at the hospital. Arthur is soon invited to be on Murray's show. He subsequently plans to kill himself with his revolver during the broadcast. While crafting a clown-inspired persona, he is visited by Randall and another ex-colleague, Gary. Arthur fatally stabs Randall, but spares Gary for being kind to him in the past. Two detectives investigating Arthur's involvement in the subway murders pursue him onto a train filled with clown protesters. Arthur incites a brawl, during which one detective accidentally shoots and kills a protester. The other protesters, in turn, beat the detectives while Arthur escapes. At the studio, Arthur asks Murray to introduce him as "[[Joker (character)|Joker]]", a reference to his earlier mockery. As the show goes live, Arthur tells morbid jokes, confesses to the subway murders, rants about societal neglect on the downtrodden, and berates Murray for ridiculing him. After a final joke, Arthur shoots Murray dead, on live television. Arthur is arrested, and riots erupt across the city. Looters in an ambulance crash into the police car carrying Arthur and free him. Meanwhile, one rioter corners the Wayne family in an alley and [[Origin of Batman|murders Thomas and his wife Martha]], sparing Bruce. Arthur stands atop the police car, dances to the cheers of the crowd, and smears blood on his face into the shape of a smile. At Arkham, Arthur laughs to himself about a joke during a session with his new therapist. He declines telling it to her, affirming she would not understand it. After the session, he leaves behind a trail of bloodied shoeprints as an orderly chases him down. ==Cast== {{Multiple image|align=right|direction=horizontal|total_width=450 |image1=Joaquin_Phoenix_in_2018.jpg|alt1=Joaquin Phoenix.|caption1=[[Joaquin Phoenix]] |image2=Robert De Niro Cannes 2016.jpg|alt2=A 72-year-old man looking at the camera.|caption2=[[Robert De Niro]] |image3=Zazie Beetz by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg|alt3=A 28-year-old woman looking to the right of the camera.|caption3=[[Zazie Beetz]] }} <!-- ORDER BY WEBSITE CREDITS BILLING ORDER. --> * [[Joaquin Phoenix]] as [[Joker (character)|Arthur Fleck / Joker]]: A mentally ill, impoverished party clown and stand-up comedian disregarded by society,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-trailer-easter-eggs-batman-dc-jaoquin-phoenix-2019-4 |title=Everything you missed in the first 'Joker' teaser trailer |last1=Snyder |first1=Chris |last2=Phillips |first2=Ian |date=April 9, 2019 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409075458/https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-trailer-easter-eggs-batman-dc-jaoquin-phoenix-2019-4 |archive-date=April 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> whose history of abuse causes him to become a [[Nihilism|nihilistic]] criminal with a clown-inspired persona.<ref name="Variety: Wanted">{{Cite web|last=Chu|first=Henry|date=August 31, 2019|title=In 'Joker,' Joaquin Phoenix Wanted to Create a Character 'That Wasn't Identifiable'|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joker-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-venice-film-festival-1203320067/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831132601/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joker-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-venice-film-festival-1203320067/|archive-date=August 31, 2019|access-date=August 31, 2019|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Phoenix had been interested in a low-budget "character study" of a comic book character and said the film "feels unique, it is its own world in some ways and maybe [...] It might as well be the thing that scares you the most".<ref name="ColliderPhoenix" /> Phoenix lost 52 pounds (23&nbsp;kg) for his role in the film.<ref name="ap2019">{{cite web |title=Joaquin Phoenix on 'Joker' weight loss, dance and De Niro |url=https://apnews.com/movies-arts-and-entertainment-general-news-9dfc87d4243e4f4abdfa7b03b05e71a1 |website=AP News |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |language=en |date=30 September 2019 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523211422/https://apnews.com/movies-arts-and-entertainment-general-news-9dfc87d4243e4f4abdfa7b03b05e71a1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tel2020">{{cite web |last1=Collin |first1=Robbie |author1-link=Robbie Collin |title=No Joker: Why Joaquin Phoenix walked out of our interview |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/no-joker-why-joaquin-phoenix-walked-out-interview/ |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=10 February 2020 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-date=May 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523211422/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/no-joker-why-joaquin-phoenix-walked-out-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mazziota |first1=Julie |title=Joaquin Phoenix Says Losing 52 Lbs. for Joker Made Him Develop a 'Disorder' |url=https://people.com/health/joaquin-phoenix-says-losing-52-lbs-for-joker-made-him-develop-a-disorder/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=December 13, 2022 |language=en |date=October 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213173127/https://people.com/health/joaquin-phoenix-says-losing-52-lbs-for-joker-made-him-develop-a-disorder/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * [[Robert De Niro]] as Murray Franklin:<ref name="IW: DeNiro" /> A talk show host who plays a role in Arthur's downfall.<ref name="DeNiroCast" /> De Niro said his role in ''Joker'' pays [[Homage (arts)|homage]] to his character from ''[[The King of Comedy (film)|The King of Comedy]]'' (1982), Rupert Pupkin, who is a comedian obsessed with a talk-show host.<ref name="IW: DeNiro">{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/robert-de-niro-joker-king-of-comedy-1202055636/ |title='Joker': Robert De Niro Addresses the Connection Between His Character and 'King of Comedy' |last=Kohn |first=Eric |date=April 3, 2019 |website=[[IndieWire]] |location=Los Angeles, California|access-date=April 3, 2019 |quote=There's a connection, obviously, with the whole thing. But it's not as a direct connection as the character I'm playing being Rupert many years later as a host. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403201154/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/robert-de-niro-joker-king-of-comedy-1202055636/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> * [[Zazie Beetz]] as Sophie Dumond:<ref name="beetzSR">{{Cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/joker-zazie-beetz-role-revealed/ |title=Zazie Beetz's Role in Joker Revealed |last=Hood |first=Cooper |date=August 10, 2018 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918012050/https://screenrant.com/joker-zazie-beetz-role-revealed/ |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> A cynical single mother and Arthur's "love interest".<ref name="beetzSR" /><ref name="BeetzCast">{{Cite news |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=July 19, 2018 |title='Joker' Movie: 'Deadpool 2' Actress Zazie Beetz in Talks to Join Joaquin Phoenix (Exclusive) |language=en |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/zazie-beetz-talks-join-joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-1128365 |url-status=live |access-date=July 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720034621/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/zazie-beetz-talks-join-joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-1128365 |archive-date=July 20, 2018}}</ref> Beetz, a huge fan of Phoenix, said that it was an honor to costar with him<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/09/18/joker-origin-movie-2019-zazie-beetz-joaquin-phoenix-dc-films/ |title=Zazie Beetz is Excited to Be Working With Joaquin Phoenix on 'Joker' Movie |last=Anderson |first=Jenna |date=September 18, 2018 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=September 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919053105/https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/09/18/joker-origin-movie-2019-zazie-beetz-joaquin-phoenix-dc-films/ |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and that she learned a lot working with him on set.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/05/21/zazie-beetz-explains-joker-movie-different-deadpool/ |title=Zazie Beetz Explains How Joker Movie Is Different Than Deadpool |last=Schmidt |first=JK |date=May 21, 2019 |website=ComicBook.com|access-date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528174656/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/05/21/zazie-beetz-explains-joker-movie-different-deadpool/ |archive-date=May 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> * [[Frances Conroy]] as Penny Fleck: Arthur's mentally and physically ill mother,<ref name="ConroyTalks" /> who formerly worked for [[Thomas Wayne]].<ref name="IGN: Past"/> ** [[Hannah Gross]] as young Penny.<ref>{{cite news |last=Desta |first=Yohana |title=''Joker'': Let's Talk About His Mom, Shall We? |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joker-mom-movie-penny-fleck |url-access=limited |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |location=New York City|date=October 4, 2019 |access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811120657/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joker-mom-movie-penny-fleck|archive-date=August 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, [[Brett Cullen]] portrays [[Thomas Wayne]], a billionaire running for mayor of Gotham.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/09/23/joker-movie-2019-thomas-wayne-mayor-politics-dc-films/ |title='Joker' Set Photo Reveals Thomas Wayne's Political Ambitions |last=Anderson |first=Jenna |date=September 23, 2018 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927005448/https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/09/23/joker-movie-2019-thomas-wayne-mayor-politics-dc-films/ |archive-date=September 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Alec Baldwin]] was initially cast in the role, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/alec-baldwin-joins-joker-movie-as-bruce-waynes-father-1137843 |title='Joker' Movie: Alec Baldwin to Play Bruce Wayne's Father |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=August 27, 2018 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |location=Los Angeles, California|access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921121505/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/alec-baldwin-joins-joker-movie-as-bruce-waynes-father-1137843 |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="baldwinout" /> Carrie Louise Putrello portrays Thomas's wife [[Martha Wayne|Martha]], although the character has no dialogue (she only screams) and is never referred to by name.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Orquiola |first1=John |title=Joker Avoids Having Its Own MARTHA Moment |url=https://screenrant.com/joker-movie-no-martha-wayne-moment-batman-superman/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=May 18, 2020 |date=October 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019173459/https://screenrant.com/joker-movie-no-martha-wayne-moment-batman-superman/|archive-date=October 19, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Douglas Hodge]] plays [[Alfred Pennyworth]], the butler and caretaker of the Wayne family,<ref name="WaynePenny">{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-movie-casts-dante-pereira-olso-as-young-bruce-wayne-1154483 |title=Joker' Finds Its Young Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=October 23, 2018 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829234527/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-movie-casts-dante-pereira-olson-as-young-bruce-wayne-1154483|archive-date=August 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Dante Pereira-Olson]] plays [[Bruce Wayne]], Thomas' son.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/10/23/joker-bruce-wayne-cast-dante-pereira-olson/ |title='Joker': Dante Pereira-Olson Cast as Young Bruce Wayne |last=Davis |first=Brandon |date=October 23, 2018 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023224916/https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/10/23/joker-bruce-wayne-cast-dante-pereira-olson/ |archive-date=October 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-joker-movie-casts-a-new-thomas-wayne-after-ale/1100-6461811/ |title=The Joker Movie Casts A New Thomas Wayne After Alec Baldwin Quit |last=E. Hayner |first=Chris |date=September 20, 2018 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=September 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927005550/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-joker-movie-casts-a-new-thomas-wayne-after-ale/1100-6461811/ |archive-date=September 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Additional cast members include [[Glenn Fleshler]] and [[Leigh Gill]] as Randall and Gary, Arthur's clown co-workers;<ref name="underway" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/07/joker-wants-you-choose-between-provocation-prudishness-its-not-hard-decision/ |url-access=limited |title='Joker' wants you to choose between provocation and prudishness. It's not a hard decision |last=Rosenberg |first=Alyssa |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 7, 2019 |access-date=October 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009193638/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/07/joker-wants-you-choose-between-provocation-prudishness-its-not-hard-decision/ |archive-date=October 9, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bill Camp]] and [[Shea Whigham]] as detectives Garrity and Burke in the [[Gotham City Police Department]];<ref name="TwoCopCharacters">{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/joker-movie-shea-whigham-character-details/#images |title=Exclusive: 'Joker' Actor Shea Whigham Reveals Who He Plays, Teases Unique Filming Experience |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=October 22, 2018 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518061344/https://collider.com/joker-movie-shea-whigham-character-details/#images |archive-date=May 18, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Marc Maron]] as Gene Ufland, a producer on Franklin's show;<ref name="MaronCast" /><ref name="NME: Maron" /> Sharon Washington as Arthur's social worker, Debra Kane; [[Josh Pais]] as Hoyt Vaughn, Arthur's boss;<ref name="underway" /><ref name="trailerspoilers">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Jenna |date=April 2, 2019 |title=First 'Joker' Trailer Debuts at CinemaCon |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/04/02/joker-movie-spoilers-2019-trailer-footage-joaquin-phoenix-dc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403000459/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/04/02/joker-movie-spoilers-2019-trailer-footage-joaquin-phoenix-dc/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=April 3, 2019 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref> [[Brian Tyree Henry]] as Clark, a clerk at [[Arkham Asylum|Arkham State Hospital]]; [[Frank Wood (actor)|Frank Wood]] as Dr. Benjamin Stoner, Penny Fleck's former therapist;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Russell |first1=Bradley |title=Joker Easter eggs: 10 references to Batman (and beyond) you might have missed |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/joker-easter-eggs-references/ |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=October 9, 2019 |date=October 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009033025/https://www.gamesradar.com/joker-easter-eggs-references/ |archive-date=October 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ben Warheit]], [[Michael Benz]] and Carl Lundstedt as the three [[Wayne Enterprises|Wayne Investments]] employees who harass Arthur on the subway;<ref name="Reilly-2019">{{Cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/joker-gary-gulman-sam-morril-stand-up-comedy.html |url-access=limited |title=What Joker Gets Right About Stand-Up Comedy |last=Reilly |first=Dan |date=October 15, 2019 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |access-date=October 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212042440/https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/joker-gary-gulman-sam-morril-stand-up-comedy.html|archive-date=December 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Gary Gulman]] and [[Sam Morril]] as comedians at an [[open mic]] where Arthur performs;<ref name="Reilly-2019" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/gary-gulman-hbo-special-depression-joker-interview/ |title=Gary Gulman on His New HBO Special, Battling Depression, and His 'Joker' Scene |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=October 25, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025231807/https://collider.com/gary-gulman-hbo-special-depression-joker-interview/ |archive-date=October 25, 2019 }}</ref> and [[Bryan Callen]] as Javier, a co-worker of Arthur.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/49161-joker-origin-movie-set-photos-show-male-stripper |title=Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker' Movie Set Photos Show an Aging Stripper Character |last=Francisco |first=Eric |date=September 20, 2018 |website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]] |access-date=September 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923124047/https://www.inverse.com/article/49161-joker-origin-movie-set-photos-show-male-stripper |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Justin Theroux]] has an uncredited [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] as Ethan Chase, a celebrity guest on Franklin's show.<ref name="12easter"/> ==Production== ===Development=== [[File:Todd Phillips (29486703114).jpg|thumb|upright|''Joker'' director [[Todd Phillips]] in 2016|alt=refer to caption]] Between 2014 and 2015, [[Joaquin Phoenix]] expressed interest to his agent in acting in a low-budget "character study" type of film about a [[comic book]] villain, like [[DC Comics]] character the [[Joker (character)|Joker]].<ref name="ColliderPhoenix" /> Phoenix had thought of the idea 1 to 2 years before Phillips conceived ''Joker'' in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maine |first=Samantha |date=July 13, 2018 |title=It turns out Joaquin Phoenix had the idea for his Joker movie years ago |url=https://www.nme.com/news/joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-idea-2353626 |access-date=December 25, 2022 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=December 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225134842/https://www.nme.com/news/joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-idea-2353626 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phoenix had previously declined to act in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU) because he would have been required to reprise a role, such as [[Bruce Banner (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Bruce Banner / Hulk]] (initially portrayed by [[Edward Norton]] before he was recast by [[Mark Ruffalo]]) or [[Stephen Strange (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Stephen Strange / Doctor Strange]] (ultimately portrayed by [[Benedict Cumberbatch]]), in multiple films.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/joaquin-phoenix-mcu-movie-roles/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix Doesn't Regret Passing on MCU Movie Roles |last=Cotter |first=Padraig |date=March 7, 2018 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=September 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923052416/https://screenrant.com/joaquin-phoenix-mcu-movie-roles/ |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phoenix ruled out the Joker for his "character study" idea and tried to think of a different one. "I thought, 'You can't do the Joker, because, you know, it's just you can't do that character, it's just been done'". Phoenix's agent suggested setting up an exploratory meeting with [[Warner Bros.]], but he declined and let go of the idea.<ref name="ColliderPhoenix">{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-details/#todd-phillips |title=Exclusive: Joaquin Phoenix on His "Unique" Joker Movie and Why It Scares Him |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |date=July 12, 2018 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918012225/http://collider.com/joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-details/#todd-phillips |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, [[Todd Phillips]] had been offered to direct comic-based films a number of times, but declined because he thought they were "loud" and did not interest him. According to Phillips, ''Joker'' was created from his idea to create a different, more grounded comic book film.<ref name="LAT: Stakes">{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-08-27/joker-todd-phillips-joaquin-phoenix |url-access=limited|title=In 'Joker' the stakes are life and death, and comic book movies may never be the same |last=Rottenberg |first=Josh |date=August 28, 2019 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828143837/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-08-27/joker-todd-phillips-joaquin-phoenix |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was attracted to the Joker because he did not think there was a definitive portrayal of the character, which he knew would provide considerable creative freedom.<ref name="LA: Ending">{{cite news|last1=Rottenberg|first1=Josh|date=October 4, 2019|title='Joker' Ending Explained: Director Todd Phillips on Fan Theories and Open Questions|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|location=Los Angeles, California|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-10-04/joker-ending-explained-todd-phillips|url-status=live|url-access=limited|access-date=October 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005090846/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-10-04/joker-ending-explained-todd-phillips|archive-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref> Phillips pitched the idea for ''Joker'' to Warner Bros. after his film ''[[War Dogs (2016 film)|War Dogs]]'' premiered in August 2016.<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /> Prior to ''War Dogs'', Phillips was mostly known for his [[comedy film]]s, such as ''[[Road Trip (2000 film)|Road Trip]]'' (2000), ''[[Old School (film)|Old School]]'' (2003) and ''[[The Hangover]]'' (2009); ''War Dogs'' marked a venture into more unsettling territory.<ref name="Closer">{{cite journal |title=The Making of Joker |journal=Closer Magazine Movie Special Edition |date=2019 |volume=19 |issue=65 |pages=8–19 |publisher=[[American Media, Inc.]] |oclc=44996610 |issn=1537-663X |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44996610|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030135754/https://www.worldcat.org/title/ami-specials-publications/oclc/44996610|archive-date=October 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> During the premiere, Phillips realized "''War Dogs'' wasn't going to set the world on fire and I was thinking, 'What do people really want to see?'"<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /> In addition, he found that it was difficult to make comedy films in the "[[woke]] culture", throughout opposition of "30 million people on [[Twitter]]". He finally thought that "How do I do something irreverent, but fuck comedy? Oh I know, let's take the comic book movie universe and turn it on its head with this".<ref name="I Fucking Love My Life">{{Cite web|last=Hagan|first=Joe|date=October 1, 2019|title="I Fucking Love My Life": Joaquin Phoenix on Joker, Why River Is His Rosebud, His Rooney Research, and His "Prenatal" Gift for Dark Characters|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joaquin-phoenix-cover-story|access-date=January 10, 2022|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009041923/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joaquin-phoenix-cover-story|url-status=live}}</ref> He proposed that [[DC Films]] differentiate its slate from the competing [[Marvel Studios]]' by producing low-budget, [[standalone film]]s.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1148973230176243712 |user=JohnnySobeczak |title=Todd Phillips pitched JOKER to WB executives at the after party of the WAR DOGS premiere. "He suggested they begin a new division called DC Black, separating itself from the current crop of DC films. It was also a way of differentiating from Marvel". (Via @empiremagazine) |date=July 10, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |last=Sobeczak |first=Johnny|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712092230/https://twitter.com/johnnysobczak/status/1148973230176243712?lang=en|archive-date=July 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1148973238959136769 |user=JohnnySobeczak |title="I said 'Let JOKER be the first, then let's get fucking great filmmakers to come in.' Instead of trying to live in the shadow of the beast (MCU), let's do something they can't". This included $30 million budgets, no CGI hoopla. "Let's strip that all away. It'll be liberating". |date=July 10, 2019 |access-date=July 25, 2019 |last=Sobeczak |first=Johnny|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714024832/https://twitter.com/JohnnySobczak/status/1148973238959136769|archive-date=July 14, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> After the successful release of ''[[Wonder Woman (2017 film)|Wonder Woman]]'' (2017), DC Films decided to deemphasize the [[shared universe|shared]] nature of its DC-based film franchise, the [[DC Extended Universe]] (DCEU).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/dc-wonder-woman-movie-strategy-universe.html |url-access=limited |title=DC Rethinks Its Universe |last=Riesman |first=Abraham |date=September 29, 2017 |website=[[Vulture (blog)|Vulture]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001025110/http://www.vulture.com/2017/09/dc-wonder-woman-movie-strategy-universe.html |archive-date=October 1, 2017 |access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref> In August 2017, Warner Bros. and DC Films revealed plans for the film, with Phillips directing and co-writing with [[Scott Silver]] and [[Martin Scorsese]] set to co-produce with Phillips.<ref name="Fleming-2017">{{Cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/the-joker-origin-movie-todd-phillips-martin-scorsese-scott-silver-batman-dc-universe-1202154053/ |title=The Joker Origin Story On Deck: Todd Phillips, Scott Silver, Martin Scorsese Aboard WB/DC Film |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=August 22, 2017 |access-date=August 23, 2017 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823003817/http://deadline.com/2017/08/the-joker-origin-movie-todd-phillips-martin-scorsese-scott-silver-batman-dc-universe-1202154053/ |archive-date=August 23, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Tatiana Siegel of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', Scorsese considered directing ''Joker'' before Phillips was chosen, though a Warner Bros. source said he only became involved because the film needed a [[New York City]]-based producer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Siegel |first1=Tatiana |title=How Martin Scorsese Paved the Way for 'Joker' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/how-martin-scorsese-paved-way-joker-1246355/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=September 14, 2021 |date=October 9, 2019 |archive-date=September 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915030507/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/how-martin-scorsese-paved-way-joker-1246355/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Kim Masters and Borys Kit of ''The Hollywood Reporter'', [[Jared Leto]], who portrayed the [[Joker (DC Extended Universe)|Joker]] in the DCEU, was displeased by the existence of a project separate from his interpretation.<ref name="DiCaprioBeingEyed"/><ref name="THR: Stop"/> In October 2019, Masters reported that Leto "felt 'alienated and upset'" when he learned that Warner Bros.—which had promised him [[DC Extended Universe#Canceled and reworked projects|a standalone DCEU Joker film]]—let Phillips proceed with ''Joker'', going as far as to ask his music manager [[Irving Azoff]] to get the project canceled. Masters added that Leto's irritation was what caused him to end his association with [[Creative Artists Agency]] (CAA), as he believed "his agents should have told him about the Phillips project earlier and fought harder for his version of Joker". However, sources associated with Leto deny that he attempted to get ''Joker'' canceled and left CAA because of it.<ref name="THR: Stop"/> Warner Bros. pushed for Phillips to cast [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] as the Joker,<ref name="Closer"/> hoping to use his [[Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio|frequent collaborator]] Scorsese's involvement to attract him.<ref name="DiCaprioBeingEyed">{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/leonardo-dicaprio-joker-movie-warner-bros-wants-actor-role-1034392 |title=The Joker Movie: Warner Bros. Wants Class, Cachet and Maybe Leonardo DiCaprio |last1=Masters |first1=Kim |date=September 1, 2017 |access-date=September 5, 2017 |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |language=en |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905025048/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/leonardo-dicaprio-joker-movie-warner-bros-wants-actor-role-1034392 |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Phillips said that Phoenix was the only actor he considered,<ref name="NYT: Wild">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/movies/joaquin-phoenix-joker.html |url-access=limited |title=Joaquin Phoenix, the Wild Card of 'Joker' |last=Itzkoff |first=Dave |date=September 10, 2019 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912102511/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/movies/joaquin-phoenix-joker.html |archive-date=September 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and that he and Silver wrote the script with Phoenix in mind, "The goal was never to introduce Joaquin Phoenix into the comic book movie universe. The goal was to introduce comic book movies into the Joaquin Phoenix universe".<ref name="GR: Exclusive" /> Phoenix said when he learned of the film, he became excited because it was the kind he was looking to make, describing it as unique and stating it did not feel like a typical "studio movie".<ref name="ColliderPhoenix" /> It took him some time to commit to the role, as it intimidated him and he said "oftentimes, in these movies, we have these simplified, reductive archetypes and that allows for the audience to be distant from the character, just like we would do in real life, where it's easy to label somebody as evil and therefore say, 'Well, I'm not that.{{'}}"<ref name="GR: Exclusive">{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix-interview-total-film/ |title=Exclusive: Joaquin Phoenix reveals his hesitations over playing the Joker: "There was a lot of fear" |last1=Shepherd |first1=Jack |last2=Graham |first2=Jamie |date=August 20, 2019 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=August 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828013603/https://www.gamesradar.com/joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix-interview-total-film/ |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Writing=== {{Quote box|quote=It was a yearlong process from when we finished the script just to get the new people on board with this vision, because I pitched it to an entirely different team than made it. There were emails about: 'You realize we sell Joker pajamas at [[Target Corporation|Target]].' There were a zillion hurdles, and you just sort of had to navigate those one at a time [...] At the time, I would curse them in my head every day. But then I have to put it in perspective and go, 'They're pretty bold that they did this.'|source=– Todd Phillips<ref name="LAT: Stakes" />|width=30em|quoted=1}} Phillips and Silver wrote ''Joker'' throughout 2017 and the writing process took about a year.<ref name="Deadline: Creating">{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/joker-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-venice-film-festival-press-conference-1202708685/ |title='Joker's Joaquin Phoenix & Todd Phillips On Creating DC Character Study & Finding That Laugh&nbsp;– Venice |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=August 31, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901184255/https://deadline.com/2019/08/joker-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-venice-film-festival-press-conference-1202708685/ |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to producer [[Emma Tillinger Koskoff]], it took some time to get approval for the script from Warner Bros., partly because of concerns over the content. Similarly, Phillips commented that there were "a zillion hurdles" during the year-long writing process due to the visibility of the character.<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /> Phillips said that while the script's themes may reflect modern society, the film was not intended to be political.<ref name="Deadline: Creating" /> He also noted that ''Joker'' is a story about child [[Psychological trauma|trauma]] and mental illness.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keegan |first=Rebecca |date=December 27, 2019 |title=Making of 'Joker': How Todd ?Phillips' "Bold Swing" Became a Study in Madness |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/making-joker-how-todd-phillips-bold-swing-became-a-study-madness-1264882/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507193836/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/making-joker-how-todd-phillips-bold-swing-became-a-study-madness-1264882/ |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref name="Boucher-2019">{{Cite web |last=Boucher |first=Geoff |date=December 26, 2019 |title='Joker': Read Todd Phillips And Scott Silver's Script For Subversive Superhero Pic |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/joker-script-read-it-todd-phillips-scott-silver-screenplay-1202817170/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226232735/https://deadline.com/2019/12/joker-script-read-it-todd-phillips-scott-silver-screenplay-1202817170/ |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In their script, Phillips talked about how difficult it is for patients to reveal their diagnoses, referring to a line from the film: "The worst part of having a mental illness is that people expect you to behave as if you don't".<ref name="Boucher-2019"/> The script draws inspiration from Scorsese films such as ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' (1976), ''[[Raging Bull]]'' (1980) and ''[[The King of Comedy (film)|The King of Comedy]]'' (1982), as well as Phillips' ''[[The Hangover (film series)|Hangover Trilogy]]''.<ref name="Closer" /><ref name="Fleming-2017" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/joker-2-movie-sequel-todd-phillips-interview/ |title=Joker movie director discusses potential sequel: "I would do anything with Joaquin Phoenix" |last1=Shepherd |first1=Jack |last2=Graham |first2=Jamie |date=August 20, 2019 |website=[[GamesRadar+]] |access-date=August 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820172804/https://www.gamesradar.com/joker-2-movie-sequel-todd-phillips-interview/ |archive-date=August 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other films Phillips has cited as inspiration include character studies released in the 1970s—such as ''[[Serpico]]'' (1973) and ''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]'' (1975)—the silent film ''[[The Man Who Laughs (1928 film)|The Man Who Laughs]]'' (1928) and several [[musical film|musicals]]. Phillips said that aside from the tone, he did not consider ''Joker'' that different from his previous work, such as his ''Hangover'' films.<ref name="Deadline: Creating" /> The film's premise was inspired by [[Alan Moore]] and [[Brian Bolland]]'s graphic novel ''[[Batman: The Killing Joke]]'' (1988), which depicts the Joker as a failed stand-up comedian,<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /> while the climactic talk show scene was inspired by a similar scene in [[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller]]'s ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'' (1986).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Outlaw |first1=Kofi |date=October 8, 2019 |title=Joker's Shocking Climatic Scene Is a Major Dark Knight Returns Easter Egg |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/joker-movie-murray-franklin-death-scene-dark-knight-returns-easter-egg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620205948/https://comicbook.com/dc/news/joker-movie-murray-franklin-death-scene-dark-knight-returns-easter-egg/ |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |access-date=August 15, 2021 |website=ComicBook.com}}</ref> However, Phillips said the film does not "follow anything from the comic books... That's what was interesting to me. We're not even doing Joker, but the story of becoming Joker".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28326238/joaquin-phoenix-joker-doesnt-follow-comics/ |title=Joker doesn't "follow anything" from the comics |last=Edwards |first=Chris |date=July 8, 2019 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709183809/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28326238/joaquin-phoenix-joker-doesnt-follow-comics/ |archive-date=July 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips later clarified that he meant they did not look to a specific comic for inspiration, but rather "picked and chose what we liked" from the character's history.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/joker-director-claims-he-was-misquoted-concerning-/1100-6469859/ |title=Joker Director Claims He Was "Misquoted" Concerning Comic Book Connections |last=Rougeau |first=Michael |date=September 16, 2019 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830000030/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/joker-director-says-he-was-misquoted-concerning-co/1100-6469859/|archive-date=August 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Having grown up in New York, Phillips also drew inspiration from life in New York City during the early 1980s.<ref name="Goetz 2" /> The Subway shooting scene and its aftermath were inspired by the [[1984 New York City Subway shooting]],<ref name="Goetz 2">{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Desowitz|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/joker-joaquin-phoenix-cesar-romero-bernard-goetz-1202179438/|title='Joker': How Cesar Romero and Bernhard Goetz Inspired Joaquin Phoenix's Look|website=[[IndieWire]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=October 7, 2019|access-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228051650/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/joker-joaquin-phoenix-cesar-romero-bernard-goetz-1202179438/|archive-date=December 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Goetz">{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Godfrey|date=October 8, 2019|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/joker-true-crime-story-subway-vigilante-bernhard-goetz/|title=The 'hero' who'd had enough: how subway vigilante Bernhard Goetz inspired Joker|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|location=London, England|access-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217191417/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/joker-true-crime-story-subway-vigilante-bernhard-goetz/|archive-date=December 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> while Arthur Fleck is partially based on the shooting's perpetrator, Bernhard Goetz.<ref name="Goetz" /><ref name="Goetz 2" /> Phillips and Silver found the most common Joker [[origin story]], in which the character is disfigured after falling into a vat of acid, too unrealistic.<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /> Instead, they used certain elements of the Joker lore to produce an original story,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2476259/robert-de-niro-was-sent-a-pipe-bomb-the-day-he-started-filming-joker |title=Robert De Niro Was Sent A Pipe Bomb The Day He Started Filming Joker |last=Libbey |first=Dirk |date=July 10, 2019 |website=CinemaBlend |access-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710233658/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2476259/robert-de-niro-was-sent-a-pipe-bomb-the-day-he-started-filming-joker |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> which Phillips wanted to feel as authentic as possible.<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /> Because the Joker does not have a definitive origin story in the comics, Phillips and Silver were given considerable creative freedom and "pushed each other every day to come up with something totally insane".<ref name="Deadline: Creating" /> While the Joker had appeared in several films before, Phillips thought it was possible to produce a new story featuring the character. "It's just another interpretation, like people do interpretations of ''[[Macbeth]]''", he told ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name="NYT: Wild" /> However, they did try to retain the ambiguous "multiple choice" nature of the Joker's past by positioning the character as an [[unreliable narrator]]—with entire storylines simply being his delusions<ref name="LA: Ending"/>—and left what mental illnesses he suffers from unclear.<ref name="Closer"/> As such, Phillips said the entire film is open to interpretation.<ref name="LA: Ending"/> When a draft of the film's script, written in April 2018, was leaked and spread on the internet, Phillips stated that it was an old version from six months before filming began.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bahr |first=Lindsey |date=August 29, 2019 |title=Fall Movie Preview: 'Joker' gets a prestige makeover |url=https://apnews.com/article/toronto-film-festivals-movies-ca-state-wire-martin-scorsese-8fac279a5758427d944b92eb20cea0e7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112055923/https://apnews.com/article/toronto-film-festivals-movies-ca-state-wire-martin-scorsese-8fac279a5758427d944b92eb20cea0e7 |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |website=[[Associated Press|AP]]}}</ref> Phillips also declined to take legal action against the spread of the script, stating that he liked having an old version circulate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rougeau |first=Michael |date=September 20, 2019 |title=Joker's Script Leaked, And The Movie's Director Doesn't Care If You Read It |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jokers-script-leaked-and-the-movies-director-doesn/1100-6469921/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208063052/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jokers-script-leaked-and-the-movies-director-doesn/1100-6469921/ |archive-date=December 8, 2019 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> ===Pre-production=== [[File:Joker (2019) logotype.png|thumb|265x265px|The logo of ''Joker''. Chad Danielely created the logo by [[Letterpress printing|letterpress]], using old [[wood type]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Joel|first=William|date=November 15, 2019|title=HOW JOKER'S GRITTY LOGO WAS CREATED WITH WOOD TYPE LETTERPRESS|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/15/20961164/joker-dc-film-logo-chad-danieley-artist-art-club|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=[[The Verge]]|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204072415/https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/15/20961164/joker-dc-film-logo-chad-danieley-artist-art-club|url-status=live}}</ref> ]] Following the disappointing critical and financial performance of ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]]'' (2017), in January 2018 [[Walter Hamada]] replaced [[Jon Berg]] as the head of DC-based film production at Warner Bros.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/warner-bros-taps-walter-hamada-to-oversee-dc-films-production-exclusive-1202652878/ |title=Warner Bros. Taps Walter Hamada to Oversee DC Films Production (EXCLUSIVE) |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=January 4, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US |access-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143733/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/warner-bros-taps-walter-hamada-to-oversee-dc-films-production-exclusive-1202652878/ |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hamada sorted through the various DC films in development, canceling some while advancing work on others; the film was set to begin filming in late 2018 with a small budget of $55&nbsp;million.<ref name="DCStrategy">{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-batman-suicide-squad-movie-plans-making-sense-dcs-moves-1119489 |title=Warner Bros. Shifts DC Strategy Amid Executive Change-Up |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=June 13, 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=June 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613234324/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-batman-suicide-squad-movie-plans-making-sense-dcs-moves-1119489 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kim Masters of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' said Warner Bros. was reluctant to let ''Joker'' move forward and gave it a small budget in an effort to dissuade Phillips.<ref name="THR: Stop">{{cite web |last1=Masters |first1=Kim |title="You've Got to Stop This": Jared Leto Fumed Over New 'Joker' Movie |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/youve-got-stop-jared-leto-fumed-new-joker-movie-1247699 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 19, 2019 |date=October 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019194420/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/youve-got-stop-jared-leto-fumed-new-joker-movie-1247699 |archive-date=October 19, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips said that Hamada did not understand what he was trying to do.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |date=December 24, 2019 |title=Joker Director Todd Phillips Says DC's Walter Hamada 'Didn't Get It' |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/joker-director-todd-phillips-says-dcs-walter-hamada-didnt-get-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111214055/https://comicbook.com/dc/news/joker-director-todd-phillips-says-dcs-walter-hamada-didnt-get-it/ |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref> By June, [[Robert De Niro]] was under consideration for a supporting role in the film.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://screenrant.com/joker-movie-robert-de-niro-character-descriptions/ |title=Joker Origin Film Reportedly Wants Robert De Niro For Supporting Role |last=Erao |first=Matthew |date=June 18, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728011212/https://screenrant.com/joker-movie-robert-de-niro-character-descriptions/ |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The deal with Phoenix was finalized in July 2018,<ref name="VarietyGL">{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-joker-1202869963/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker' Movie Gets the Greenlight, Will Shoot in the Fall |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=July 10, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919061753/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-joker-1202869963/ |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> after four months of persuasion from Phillips.<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /> Immediately afterwards,<ref name="VarietyGL" /> Warner Bros. officially [[Green-light|green-lit]] the film,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joaquin-phoenixs-joker-origin-movie-officially-a-go-1126127 |title=Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Origin Movie a Go at Warner Bros. |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=July 10, 2018 |access-date=July 11, 2018 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711011905/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joaquin-phoenixs-joker-origin-movie-officially-a-go-1126127 |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> titled it ''Joker'' and gave it an October 4, 2019, release date.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/joker-origin-movie-title-release-date-2019/ |title=Joker Origin Movie Title & Release Date Officially Revealed |last=Hood |first=Cooper |date=July 18, 2018 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=September 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019232134/https://screenrant.com/joker-origin-movie-title-release-date-2019/ |archive-date=October 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Warner Bros. described the film as "an exploration of a man disregarded by society [that] is not only a gritty character study, but also a broader [[cautionary tale]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/feature/a860010/joker-joaquin-phoenix-release-date-plot-cast-trailer/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix's Joker film release date, plot, cast, trailer and everything you need to know |last1=Ashurst |first1=Sam |last2=Chapman |first2=Matt |date=April 3, 2019 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917105158/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/feature/a860010/joker-joaquin-phoenix-release-date-plot-cast-trailer/ |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Scorsese's longtime associate Koskoff joined to produce,<ref name="DLFall" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/60564/joker-release-date-cast-news |title=Joker trailer, release date, cast, news and more |date=April 3, 2019 |website=[[Den of Geek]] |access-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407060717/https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/60564/joker-release-date-cast-news |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> although Scorsese left his producing duties due to other obligations.<ref name="DLFall">{{Cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/joker-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-1202424260/ |title=Todd Phillips' 'Joker' Movie Heading Into Production This Fall With Joaquin Phoenix |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=July 10, 2018 |access-date=July 11, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032216/https://deadline.com/2018/07/joker-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-1202424260/ |archive-date=July 24, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Scorsese considered serving as an executive producer, but was preoccupied with his film ''[[The Irishman]]'' (2019).<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /> It was also confirmed that the film would have no effect on Leto's Joker and would be the first in a new series of DC films unrelated to the DCEU.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yang |first=Rachel |date=September 21, 2018 |title=See Joaquin Phoenix in Joker Makeup |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-joker-makeup-photo-1202952578/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921210508/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-joker-makeup-photo-1202952578/ |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |access-date=September 21, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref name="DCStrategy" /> In July, [[Zazie Beetz]] was cast in a supporting role and De Niro entered negotiations in August.<ref name="DeNiroCast">{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/robert-de-niro-talks-join-joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-1127469 |title=Robert De Niro in Talks to Join Joaquin Phoenix in Joker Movie (Exclusive) |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=July 23, 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=July 24, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723231849/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/robert-de-niro-talks-join-joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-1127469 |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BeetzCast" /> [[Frances McDormand]] declined an offer to portray the mother of the Joker and [[Frances Conroy]] was cast.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/07/14/frances-mcdormand-turns-down-joker-origin-movie/ |title=Frances McDormand Turns Down Role in Joker Origin Movie |last=Mueller |first=Matthew |date=July 13, 2018 |access-date=July 21, 2018 |language=en |website=ComicBook.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726050439/http://comicbook.com/dc/2018/07/14/frances-mcdormand-turns-down-joker-origin-movie/ |archive-date=July 26, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ConroyTalks">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thewrap.com/frances-conroy-joaquin-phoenix-mom-joker/ |title='Joker': Frances Conroy in Talks to Play Mom to Joaquin Phoenix's Joker in 'Batman' Spinoff (Exclusive) |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Umberto |date=July 24, 2018 |access-date=July 24, 2018 |last2=Verhoeven |first2=Beatrice |website=[[TheWrap]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724015342/https://www.thewrap.com/frances-conroy-joaquin-phoenix-mom-joker/ |archive-date=July 24, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of July, [[Marc Maron]] and [[Bryan Callen]] joined the cast.<ref name="NME: Maron">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/marc-maron-tells-us-working-joaquin-phoenixs-upcoming-joker-origin-movie-2466904 |title=Marc Maron tells us about working on Joaquin Phoenix's upcoming 'Joker' origin movie |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=March 26, 2019 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403161437/https://www.nme.com/news/film/marc-maron-tells-us-working-joaquin-phoenixs-upcoming-joker-origin-movie-2466904 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="MaronCast">{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-marc-maron-1202890764/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Movie Eyes 'Glow' Star Marc Maron (EXCLUSIVE) |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=July 31, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731174958/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-joker-movie-marc-maron-1202890764/ |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/07/31/joker-origin-movie-cast-bryan-callen-todd-phillips/ |title=Bryan Callen Cast in 'Joker' Origin Movie |last=Anderson |first=Jenna |date=July 31, 2018 |access-date=August 1, 2018 |language=en |website=ComicBook.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731222746/http://comicbook.com/dc/2018/07/31/joker-origin-movie-cast-bryan-callen-todd-phillips/ |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Alec Baldwin]] was cast as Thomas Wayne on August 27, but dropped out two days later due to scheduling conflicts.<ref name="baldwinout">{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/alec-baldwin-exits-joker-movie-1202920903/ |title=Alec Baldwin Drops Out of 'Joker' Movie |last=Stedman |first=Alex |date=August 29, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917165517/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/alec-baldwin-exits-joker-movie-1202920903/ |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Baldwin also noted the character's description as a reason for his departure, which called Thomas Wayne "a cheesy and tanned businessman who is more in the mold of a 1980s [[Donald Trump]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/alec-baldwin-exits-joker-movie-says-he-wont-play-trump-like-role-1138384/|title=Alec Baldwin Exits 'Joker' Movie|date=August 29, 2018|first1=Borys|last1=Kit|first2=Aaron|last2=Couch|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=December 27, 2021|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227071349/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/alec-baldwin-exits-joker-movie-says-he-wont-play-trump-like-role-1138384/|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Filming=== [[File:Paramount Theatre Newark 2023 jeh.jpg|thumb|The [[Newark Paramount Theatre]]. Street scenes were filmed in front of the abandoned theater in [[Downtown Newark|Downtown Newark, New Jersey]].]] [[File:R32 C at 34 Street Penn Station with 0 train rollsign from Joker filming, March 2019.jpg|thumb|upright=0.95|A [[New York City Subway]] [[C (New York City Subway service)|C]] train with a [[rollsign]] for the fictional 0 train left over from filming for ''Joker''|alt=A corrugated silver metal subway train sits with its doors open in a station. Its rollsign reads "0 Local / To Old Gotham all times / Downtown & Tricorner".]] [[Principal photography]] commenced in September 2018 in New York City,{{efn|While the filming start date was scheduled for September 10,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/joker-movie-todd-phillips-alec-baldwin-thomas-wayne-batman-father-1202452962/ |title=Alec Baldwin Joins Todd Phillips' 'Joker' |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=August 27, 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827233522/https://deadline.com/2018/08/joker-movie-todd-phillips-alec-baldwin-thomas-wayne-batman-father-1202452962/ |archive-date=August 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips suggested in an [[Instagram]] post that production began on September 2.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/09/02/the-joker-director-todd-phillips-production-begins-photo/ |title='Joker' Director Todd Phillips Teases Production With New Photo |last=Drum |first=Nicole |date=September 2, 2018 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919025058/https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/09/02/the-joker-director-todd-phillips-production-begins-photo/ |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} under the [[working title]] ''Romeo''.<ref name="NJ.comFilming">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2018/09/joker_film_about_batman_nemesis_to_film_in_nj.html |title='Joker,' Joaquin Phoenix film about Batman nemesis, to film in N.J. locations |last=MacDonald |first=Terrence T. |date=September 21, 2018 |website=[[NJ.com]] |access-date=September 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922001630/https://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2018/09/joker_film_about_batman_nemesis_to_film_in_nj.html |archive-date=September 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after filming began, De Niro, Brett Cullen, Shea Whigham, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Josh Pais and Douglas Hodge were announced to have joined the film, with Cullen replacing Baldwin.<ref name="underway">{{Cite web |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180917005663/en/Production-Underway-Warner-Bros.-Pictures |title=Production is Underway on Warner Bros. Pictures' "Joker" |date=September 17, 2018 |website=[[Business Wire]] |access-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918054355/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180917005663/en/Production-Underway-Warner-Bros.-Pictures |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/joker-movie-thomas-wayne-actor-brett-cullen/ |title=Brett Cullen Replaces Alec Baldwin as Thomas Wayne in 'Joker' |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=September 17, 2018 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918012118/http://collider.com/joker-movie-thomas-wayne-actor-brett-cullen/ |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Bradley Cooper]] joined the film as a producer,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/joker-movie-cast/#images |title=Full 'Joker' Cast List Reveals Shea Whigham, Glenn Fleshler, and More |date=September 17, 2018 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918032854/http://collider.com/joker-movie-cast/#images |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the director of photography was [[Lawrence Sher]], both of whom Phillips had previously collaborated with.<ref name="underway" /> On September 22, a scene depicting a violent protest was filmed at the [[Church Avenue station (IND Culver Line)|Church Avenue station]] in [[Kensington, Brooklyn]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yakas |first=Ben |date=October 10, 2018 |title=Joker Movie Extras Reportedly Reduced To Peeing On Subway Tracks During Shoot |website=[[Gothamist]] |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/joker-movie-extras-reportedly-reduced-to-peeing-on-subway-tracks-during-shoot |url-status=live |access-date=October 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009145325/https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/joker-movie-extras-reportedly-reduced-to-peeing-on-subway-tracks-during-shoot |archive-date=October 9, 2019}}</ref> although the station was modified to look like the [[Bedford Park Boulevard station]] in [[the Bronx]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2018/09/22/joaquin-phoenix-the-joker-in-action-filming/|title=Joaquin Phoenix All Smiles as The Joker in Action|date=September 22, 2018|access-date=October 1, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001113445/http://www.tmz.com/2018/09/22/joaquin-phoenix-the-joker-in-action-filming/|archive-date=October 1, 2018|website=[[TMZ]]}}</ref> Filming of violent scenes also took place at the abandoned lower platform of the [[Ninth Avenue station]] in [[Sunset Park, Brooklyn]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lange |first=Jeva |date=October 3, 2019 |title=The Star Of Joker Is New York As Gotham City |website=[[The Week]] |url=https://theweek.com/articles/869209/star-joker-new-york-gotham-city |url-status=live |access-date=October 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009150820/https://theweek.com/articles/869209/star-joker-new-york-gotham-city%20%7Ctitle=The%20Star%20Of%20Joker%20Is%20New%20York%20As%20Gotham%20City |archive-date=October 9, 2019}}</ref> According to Beetz, Phillips rewrote the entire script during production; because Phoenix lost so much weight for the film, there would not be an opportunity for reshoots. She recalled, "we would go into Todd's trailer and write the scene for the night and then do it. During hair and makeup we'd memorize those lines and then do them and then we'd reshoot that three weeks later".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/joker-movie-rewrites/ |title=Todd Phillips Rewrote Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker' During Production |last=Mancuso |first=Vinnie |date=January 26, 2019 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=January 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127055409/http://collider.com/joker-movie-rewrites/ |archive-date=January 27, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phillips recalled Phoenix sometimes walked off-set during filming because he lost self-control and needed to compose himself—to the confusion of other actors, who felt they had done something wrong. De Niro was one of the few Phoenix never walked out on and De Niro said he was "very intense in what he was doing, as it should be, as he should be".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/09/joker-joaquin-phoenix-walk-off-sett-filming-1202172569/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix Baffled 'Joker' Cast by Walking Off Set in Middle of Filming |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=September 11, 2019 |website=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911150434/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/09/joker-joaquin-phoenix-walk-off-sett-filming-1202172569/ |archive-date=September 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Filming in [[Jersey City]] started on September 30 and shut down [[Newark Avenue, Jersey City|Newark Avenue]], while filming in November, starting on November 9, shut down [[County Route 501 (New Jersey)|Kennedy Boulevard]]. Filming in [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] began on October 13 and lasted until October 16.<ref name="NJ.comFilming" /> Shortly before the Newark filming, [[SAG-AFTRA]] received a complaint that [[Extra (acting)|extras]] were locked in [[subway car]]s for more than three hours during filming in Brooklyn, a break violation. The issue was quickly resolved after a representative visited the set.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joker-extras-locked-subway-car-tracks-1202976071/ |title='Joker' Movie Extras Reportedly Denied Break, Locked in Subway Cars |last=McNary |first=Dave |author-link=Dave McNary |date=October 10, 2018 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035234/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/joker-extras-locked-subway-car-tracks-1202976071/ |archive-date=October 24, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> That month, [[Dante Pereira-Olson]] joined the cast as a young Bruce Wayne.<ref name="WaynePenny" /> Whigham said towards the end of October the film was in "the middle" of production, adding that it was an "intense" and "incredible" experience.<ref name="TwoCopCharacters" /> By mid-November, filming had moved back to New York.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://people.com/movies/joaquin-phoenix-the-joker-new-sneak-peek/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix Sprints Through the Streets of New York City as He Films The Joker |last=Smith |first=Nigel |date=November 19, 2018 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=November 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120033953/https://people.com/movies/joaquin-phoenix-the-joker-new-sneak-peek/ |archive-date=November 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Filming [[Wrap (filmmaking)|wrapped]] on December 3, 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Jenna |date=December 3, 2018 |title=Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker' Wraps Production |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/12/03/joker-movie-2019-joaquin-phoenix-production-wrapped-dc-films/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204131744/https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/12/03/joker-movie-2019-joaquin-phoenix-production-wrapped-dc-films/ |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |access-date=December 4, 2018 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref> with Phillips posting a picture on his Instagram feed later in the month to commemorate the occasion.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://collider.com/joker-filming-wraps/ |title='Joker' Wraps Filming as Todd Phillips Shares One Final Set Photo |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=December 18, 2018 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403135042/http://collider.com/joker-filming-wraps/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''The Hollywood Reporter'' interview, [[Emma Tillinger Koskoff]] said that most stressful filming was the "[[Joker Stairs|Stair Dance]]" scene; because there were no laws on paparazzi in [[New York City]], filming was disrupted by them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=January 26, 2020 |title=Producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff Reveals Which 'Joker' Scene Was Most Stressful to Film |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/producer-emma-tillinger-koskoff-reveals-joker-scene-was-stressful-film-1272170/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506032615/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/producer-emma-tillinger-koskoff-reveals-joker-scene-was-stressful-film-1272170/ |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |access-date=January 14, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> The [[South Bronx]] stairs used for the biographical crime film ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]'' (2007) were originally to be used for these scenes, according to ''The New York Times'', but were deemed too repaved and beautified to be aesthetically acceptable for the film's tone.<ref>{{cite web |first=Julia |last=Jacobs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/movies/joker-stairs-bronx.html |title='Joker' Stairs Become a Bronx Tourist Draw. Hope You're in Shape. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 30, 2019 |access-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217064947/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/movies/joker-stairs-bronx.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Initially, Lawrence Sher and Phillips had wanted to film on 65mm film for the [[70 mm film|70mm]] format, but Warner Bros. rejected this due to cost, and the film was subsequently shot with [[Arri Alexa 65|Arri Alexa 65 digital cameras]]. Warner Bros. did however end up giving ''Joker'' a limited theatrical release in converted 70mm and 35mm presentations.<ref name="70mm">{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Jack |date=November 12, 2019 |title='Joker' Cinematographer Says Warner Bros. Passed on Original Plan for 70mm Shoot |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/joker-warner-bros-turned-down-70mm-film-shoot-1202189137/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113120920/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/joker-warner-bros-turned-down-70mm-film-shoot-1202189137/ |archive-date=November 13, 2019 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> ===Post-production=== Phillips confirmed he was in the process of editing ''Joker'' in March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2468827/todd-phillips-releases-moody-new-joker-image-confirms-editing-is-underway |title=Todd Phillips Releases Moody New Joker Image, Confirms Editing Is Underway |last=Jones |first=Adrienne |date=March 22, 2019 |website=CinemaBlend |access-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403051400/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2468827/todd-phillips-releases-moody-new-joker-image-confirms-editing-is-underway |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> At [[CinemaCon]] the following month, he stated the film was "still taking shape" and was difficult to discuss, as he hoped to maintain secrecy.<ref name="THR: Trailer">{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=April 2, 2019 |title='Joker' Brings Creepy First Trailer to CinemaCon |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-starring-joaquin-phoenix-brings-first-trailer-cinemacon-1198708 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403013018/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-starring-joaquin-phoenix-brings-first-trailer-cinemacon-1198708 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=April 2, 2019 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Phillips also denied most reports surrounding the film, which he felt was because it is "an origin story about a character that doesn't have a definitive origin".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/joker-trailer-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-warner-bros-cinemacon-1202587173/ |title='Joker': Joaquin Phoenix's Ultradark Villain Surfaces Retro-Style In CinemaCon Sneak Peek |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |last2=Tartaglione |first2=Nancy |date=April 2, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402235501/https://deadline.com/2019/04/joker-trailer-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-warner-bros-cinemacon-1202587173/ |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Brian Tyree Henry was also confirmed to have a role in the film.<ref name="trailerspoilers" /> The visual effects were provided by [[Scanline VFX]] and Shade VFX and supervised by Matthew Giampa and Bryan Godwin, with Erwin Rivera serving as the overall supervisor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frei |first=Vincent |date=August 28, 2019 |title=JOKER |url=https://www.artofvfx.com/joker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003532/https://www.artofvfx.com/joker/ |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=April 4, 2019 |website=The Art of VFX}}</ref> ''Joker'' used less VFX work than other comics films, except few scenes including that Arthur smeared smile by his blood in crowd.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=January 13, 2020 |title=How 'Joker's' Broccoli-Green Hair and Consistently Smeared Makeup Created a "Handmade" DC Villain |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joker-one-shot-needed-cgi-1254218/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104051359/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joker-one-shot-needed-cgi-1254218/ |archive-date=January 4, 2022 |access-date=January 4, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> One scene that was cut from the film depicted Sophie watching Arthur's appearance on Franklin's show. The scene was intended to show the audience that she is still alive (as the film otherwise implies that Arthur kills her), but Phillips decided it would disrupt the narrative, which is portrayed from Arthur's point of view.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Leonardo Adrian |last1=Garcia |first2=Zack |last2=Sharf |first3=Anne |last3=Thompson |url=https://www.indiewire.com/video/todd-phillips-cut-zazie-beetz-joker-scene-fate-1202187212/ |title=Todd Phillips Cut Zazie Beetz 'Joker' Scene That Confirmed Her Fate — Exclusive Video |website=[[IndieWire]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=November 4, 2019|access-date=December 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207233813/https://www.indiewire.com/video/todd-phillips-cut-zazie-beetz-joker-scene-fate-1202187212/ |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In another deleted scene, Arthur reveals his crimes to a co-worker; the scene was ultimately removed because it provided "too much information" in the form of exposition.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chitwood |first=Adam |date=January 20, 2020 |title=''Joker'' Editor on Ambiguity, That Ending, and Piecing Together Joaquin Phoenix's Performance |url=https://collider.com/joker-interview-editor-jeff-groth/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121002448/https://collider.com/joker-interview-editor-jeff-groth/ |archive-date=January 21, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2021 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref> According to one source, the film's original script ended with Arthur carving himself a [[Glasgow smile]] in front of his crowd of supporters, but the idea got shot down by then Warner Bros. executive [[Christopher Nolan]], who mandated that only [[Heath Ledger]]'s version of the [[Joker (The Dark Knight)|Joker]] from his film ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' (2008) should have a Glasgow smile.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |last2=Crouch |first2=Aaron |date=October 7, 2024 |title=Why No One Will Get Fired Over 'Joker: Folie à Deux' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joker-folie-a-deux-who-blame-dc-1236025585/ |access-date=October 7, 2024 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007213422/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joker-folie-a-deux-who-blame-dc-1236025585/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film's final budget was $55–70&nbsp;million, considered by ''The Hollywood Reporter'' "a fraction" of the cost of a typical comic book-based film.<ref name="DCStrategy" /><ref name="opening" /> In comparison, the previous villain-centered DC film, ''[[Suicide Squad (2016 film)|Suicide Squad]]'' (2016), cost $175&nbsp;million.<ref name="Closer"/> $25&nbsp;million of ''Joker''{{'s}} budget was covered by the Toronto-based financing company Creative Wealth Media, while [[Village Roadshow Pictures]] and [[Bron Studios]] each contributed 25%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Natalie |date=September 8, 2019 |title=Financier for 'Joker' Has Made Movies Into Ultimate Yield Play |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-08/financier-for-joker-has-made-movies-into-ultimate-yield-play |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012232755/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-08/financier-for-joker-has-made-movies-into-ultimate-yield-play |archive-date=October 12, 2019 |access-date=September 8, 2019 |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="opening"/> ''Joker'' was also the first live-action theatrical film in the [[Batman in film|''Batman'' film franchise]] to receive an [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#MPAA film ratings|R rating]] from the [[Motion Picture Association of America]], officially for "strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual images".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/joker-r-rating-joaquin-phoenix/ |title='Joker' Lands A Rating That No Live-Action Batman Movie Has Ever Received |last=Kurp |first=Josh |date=August 23, 2019 |website=[[Uproxx]] |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902172807/https://uproxx.com/hitfix/joker-r-rating-joaquin-phoenix/ |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the [[BBFC]] gave the film a 15 certificate for "strong bloody violence [and] language".<ref name="BBFC"/> ==Design== ===Set=== [[Gotham City]] in ''Joker'' was set in 1980s [[New York City]], according to Todd Phillips, "to separate it, quite frankly, from the DC universe".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Tom |date=September 25, 2019 |title=Ah, So That's Why Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker' Is Set In 1981 |url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a29221706/ah-so-thats-why-joaquin-phoenixs-joker-is-set-in-1981/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927072500/https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a29221706/ah-so-thats-why-joaquin-phoenixs-joker-is-set-in-1981/ |archive-date=September 27, 2019 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]}}</ref> Mark Friedberg, the production designer of this film, said he established the filming location of Gotham Square in [[Newark, New York|Newark]] as a film set because there was still poverty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tancacy |first=Jazz |date=November 11, 2019 |title=How 'Joker' Production Designer and Costume Designer Brought New Color to a Familiar World |url=https://variety.com/2019/artisans/news/joker-joaquin-phoenix-production-design-costume-design-1203400436/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111223157/https://variety.com/2019/artisans/news/joker-joaquin-phoenix-production-design-costume-design-1203400436/ |archive-date=November 11, 2019 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> He wanted Gotham to look like a gritty city, as described in ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' (1976), so he named all structures and lines in this film and drew a specific map of Gotham city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pond |first=Steve |date=December 18, 2019 |title=How 'Joker' Designer Mapped Gotham With a Touch of DC Comics and a Lot of Old NYC Squalor (Map) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/how-joker-designer-mapped-gotham-with-a-touch-of-dc-comics-and-a-lot-of-old-nyc-squalor-map/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218204706/https://www.thewrap.com/how-joker-designer-mapped-gotham-with-a-touch-of-dc-comics-and-a-lot-of-old-nyc-squalor-map/ |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |access-date=January 4, 2022 |website=[[The Wrap]]}}</ref> He displayed 1970s brightly colored [[muscle car]]s on the set, "conveying dissonance and being awful and beautiful at the same time". He also tried to describe Gotham as a decaying city through graffiti, garbage on the road and cracked sidewalks.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|date=November 14, 2019|title=Creating Unstable New York States of Mind for Todd Phillips' 'Joker' and Edward Norton's 'Motherless Brooklyn'|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/production-design-recreating-new-york-joker-motherless-brooklyn-1202189588/|access-date=January 2, 2022|website=[[Indiewire]]|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102071209/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/production-design-recreating-new-york-joker-motherless-brooklyn-1202189588/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mancuso|first=Vinnie|date=January 23, 2020|title='Joker's Biggest Crime Is Robbing Gotham City of a Personality|url=https://collider.com/joker-movie-gotham-city-has-no-personality/|access-date=January 2, 2022|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102071209/https://collider.com/joker-movie-gotham-city-has-no-personality/|url-status=live}}</ref> The VFX team added fictional buildings, changing the skyline of the city to give the sense that the city was pressing down on Arthur.<ref name="VF commentary">{{Cite web |last=Fair |first=Vanity |date=October 7, 2019 |title=Joker Director Breaks Down the Opening Scene {{!}} Vanity Fair |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awoQuVq2yYc&t=10s |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=[[YouTube]] |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102071209/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awoQuVq2yYc&t=10s |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lawrence Sher]] said [[Sodium-vapor lamp|sodium-vapor lights]] were used in this film, representing Arthur's isolation and his more hopeful side.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giroux |first=Jack |date=October 23, 2019 |title='Joker' Cinematographer Lawrence Sher On Contrasts And Chaos [Spoiler Interview] |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/569901/joker-cinematographer-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102071210/https://www.slashfilm.com/569901/joker-cinematographer-interview/ |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=[[/Film]]}}</ref> [[File:Brooklyn Army Terminal samsebeskazal.livejournal.com-05880 (11061203223).jpg|thumb|Arch bridge in Brooklyn Army Terminal, used to depict the exterior of Arkham State Hospital.]] Arkham State Hospital is based on [[Arkham Asylum]].<ref name="12easter">{{Cite web |last=Acuna |first=Kirsten |date=October 3, 2019 |title=12 details and references you may have missed in 'Joker' |url=https://www.insider.com/joker-dc-references-easter-eggs-breakdown-2019-10 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=[[Insider Inc.|Insider]] |archive-date=August 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829235155/https://www.insider.com/joker-dc-references-easter-eggs-breakdown-2019-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> Warner Bros. Korea explained that it is a more realistic name in the real world.<ref name="WBKorea">{{Cite web |last=Yoo-jin |first=Jung |date=October 11, 2019 |title='조커', 배급사가 공개한 11개 트리비아...'배트맨' 오마주? |url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/421/0004244331 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |website=[[News1]] |language=Korean |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224170025/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/421/0004244331 |url-status=live }}</ref> The exterior of Arkham State hospital was filmed at [[Brooklyn Army Terminal]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joker|url=https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/j/Joker-2019.php|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=MovieLocations.com|archive-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104040224/https://www.movie-locations.com/movies/j/Joker-2019.php|url-status=live}}</ref> while the interior was pictured in [[Metropolitan Hospital Center]] of [[Harlem]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Obenson|first=Tambay|date=October 19, 2019|title='Joker' Makes a Strange Connection Between Arthur Fleck and the Struggles of Black Women — Analysis|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/joker-race-problem-black-women-1202182613/|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=[[Indiewire]]|archive-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104040223/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/joker-race-problem-black-women-1202182613/|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the film, two walls are shown inside Arkham State Hospital; one is clearly white in the first and last scenes, the other is dirty yellow in the scene in which Arthur runs with a medical report. This difference was intended to make the audience confused and to question the possibility that Arthur had been in hospital the entire time.<ref name="12easter" /><ref name="WBKorea" /> ===Character design=== One of the most important inspirations for Arthur's behavior came from the Little Tramp in [[Modern Times (film)|''Modern Times'']] (1936), while his "ridiculous" movement was inspired by [[Charlie Chaplin]].<ref name="12easter" /><ref name="VF commentary" /> Arthur's dance was influenced by that of [[Ray Bolger]], and his gesture of making a smile from two fingers was from the [[Scarecrow (Oz)|Scarecrow]] in [[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|''The Wizard of Oz'']] (1939).<ref name="I Fucking Love My Life" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ro|first=Crystal |date=October 5, 2019|title=17 "Joker" Behind-The-Scenes Facts That Are Fascinating And Impressive|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/joker-behind-the-scenes-facts |access-date=January 14, 2022|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220114064002/https://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/joker-behind-the-scenes-facts |url-status=live}}</ref> In preparation, Phoenix ate a single sparse meal per day for 8 months, losing {{convert|52|lbs}} to look "wolf-like and malnourished and hungry",<ref name="LAT: Stakes" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shanchez|first=Omar |date=September 26, 2019|title='Joker' Director Todd Phillips Wanted Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur to Look 'Wolf-Like and Malnourished'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/joker-director-todd-phillips-wanted-joaquin-phoenix-arthur-to-look-wolf-like-and-malnourished/ |access-date=January 14, 2022|website=[[The Wrap]]|archive-date=January 15, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220115062728/https://www.thewrap.com/joker-director-todd-phillips-wanted-joaquin-phoenix-arthur-to-look-wolf-like-and-malnourished/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tel2020"/> and watched videos of people suffering from [[Pseudobulbar affect|pathological laughter]] to refine his own laughter for the role.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} He sought to portray a character whom audiences could not relate to and did not look to previous Joker actors for inspiration; instead, he read a book about political assassinations so he could understand killers and their motivations.<ref name="Variety: Wanted" /> Phillips identified Arthur's normal face as being his "real mask", while Joker served as his true personality.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Luke |date=January 6, 2020|title=How 'Joker' May Not Be The Clown You Think He Is|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2020/01/06/how-joker-may-not-be-the-clown-you-think-he-is/?sh=360a07a21140 |access-date=January 21, 2022|website=[[Forbes]]|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220121091429/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lukethompson/2020/01/06/how-joker-may-not-be-the-clown-you-think-he-is/?sh=360a07a21140 |url-status=live}}</ref> He had also identified the genuine laugh occurring only in the last scene.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nicholson|first=Tome |date=October 17, 2019|title=Here's What Joaquin Phoenix And Todd Phillips Think Of All Your 'Joker' Fan Theories|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a29496935/heres-what-joaquin-phoenix-and-todd-phillips-think-of-all-your-joker-fan-theories/ |access-date=January 21, 2022|website=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220121091429/https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a29496935/heres-what-joaquin-phoenix-and-todd-phillips-think-of-all-your-joker-fan-theories/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Director [[Todd Phillips]] said that he intentionally left it ambiguous as to whether Arthur becomes the Joker of traditional [[Batman]] stories or inspires a separate character,<ref name="LA: Ending" /> although Phoenix believes that Arthur is the former.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rottenberg|first=Josh |date=November 13, 2019|title=Why Joaquin Phoenix likes your 'Joker' theories. He's also got his own|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-11-13/joaquin-phoenix-joker-fan-theories-sequel-oscars |url-status=live|url-access=limited|access-date=December 26, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191218045151/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-11-13/joaquin-phoenix-joker-fan-theories-sequel-oscars |archive-date=December 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Nicholson|first=Tom |date=October 7, 2019|title=Hang On, Is The Bad Stand-Up Set In 'Joker' Actually... Really Good?|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a29383052/hang-on-is-the-bad-stand-up-set-in-joker-actually-good/ |access-date=January 21, 2022|website=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220121082241/https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a29383052/hang-on-is-the-bad-stand-up-set-in-joker-actually-good/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ===Make-up and costumes=== [[Nicki Ledermann]] and Kay Georgiou, the makeup designer and hairstylist tried to show Arthur Fleck to "be handmade and realistic". Georgiou designated Arthur as a man with unwashed hair. Arthur's costumes, designed by [[Mark Bridges (costume designer)|Mark Bridges]], were matched to look "aged, overdyed and distressed" through wearing him with cheap polyester pants and an acrylic sweater. His color palette was inspired by the aesthetics of the 1980s: blue, maroon, brown, mauve and gray.<ref name="Style Transformation">{{Cite web|last=Whitlock|first=Cathy|date=October 3, 2019|title=The Style Transformation of Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/joker-style-transformation-joaquin-phoenix-1243670/|access-date=January 14, 2022|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114064014/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/joker-style-transformation-joaquin-phoenix-1243670/|url-status=live}}</ref> Bridges explained Arthur{{'s}} costume color started from a "juvenile mode" and later changing to align with the tone of the film.<ref name="BridgesDH">{{Cite web|last=Grobar|first=Matt|date=November 12, 2019|title=Costume Designer Mark Bridges On Honing 'Joker's Transformation & "Easter Eggs" Within Noah Baumbach's 'Marriage Story'|url=https://deadline.com/2019/11/joker-costume-designer-mark-bridges-joaquin-phoenix-marriage-story-interview-news-1202783500/|access-date=January 14, 2022|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114070320/https://deadline.com/2019/11/joker-costume-designer-mark-bridges-joaquin-phoenix-marriage-story-interview-news-1202783500/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the first scene, Arthur's "too small" hooded jacket and white socks emphasizes the childish concept, being a reflection of him living with his mother Penny, with her calling him "my little boy",<ref name="Style Transformation" /> and the influence of [[Charlie Chaplin]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Inoa|first=Christopher|date=October 14, 2019|title=WHY 'JOKER'S COSTUME DESIGNER DECIDED TO IGNORE THE COMICS ENTIRELY|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/60087-joker-costume-designer-interview-mark-bridges|access-date=January 21, 2022|website=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121091429/https://www.inverse.com/article/60087-joker-costume-designer-interview-mark-bridges|url-status=live}}</ref> However, he wore a charcoal sweater during the scene in which he is interviewed by the social worker and finally wore a "scab-colored knit top" in Arkham State Hospital.<ref name="BridgesDH" /> A line depicting his old suit for many years was interpreted a mustard-toned vest and a patterned bottle-green shirt.<ref name="Style Transformation" /> After turning Arthur into Joker, his design was also changed. His hair was dyed "broccoli" green and he wore a suit similar to the one in the original ''Batman'' series.<ref name="Style Transformation" /><ref name="BridgesDH" /> However, the Joker suit in this film had different colors compared to previous films (purple suit with a green or yellow shirt). Mark Bridges noted that it was result of Phillips' intention to not want to be "connected to anything else". Initially, the color of the suit in the script was set to [[terracotta]], but Bridges changed this to red to give "more expressive" emotion. Additionally, his suit colors (green, yellow, purple and red) were contrasted with those of his antagonists, including Thomas Wayne, giving them to gray and blue like Batman. Clown makeup was drawn with a classic, antique feel, with darker colors and tones and menacing eyebrows. Due to copyright laws stating that no two clowns can look alike, Ledermann faced a challenge.<ref name="Style Transformation" /> ==Music== {{Main|Joker (soundtrack)}} In August 2018, [[Hildur Guðnadóttir]] was hired to compose the film's score.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 23, 2018 |title=Hildur Gudnadottir to Score Todd Phillips' 'Joker' Origin Movie |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/08/23/hildur-gudnadottir-to-score-todd-phillips-joker-origin-movie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917034334/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/08/23/hildur-gudnadottir-to-score-todd-phillips-joker-origin-movie/ |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2018 |work=Film Music Reporter}}</ref> Hildur began writing music after reading the script and meeting with Phillips, who "had a lot of strong ideas" about how he thought the score should sound. She worked on the ''Joker'' score alongside the score for the drama miniseries ''[[Chernobyl (miniseries)|Chernobyl]]''; Hildur told ''[[The Hindu]]''<nowiki/>'s Divya-Kala Bhavani switching between the two was challenging because the scores were so different.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kala Bhavani |first=Divya |date=July 31, 2019 |title=Working on 'Chernobyl' and 'Joker' came with a lot of pressure, says Emmy-nominated composer Hildur Guðnadóttir |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/working-on-chernobyl-and-joker-came-with-a-lot-of-pressure-says-emmy-nominated-composer-hildur-gunadttir/article28772191.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731113324/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/working-on-chernobyl-and-joker-came-with-a-lot-of-pressure-says-emmy-nominated-composer-hildur-gunadttir/article28772191.ece |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |access-date=September 2, 2019 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Additionally, the film features the songs "[[That's Life (song)|That's Life]]", "[[Send In the Clowns]]", "[[White Room]]" and "[[Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song)|Rock and Roll Part 2]]".<ref name="Closer" /><ref name="glitter" /> The use of "Rock and Roll Part 2" generated controversy when it was reported that its singer, convicted child sex offender [[Gary Glitter]], would receive royalties,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meredith |first=Sam |date=October 7, 2019 |title=Convicted pedophile Gary Glitter set to earn big royalties from 'Joker' movie |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/07/joker-convicted-pedophile-gary-glitter-set-to-earn-big-royalties.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007092500/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/07/joker-convicted-pedophile-gary-glitter-set-to-earn-big-royalties.html |archive-date=October 7, 2019 |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=CNBC}}</ref> but it was later confirmed he would not since he had long since sold the rights.<ref name="glitter">{{Cite web |last=Appleford |first=Steve |date=October 11, 2019 |title=Will a convicted pedophile make a fortune from a 'Joker' song? |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-10-11/joker-gary-glitter-rock-and-roll-part-2 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191012220757/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-10-11/joker-gary-glitter-rock-and-roll-part-2 |archive-date=October 12, 2019 |access-date=October 13, 2019 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> The score was released on October 2, 2019, by [[WaterTower Music]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2019 |title='Joker' Soundtrack Details |url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/09/23/joker-soundtrack-details/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924215610/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/09/23/joker-soundtrack-details/ |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |access-date=October 4, 2018 |website=Film Music Reporter}}</ref> Hildur's music won numerous awards including an [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Academy Award]], a [[Satellite Award for Best Original Score|Satellite Award]], a [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Saturn Award]], the [[Hollywood Music in Media Awards]] (HMMA) and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score]], with the latter making her the first woman to win as a solo composer in that category.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neglia |first=Matt |date=December 19, 2019 |title=The 2019 Satellite Award Winners |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2019-satellite-award-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220140631/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2019-satellite-award-winners |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |website=Next Best Picture}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Winners & Nominees 2020 |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees?page=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830000613/https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees?page=3 |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |website=Golden Globe Awards}}</ref> ==Marketing== Phillips promoted ''Joker'' by posting on set photos on his Instagram account.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/first-photo-joaquin-phoenix-as-joker-unveiled-1143803 |title=Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Unveiled in First-Look Photo |last=Shanley |first=Patrick |date=September 16, 2018 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917114420/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/first-photo-joaquin-phoenix-as-joker-unveiled-1143803 |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 21, 2018, he released test footage of Phoenix in-costume as the Joker, with "[[Laughing (The Guess Who song)|Laughing]]" by [[The Guess Who]] accompanying the footage.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/21/17887366/joker-2019-movie-joaquin-phoenix-costume-makeup |title=Joaquin Phoenix's Joker makeup revealed in behind-the-scenes footage |last=Patches |first=Matt |date=September 21, 2018 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=September 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921174527/https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/21/17887366/joker-2019-movie-joaquin-phoenix-costume-makeup |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> At CinemaCon on April 2, 2019, Phillips unveiled the first trailer for the film,<ref name="trailerspoilers" /> which was released online the following day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/trailers/a27019326/joker-trailer-joaquin-phoenix/ |title=Joker's first trailer is coming tomorrow |last=Sandwell |first=Ian |date=April 2, 2019 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402174617/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/trailers/a27019326/joker-trailer-joaquin-phoenix/ |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The trailer, prominently featuring the song "[[Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)|Smile]]" performed by [[Jimmy Durante]], generated positive responses, with some commentators comparing it to ''Taxi Driver'' and ''[[Requiem for a Dream]]'' (2000) and praising Phoenix's performance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/04/03/joker-movie-trailer-reaction/ |title='Joker' Trailer Draws In Rave Reactions |last=Peters |first=Megan |date=April 3, 2019 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404054357/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/04/03/joker-movie-trailer-reaction/ |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/joker-first-footage-joaquin-phoenix-priase-cinemacon-1202055356/ |title=Joker' First Trailer Stuns CinemaCon, Critics Compare Footage to 'Taxi Driver' and 'Requiem for a Dream' |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=April 2, 2019 |website=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402235502/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/joker-first-footage-joaquin-phoenix-priase-cinemacon-1202055356/ |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Writers described the trailer as dark and gritty,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-joker-trailer-debuts-1203179048/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix 'Joker' Footage Debuts at CinemaCon |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=April 2, 2019 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403010505/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-joker-trailer-debuts-1203179048/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> with ComicBook.com's Jenna Anderson feeling it appeared more like a [[psychological thriller]] than a comic book film.<ref name="trailerspoilers" /> Actor [[Mark Hamill]], who has [[Voice acting in the United States|voiced]] the Joker since the cartoon ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' (1992–1995), expressed enthusiasm on [[Twitter]].{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Conversely, ''[[io9]]''{{'}}s Germain Lussier said the trailer revealed too little and that it was too similar to photos Phillips had posted on Instagram. While he still believed it exhibited potential, Lussier overall thought the trailer was not "a home run".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-trailer-officially-drops-tomorrow-but-cinemacon-20-1833759934 |title=We Just Got Our First Look at Footage of Joaquin Phoenix in DC's Joker |last=Lussier |first=Germain |date=April 2, 2019 |website=[[io9]] |access-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403011559/https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-trailer-officially-drops-tomorrow-but-cinemacon-20-1833759934 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The trailer received over eight million views in the first few hours of release.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.noise11.com/news/joker-trailer-clocks-up-over-8-million-views-in-a-few-hours-20190404 |title=Joker Trailer Clocks Up Over 8 Million Views in a few hours |last=Cashmere |first=Paul |date=April 4, 2019 |website=Noise11 |access-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404072924/http://www.noise11.com/news/joker-trailer-clocks-up-over-8-million-views-in-a-few-hours-20190404 |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 25, 2019, Phillips released six brief teasers that contained flashes of writing, revealing the second trailer would be released on August 28.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/08/25/joker-movie-spoilers-2019-trailer-2-release-date-joaquin-phoenix/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Movie Releases New Teasers, Reveals Trailer Release Date |last=Anderson |first=Jenna |date=August 25, 2019 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=August 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825173654/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/08/25/joker-movie-spoilers-2019-trailer-2-release-date-joaquin-phoenix/ |archive-date=August 25, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Filmmaker [[Kevin Smith]] commended the trailer, stating he thought the film "would still work even if [DC Comics] didn't exist" and praising its uniqueness.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/08/28/kevin-smith-praises-the-new-joker-trailer/ |title=Kevin Smith Praises the New Joker Trailer |last=Perine |first=Aaron |date=August 28, 2019 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829002856/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/08/28/kevin-smith-praises-the-new-joker-trailer/ |archive-date=August 29, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Overall, ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' estimated that Warner Bros. spent $120&nbsp;million on promotion and advertisements.<ref name=opening/> After release in theaters, Warner Bros. used negative critics on this film for promotion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barnhardt|first=Adam|date=September 13, 2019|title=Joker Using Negative Reviews to Promote the DC Comics Movie|url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/joker-negative-reviews-used-in-marketing/|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=[[ComicBook.com]]|archive-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117064942/https://comicbook.com/dc/news/joker-negative-reviews-used-in-marketing/|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Release== ===Theatrical=== [[File:Joaquin Phoenix red carpet at 76. Venice Film Festival.jpg|thumb|right|[[Joaquin Phoenix]] (''left'') at the [[76th Venice International Film Festival]], where ''Joker'' premiered|alt=refer to caption]] ''Joker'' had its world premiere at the [[76th Venice International Film Festival]] on August 31, 2019, where it received an eight-minute [[standing ovation]] and won the Golden Lion award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/joker-is-wild-gets-eight-minute-standing-ovation-at-venice-film-festival-1202708706/ |title='Joker' Is Wild, Gets Eight-Minute Standing Ovation At Venice Film Festival |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=August 31, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831231347/https://deadline.com/2019/08/joker-is-wild-gets-eight-minute-standing-ovation-at-venice-film-festival-1202708706/ |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28876836/joaquin-phoenix-joker-review-round-up-reactions/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix's Joker film praised as a dark and twisted "masterpiece" by critics as first reactions land |date=August 31, 2019 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831101401/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a28876836/joaquin-phoenix-joker-review-round-up-reactions/ |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> It also screened at the [[2019 Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto International Film Festival]] on September 9, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tiff.net/events/joker |title=Joker |website=[[Toronto International Film Festival]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724102025/https://tiff.net/events/joker |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019}}</ref> The film was released theatrically by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 4, 2019, in the United States and a day earlier in Australia and several other international markets.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-origin-pic-lands-fall-2019-release-date-1128203 |title='Joker' Origin Movie Lands Fall 2019 Release Date |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |date=June 18, 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=July 18, 2018 |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719011842/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-origin-pic-lands-fall-2019-release-date-1128203 |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2019/09/joker-is-powerful-confused-and-provocative-just-like-the-character/ |title=Joker Is Powerful, Confused And Provocative, Just Like The Character |date=September 2, 2019 |website=[[Gizmodo]] |language=en |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902051008/https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2019/09/joker-is-powerful-confused-and-provocative-just-like-the-character/ |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 16, 2019, it was screened at the [[White House]] for President [[Donald Trump]], who reportedly enjoyed the film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trump hosts White House screening of 'Joker'|url=https://news.yahoo.com/trump-hosts-white-house-screening-of-joker-162846043.html|website=[[Yahoo! News]]|date=November 17, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=May 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429233430/https://news.yahoo.com/trump-hosts-white-house-screening-of-joker-162846043.html|archive-date=April 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Some theaters released this movie on 70mm film, by original intention of the movie's director.<ref name="70mm"/> Following [[List of accolades received by Joker (2019 film)|its nominations at various awards shows]], the film was scheduled to be rereleased in theaters across North America, beginning on January 17, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |author1=''Newsarama'' staff |title=JOKER Rushed Back to Theaters After Double-Digit Oscar Nominations |url=https://www.newsarama.com/48610-joker-rushed-back-to-theaters-after-double-digit-oscar-nominations.html |website=[[Newsarama]] |date=January 14, 2020 |access-date=January 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115192527/https://www.newsarama.com/48610-joker-rushed-back-to-theaters-after-double-digit-oscar-nominations.html |archive-date=January 15, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> ====Security concerns==== On September 18, 2019, the [[United States Army]] distributed an email warning service members of potential violence at theaters screening the film and noting the Joker character's popularity among the [[incel|incel community]]. A separate memo revealed the Army received "credible" information from Texas law enforcement "regarding the targeting of an unknown movie theater during the release".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cameron |first1=Dell |title=U.S. Military Issues Warning to Troops About Incel Violence at Joker Screenings [Updated] |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/u-s-military-issues-warning-to-troops-about-incel-viol-1838412331 |website=[[io9]] |access-date=September 26, 2019 |date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925202903/https://io9.gizmodo.com/u-s-military-issues-warning-to-troops-about-incel-viol-1838412331 |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film, forbidden to minors under 17 in the US, was feared to possibly encourage imitations of the criminal behaviors represented in the film in ordinary life.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alessandro |first1=Marangio |title=Joker: meaning and explanation of the movie |url=https://www.moviemag.it/joker-significato-film/ |website=Moviemag.it |date=March 19, 2021 |access-date=February 15, 2023 |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215221106/https://www.moviemag.it/joker-significato-film/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, according to ''Deadline Hollywood'', the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] and the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] found no credible threats surrounding the release of the film.<ref>{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title='Joker': Warner Bros Restricts Broadcast & Print Reporters From Red Carpet At Hollywood Premiere |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/joker-red-carpet-press-restriction-hollywood-premiere-1202746895/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 30, 2019 |date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930210015/https://deadline.com/2019/09/joker-red-carpet-press-restriction-hollywood-premiere-1202746895/ |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with ''[[TheWrap]]'', Phillips expressed surprise at criticism of the film's dark tone, stating "it's because outrage is a commodity" and calling critics of the film "[[Far-left politics|far left]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanchez |first1=Omar |title='Joker' Director Todd Phillips Rebuffs Criticism of Dark Tone: 'We Didn't Make the Movie to Push Buttons' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/joker-director-todd-phillips-rebuffs-criticism-of-dark-tone-we-didnt-make-the-movie-to-push-buttons-exclusive/ |website=[[TheWrap]] |access-date=September 26, 2019 |date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925191248/https://www.thewrap.com/joker-director-todd-phillips-rebuffs-criticism-of-dark-tone-we-didnt-make-the-movie-to-push-buttons-exclusive/ |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Phoenix walked out of an interview by ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' when asked if the film could inspire mass shooters. He later returned to finish the interview, but did not answer the question.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Tom |title=Joaquin Phoenix walked out of an interview after a critic asked him whether 'Joker' would inspire mass shooters |url=https://www.insider.com/joker-joaquin-phoenix-walked-out-of-interview-2019-9 |website=[[Insider Inc.|Insider]] |access-date=September 30, 2019 |date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200830134732/https://www.insider.com/joker-joaquin-phoenix-walked-out-of-interview-2019-9|archive-date=August 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="tel2020"/> Following this, journalists were disinvited from the premiere at [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre|TCL Chinese Theatre]], with only photographers being allowed to interact with the filmmakers and cast on the carpet. In a statement to ''Variety'', Warner Bros. said that "A lot has been said about ''Joker'' and we just feel it's time for people to see the film".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Donnely |first1=Matt |title='Joker' Premiere Disinvites Interview Press From Hollywood Red Carpet |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joker-premiere-red-carpet-journalists-1203352046/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 30, 2019 |date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930061926/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joker-premiere-red-carpet-journalists-1203352046/ |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaufman |first1=Amy |title=Warner Bros. says the 'Joker' team won't give interviews at its red carpet premiere |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-09-27/joker-red-carpet-mass-shooting |url-access=limited |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 30, 2019 |date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930114901/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-09-27/joker-red-carpet-mass-shooting |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film did not play at the [[Aurora, Colorado]] movie theater where the [[2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting|2012 mass shooting]] occurred during a screening of ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' (2012).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/10/03/why-joker-became-one-most-divisive-movies-year/ |url-access=limited|title=Why 'Joker' became one of the most divisive movies of the year|last=Cavna|first=Michael |date=October 3, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191003213559/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/10/03/why-joker-became-one-most-divisive-movies-year/ |archive-date=October 3, 2019}}</ref> Three families of victims, as well as the mother of a witness, signed a letter to Warner Bros. with the request.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/joker-will-not-play-at-aurora-theater-where-2012-dark-knight-rises-shooting-occurred-victims-families-call-on-warner-bros-to-back-gun-reform-1202743340/ |title='Joker' Will Not Play At Aurora Theater Where 2012 'Dark Knight Rises' Shooting Occurred; Some Victims' Families Call On Warner Bros To Back Gun Reform |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=September 24, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190924182404/https://deadline.com/2019/09/joker-will-not-play-at-aurora-theater-where-2012-dark-knight-rises-shooting-occurred-victims-families-call-on-warner-bros-to-back-gun-reform-1202743340/ |archive-date=September 24, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, [[Landmark Theatres|Landmark Theaters]] prohibited moviegoers from wearing Joker costumes during its run, while the [[Los Angeles Police Department|Los Angeles]] and [[New York City Police Department]]s increased police visibility at area theaters, though they did not receive "any specific threat".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joker-premiere-red-carpet-journalists-1203352046/ |title='Joker' Premiere Disinvites Interview Press From Hollywood Red Carpet|last=Donnelly|first=Matt |date=September 27, 2019|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|language=en|access-date=September 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928011923/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joker-premiere-red-carpet-journalists-1203352046/ |archive-date=September 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="IGN: Past">{{cite web |last1=Ankers |first1=Adele |title=Select Joker Screenings to Be Policed With NYPD Undercover Tactics for Opening Weekend |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/02/select-joker-screenings-to-be-policed-with-nypd-undercover-tactics-for-opening-weekend |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=October 5, 2019 |date=October 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004073630/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/02/select-joker-screenings-to-be-policed-with-nypd-undercover-tactics-for-opening-weekend |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ultimately, despite the aforementioned concerns, screenings of the film proceeded and concluded with no reports of violent incidents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ransden |first=Brenna |date=October 7, 2019 |title=Despite controversy, Joker is a box office hit |url=https://www.hotpress.com/film-tv/despite-controversy-joker-box-office-hit-22790842 |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=[[Hot Press]] |quote=The FBI and Department of Homeland Security said they were closely monitoring the situation, however no violence was reported during the opening weekend. |archive-date=July 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714000016/https://www.hotpress.com/film-tv/despite-controversy-joker-box-office-hit-22790842 |url-status=live }}<br>{{Cite news |last=Bunch |first=Sonny |date=October 8, 2019 |title=Opinion {{!}} The Joker reflects Gotham's insecurities — and our own |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/08/joker-reflects-gothams-insecurities-our-own/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |quote=Worries that "Joker" [...] would spark violence from disaffected young men in the "incel" community, were remarkably overblown. There was no violence and the film broke box office records. |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209062302/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/08/joker-reflects-gothams-insecurities-our-own/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited }}<br>{{Cite news |last=Godfrey |first=Alex |date=December 19, 2019 |title='It's mind-blowing': Emma Tillinger Koskoff on producing The Irishman and Joker |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/dec/19/its-mind-blowing-emma-tillinger-koskoff-on-producing-the-irishman-and-joker |access-date=July 13, 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |quote=The release went ahead as planned and there was no violence. |archive-date=July 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714000001/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/dec/19/its-mind-blowing-emma-tillinger-koskoff-on-producing-the-irishman-and-joker |url-status=live }}<br>{{Cite web |last=Zinski |first=Dan |date=March 20, 2020 |title=Joker Movie Almost Released Online, Not In Theaters, Due To Backlash |url=https://screenrant.com/joker-movie-release-streaming-no-theaters-controversy/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en |quote=However, no violence resulted from Joker being released, and indeed the supposed backlash over the movie quite frankly was more of a media-driven thing than anything that reflected public perception of the film. |archive-date=July 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714000001/https://screenrant.com/joker-movie-release-streaming-no-theaters-controversy/ |url-status=live }}<br>{{Cite web |last=Hamerly |first=Brad |date=May 3, 2023 |title=What Happened to Joker (2019)? |url=https://www.joblo.com/what-happened-to-joker-2019/ |access-date=July 13, 2023 |website=[[JoBlo]] |language=en-US |quote=The fear may have been warranted, yet on October 4, 2019, Joker was released to the masses and there was no violence, no shootings, no fights. |archive-date=July 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714000001/https://www.joblo.com/what-happened-to-joker-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Home media=== ''Joker'' was released on [[Digital HD]] on December 17, 2019, and on [[DVD]], [[Blu-ray]] and [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on January 7, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2485976/joker-is-coming-to-digital-dvd-and-blu-ray-just-in-time-for-the-holidays|title=Joker Is Coming To Digital, DVD And Blu-ray Just In Time For The Holidays|date=December 3, 2019|first=Mike|last=Reyes|website=CinemaBlend|access-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128083107/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2485976/joker-is-coming-to-digital-dvd-and-blu-ray-just-in-time-for-the-holidays|archive-date=November 28, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> It debuted on HBO on May 16, 2020, and on [[HBO Max]] when it launched on May 27, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawrence |first1=Gregory |title='Joker,' All Other DC Titles Will Be Available to Stream on HBO Max From Day One |url=https://collider.com/joker-streaming-hbo-max/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=October 29, 2019 |date=October 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030002158/https://collider.com/joker-streaming-hbo-max/ |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ==Reception== ===Box office=== ''Joker'' grossed $335.5&nbsp;million in the United States and Canada and $743.5&nbsp;million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.079&nbsp;billion.<ref name="BOM" /><ref name="NUM" /> It is the [[2019 in film#Highest-grossing films|sixth-highest-grossing film of 2019]] and the [[List of highest-grossing R-rated films|second highest-grossing R-rated film]] of all time,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2019 Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2019/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425204010/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2019/ |archive-date=April 25, 2020 |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/10/25/joker-highest-grossing-r-rated-film-ever/|title='Joker' is now the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106163013/https://ew.com/movies/2019/10/25/joker-highest-grossing-r-rated-film-ever/|archive-date=November 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the first and only R-rated film to pass the billion-dollar mark until ''[[Deadpool & Wolverine]]'' in 2024.<ref name="billion"/> In terms of budget-to-gross ratio, ''Joker'' is also the most profitable film based on a comic book,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=William |title=Joker is now the most profitable comic book movie of all time |url=https://news.avclub.com/joker-is-now-the-most-profitable-comic-book-movie-of-al-1839729828 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=November 8, 2019 |date=November 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109020930/https://news.avclub.com/joker-is-now-the-most-profitable-comic-book-movie-of-al-1839729828 |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> due to its small budget and little decline in week-to-week grosses during its theatrical run, surpassing the record previously held by ''[[Deadpool (film)|Deadpool]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Rebecca |title=Box Office: How 'Joker' Became Insanely Profitable |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/box-office/joker-box-office-profitable-superhero-movie-1203377839/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=October 23, 2019 |date=October 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023172747/https://variety.com/2019/film/box-office/joker-box-office-profitable-superhero-movie-1203377839/ |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Deadline Hollywood'' estimated the film made a net profit of $437&nbsp;million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/joker-movie-profits-2019-todd-phillips-joaquin-phoenix-1202916039/|title='Joker' Makes Serious Profit As No. 4 In Deadline's 2019 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=April 23, 2020|access-date=April 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817002311/https://deadline.com/2020/04/joker-movie-profits-2019-todd-phillips-joaquin-phoenix-1202916039/|archive-date=August 17, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2019, [[BoxOffice (magazine)|''BoxOffice'' magazine]] analyst Shawn Robbins wrote that he expected ''Joker'' to gross $60–90&nbsp;million during its opening weekend in North America.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficepro.com/long-range-forecast-joker/ |title=Long Range Forecast: ''Joker'' |last=Robbins |first=Shawn |date=August 9, 2019 |website=[[Boxoffice Pro]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810191626/https://www.boxofficepro.com/long-range-forecast-joker/ |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019}}</ref> Following the film's premiere, ''BoxOffice'' predicted ''Joker'' could open to $70–95&nbsp;million domestically.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/09/01/joker-box-office-prediction-100-million-opening-weekend/ |title=New Box Office Tracking Suggests Joker Could Close in on $100M Opening Weekend |last=Barnhardt |first=Adam |date=September 1, 2019 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902013730/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/09/01/joker-box-office-prediction-100-million-opening-weekend/ |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Later updating to $85–105&nbsp;million, Robbins suggested it could become the first October release to open to over $100&nbsp;million and surpass the record set by ''[[Venom (2018 film)|Venom]]'' (2018).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficepro.com/long-range-forecast-terminator-dark-fate-plus-a-big-joker-update/ |title=Long Range Forecast: Terminator: Dark Fate, Plus a Big Joker Update |last=Robbins |first=Shawn |date=September 6, 2019 |website=[[Boxoffice Pro]] |access-date=September 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801021854/https://www.boxofficepro.com/long-range-forecast-terminator-dark-fate-plus-a-big-joker-update/|archive-date=August 1, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> However, [[Comscore]]'s senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian thought the film would open closer to $50&nbsp;million because it is not a "typical comic-book movie".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-projected-to-break-box-office-records-2019-9 |title='Joker' is projected to break multiple box-office records when it hits theaters |last=Clark |first=Travis |date=September 9, 2019 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=September 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910075226/https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-projected-to-break-box-office-records-2019-9 |archive-date=September 10, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Three weeks prior to its release, official industry tracking projected the film would debut to $65–80&nbsp;million, with some estimates going as high as $90&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/joker-box-office-opening-weekend-projections-1202732548/ |title='Joker' Is Wild On Tracking With $82M-$90M Projected Opening&nbsp;– Early B.O. Read |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=September 11, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913001232/https://deadline.com/2019/09/joker-box-office-opening-weekend-projections-1202732548/ |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The week of its release, Atom Tickets announced pre-sale totals for the film were outpacing those of ''Venom'' and ''[[It Chapter Two]]'' ($91.1&nbsp;million debut) and that ''Joker'' was its second-best-selling R-rated film of 2019 behind ''[[John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/joker-opening-weekend-box-office-projection-atom-tickets-presales-1202748724/ |title='Joker' Atom Tickets Pre-Sales Besting 'Venom' & 'It Chapter Two'; Batman Villain Pic Still Eyeing $80M+ October Record Debut |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=September 30, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001015356/https://deadline.com/2019/09/joker-opening-weekend-box-office-projection-atom-tickets-presales-1202748724/ |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Joker'' opened in 4,374 theaters in North America and made $39.9&nbsp;million on its first day of release, including $13.3&nbsp;million from Thursday night previews, besting ''Venom''{{'}}s respective October records.<ref name="opening">{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-box-office-opening-weekend-1202752002// |title=Warner Bros. Laughing All The Way To The Bank With 'Joker': $94M Debut Reps Records For October, Todd Phillips, Joaquin Phoenix & Robert De Niro |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 5, 2019 |access-date=October 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004131352/https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-box-office-opening-weekend-1202752002// |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film also had the biggest October opening day of any film, beating out ''[[Halloween (2018 film)|Halloween]]'' (2018).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-movie-biggest-october-opening-ever-box-office-2019-10|title='Joker' had the biggest October opening weekend ever, taking in $96 million|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=March 15, 2022|archive-date=March 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315233232/https://www.businessinsider.com/joker-movie-biggest-october-opening-ever-box-office-2019-10|url-status=live}}</ref> It went on to break ''Venom''{{'s}} record for having the biggest October opening weekend, finishing with a domestic total of $96.2&nbsp;million. The film set career records for Phoenix, Phillips and De Niro and was the fourth-largest debut for an R-rated film of all time.<ref>{{cite web |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |title='Joker' smashes October box office record with $93.5M debut |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/box-office/joker-box-office-opening-weekend-record-joaquin-phoenix-1203360361/ |first1=Dave |last1=McNary |first2=Rebecca |last2=Rubin |author-link1=Dave McNary |access-date=October 6, 2019 |date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006152915/https://variety.com/2019/film/box-office/joker-box-office-opening-weekend-record-joaquin-phoenix-1203360361/ |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The latter record would cross over ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' (2003), staying behind ''Deadpool'', ''[[Deadpool 2]]'' (2018) and ''[[It (2017 film)|It]]'' (2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/joker-box-office-20191006/|title='Joker' Laughs All The Way To The Bank As The Film Breaks Records & Bests WB's 'Justice League' Opening [Box Office]|website=theplaylist.net|access-date=March 15, 2022|archive-date=March 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315233232/https://theplaylist.net/joker-box-office-20191006/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also Warner Bros.' biggest domestic opening in two years.<ref name="THR: Records">{{cite web |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |title='Joker' Box Office: All the Records Broken |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joker-box-office-all-records-broken-1245732 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 7, 2019 |date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006220032/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/joker-box-office-all-records-broken-1245732 |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In its second weekend, the film fell just 41.8% to $55.9&nbsp;million, remaining in first and marking the best second-weekend October total (besting ''[[Gravity (2013 film)|Gravity]]'' (2013)'s $43.1&nbsp;million in 2013).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/gemini-man-will-smith-joker-addams-family-jexi-weekend-box-office-1202757855/ |title='Joker' $55M+ Scores 2nd Weekend October Record, 'Addams Family' Rich $30M+, 'Gemini Man' Still Not Dazzling $20M – Sunday B.O. Update |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 13, 2019 |access-date=October 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011150127/https://deadline.com/2019/10/gemini-man-will-smith-joker-addams-family-jexi-weekend-box-office-1202757855/ |archive-date=October 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> It made $29.2&nbsp;million in its third weekend and $19.2&nbsp;million in its fourth, finishing second behind ''[[Maleficent: Mistress of Evil]]'' both times.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-zombieland-double-tap-weekend-box-office-1202763525/ |title='Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil' No Magic With $36M+, 'Joker' Still Stealing 2nd Place From 'Zombieland 2' With $28M+ |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 20, 2019 |access-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019220728/https://deadline.com/2019/10/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-zombieland-double-tap-weekend-box-office-1202763525/ |archive-date=October 19, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-maleficent-2-black-and-blue-countdown-halloween-box-office-weekend-1202769043/ |title='Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil' Tricks 'Joker' & Steals No. 1 With $19.37M After Dead Heat B.O. Battle |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 28, 2019 |access-date=October 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030094937/https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-maleficent-2-black-and-blue-countdown-halloween-box-office-weekend-1202769043/ |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> After 155 days, ''Joker''{{'}}s American theatrical run wrapped up on March 5, 2020, with a final gross of $355.5 million, making it the fourth-highest domestic gross for an R-rated film, behind ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' (2004), ''Deadpool'' and ''[[American Sniper]]'' (2014).<ref>{{cite web |title=All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/domestic/all-movies/mpaa-ratings/r-(us) |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-date=April 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415222257/https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/domestic/all-movies/mpaa-ratings/r-(us) |url-status=live }}</ref> Worldwide, the film was projected to debut to around $155&nbsp;million, including $75&nbsp;million from 73 overseas territories.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-opening-weekend-projection-global-domestic-security-threats-1202749339/ |title='Joker' To Laugh Up $155M+ Opening Around The World – Box Office Preview |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |last2=Tartaglione |first2=Nancy |date=October 1, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=October 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002183401/https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-opening-weekend-projection-global-domestic-security-threats-1202749339/ |archive-date=October 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> It made $5.4&nbsp;million from four countries on its first day and $18.7&nbsp;million from 47 in its second, for a two-day total of $24.6&nbsp;million. It went on to greatly exceed expectations, making $140.5&nbsp;million from overseas territories and a total $234&nbsp;million worldwide. Its largest markets were South Korea (a Warner Bros. record $16.3&nbsp;million), the United Kingdom ($14.8&nbsp;million), Mexico ($13.1&nbsp;million) and Japan ($7&nbsp;million).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-opening-weekend-warner-bros-joaquin-phoenix-global-international-box-office-1202751310/ |title='Joker' Jolts October With $141M Overseas & $234M Global Bows, Thrashes 'Venom' Records – International Box Office |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=October 6, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011075924/https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-opening-weekend-warner-bros-joaquin-phoenix-global-international-box-office-1202751310/ |archive-date=October 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> With this, it became the biggest worldwide opening for an October film.<ref name="THR: Records"/> During its second weekend, the film made an additional $125.7&nbsp;million worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fowler |first1=Matt |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/13/box-office-joker-scores-55-million-second-weekend-the-addams-family-will-smith-gemini-man-ang-lee-oscar-isaac-charlize-theron |title=Box Office: Joker Scores $55 Million Second Weekend |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=October 16, 2019 |date=October 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014083022/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/13/box-office-joker-scores-55-million-second-weekend-the-addams-family-will-smith-gemini-man-ang-lee-oscar-isaac-charlize-theron |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and $77.9&nbsp;million in its third.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |title=Box Office: 'Maleficent 2' Stumbles to No. 1 With $36M; 'Joker' Snags Magical $29M |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-maleficent-2-stumbles-36m-joker-snags-magical-29m-1248913 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 20, 2019 |date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020162806/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-maleficent-2-stumbles-36m-joker-snags-magical-29m-1248913 |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> By this point, industry analysts expected ''Joker'' to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, with some suggesting that it could finish its run with over $1&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |title=Box Office: 'Joker' to Become Top-Grossing R-Rated Pic of All Time |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/box-office-joker-become-top-grossing-r-rated-pic-all-time-1248949 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 20, 2019 |date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021011114/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/box-office-joker-become-top-grossing-r-rated-pic-all-time-1248949 |archive-date=October 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film became the highest-grossing R-rated film in its fourth weekend, during which it grossed $47.8&nbsp;million internationally,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tartaglione |first1=Nancy |title='Joker' Laughing At $850M WW As 'Maleficent 2' Nears $300M & 'Terminator: Dark Fate' Unlucky With $13M Offshore Bow – International Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-850-million-terminator-dark-fate-maleficent-mistress-of-evil-better-days-china-global-international-box-office-1202769930/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=October 27, 2019 |date=October 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030095215/https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-850-million-terminator-dark-fate-maleficent-mistress-of-evil-better-days-china-global-international-box-office-1202769930/ |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> and passed the billion-dollar mark about a month into its theatrical release.<ref name="billion">{{cite magazine |last1=Nolfi |first1=Joey |title=Joker becomes first R-rated movie to gross $1 billion worldwide |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/11/15/joker-box-office-1-billion-worldwide/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=November 17, 2019 |date=November 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116140537/https://ew.com/movies/2019/11/15/joker-box-office-1-billion-worldwide/ |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Critical response=== On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Joker'' holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on 601 reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "''Joker'' gives its infamous central character a chillingly plausible origin story that serves as a brilliant showcase for its star&nbsp;– and a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema".<ref>{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} |type=m |title=Joker (2019) |access-date={{RT data|access date}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904061543/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/joker_2019 |archive-date=September 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 59 out of 100 based on 60 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{Cite Metacritic |id=joker |type=movie |title=Joker (2019) |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901044433/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/joker |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those at [[PostTrak]] gave it an overall positive score of 84% (with an average 4 out of 5 stars) and a 60% "definite recommend".<ref name="opening" /> [[Mark Kermode]] of ''[[The Observer]]'' rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, stating "''Joker'' has an ace card in the form of Joaquin Phoenix's mesmerisingly physical portrayal of a man who would be king".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/06/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-ace-turn|title=Joker review – an ace turn from Joaquin Phoenix|last=Kermode|first=Mark|work=[[The Observer]]|date=October 6, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006203453/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/06/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-ace-turn|archive-date=October 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Writing for [[IGN]], Jim Vejvoda gave ''Joker'' a perfect score, saying that the film "would work just as well as an engrossing character study without any of its DC Comics trappings; that it just so happens to be a brilliant ''Batman''-universe movie is icing on the Batfan cake". He found it a powerful and unsettling allegory of contemporary neglect and violence and described Phoenix's performance as the Joker as engrossing and "[[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-worthy".<ref name="IGN: Review">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/31/joker-movie-review |title=Joker Review |last=Vejvoda |first=Jim |date=August 31, 2019 |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831225508/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/31/joker-movie-review |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, Xan Brooks of ''The Observer''—who also gave the film a perfect score—called it "gloriously daring and explosive" and appreciated how Phillips used elements from Scorsese films to create an original story.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/aug/31/joker-review-twisted-tour-de-force-joaquin-phoenix |title=Joker review&nbsp;– Joaquin Phoenix's villain has last laugh in twisted tale |last=Brooks |first=Xan |date=August 31, 2019 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901004111/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/aug/31/joker-review-twisted-tour-de-force-joaquin-phoenix |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''{{'}}s [[Owen Gleiberman]] wrote, "Phoenix is astonishing as a mentally ill geek who becomes the killer-clown Joker in Todd Phillips' neo-''Taxi Driver'' knockout: the rare comic-book movie that expresses what's happening in the real world".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-1203317033/ |title=Venice Film Review: 'Joker' |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=August 31, 2019 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901012944/https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips-1203317033/ |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''ComicBook.com''{{'}}s Brandon Davis acclaimed ''Joker'' as a groundbreaking comic book adaptation that he found scarier than most 2019 [[horror film]]s. Davis compared it favorably to the 2008 ''Batman'' film ''The Dark Knight'', praised the cinematography and performances and called it a film that needed to be seen to be believed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/08/30/joker-review-masterpiece-spoiler-free-good-joaquin-phoenix-batman/ |title=Joker Review: An Insane Masterpiece Based on DC Comics Villain |last=Davis |first=Brandon |date=September 2, 2019 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902013742/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/08/30/joker-review-masterpiece-spoiler-free-good-joaquin-phoenix-batman/ |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Deadline Hollywood''{{'}}s Pete Hammond believes the film redefines the Joker and is "impossible to shake off". Hammond also praised the story and performances and summarized the film as "a bravura piece of filmmaking that speaks to the world we are actually living in today in ways that few movies do".<ref name="DL: Review">{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/video/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-robert-de-niro-dc-comics-venice-film-festival/ |title='Joker' Review: Joaquin Phoenix Kills It In Dark, Timely DC Origin Movie That Is No Laughing Matter&nbsp;– Venice Film Festival |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=August 31, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901185321/https://deadline.com/video/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-robert-de-niro-dc-comics-venice-film-festival/ |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said he was lost for words in describing Phoenix's performance, calling the film "gut-wrenching" and "simply stupendous".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Travers |first1=Peter |title='Joker' Review: Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Is Indeed Wild |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/joker-movie-review-joaquin-phoenix-889612/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=October 3, 2019 |date=September 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002163855/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/joker-movie-review-joaquin-phoenix-889612/ |archive-date=October 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> David Ehrlich of ''[[IndieWire]]'' was more mixed and gave the film a "C+". He felt that while "''Joker'' is the boldest and most exciting superhero movie since ''The Dark Knight''", it was "also incendiary, confused and potentially toxic". Ehrlich thought that the film would make DC fans happy and praised Phoenix's performance, but criticized Phillips' direction and the lack of originality.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-1202170236/ |title='Joker' Review: For Better or Worse, Superhero Movies Will Never Be the Same |last=David Ehrlich |date=August 31, 2019 |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831174548/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-1202170236/ |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> A critical review came from Glenn Kenny of ''[[RogerEbert.com]]'', who gave the film two stars out of four. Though he praised the performances and thought the story worked, Kenny criticized the social commentary and Phillips' direction, finding the film too derivative and believing its focus was "less in entertainment than in generating self-importance".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/joker-movie-review-2019 |title=Joker Movie Review & Film Summary (2019) |last=Kenny |first=Glenn |date=August 31, 2019 |publisher=[[RogerEbert.com]] |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831171906/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/joker-movie-review-2019 |archive-date=August 31, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In an analysis of the character Joker, Onmanorama's Sajesh Mohan wrote that the movie was cliché-ridden, the only original part being Joaquin Phoenix's acting. "The movie, with great pain and in detail, explains how Arthur Fleck turns into Joker dejected by the way the world treats him. Thanks to Phillips and Silver, Phoenix was able to bring out the king among the Jokers", the analysis read.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mohan |first1=Sajesh |title=Analysing 'Joker': Only ashes remain as Joaquin Phoenix takes off to glory |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2019/10/13/joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix.html |website=October 13, 2019 |publisher=Onmanorama |date=October 13, 2019 |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014060344/https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2019/10/13/joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix.html |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Stephanie Zacharek]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', in a negative review, labeled Phoenix's performance over-the-top and felt that while Phillips tried to "[give] us a movie all about the emptiness of our culture ... he's just offering a prime example of it". She argued the plot was nonexistent, "dark only in a stupidly adolescent way" and "stuffed with phony philosophy".<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://time.com/5666055/venice-joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-not-funny/ |title=Joker Wants to Be a Movie About the Emptiness of Our Culture. Instead, It's a Prime Example of It |last=Zacharek |first=Stephanie |date=August 31, 2019 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901235656/https://time.com/5666055/venice-joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-not-funny/ |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Meanwhile, [[NPR]]'s [[Glen Weldon]] thought the film lacked innovation and said its sympathetic take on the Joker was "wildly unconvincing and mundanely uninteresting". Weldon also described ''Joker'' as trying too hard to deviate from the comics and, as a result, coming off as an imitation of films like ''Taxi Driver''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weldon |first1=Glen |title='Joker' Is Wild ... ly Dull |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/03/765082771/joker-is-wild-ly-dull |website=October 3, 2019 |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=October 3, 2019 |access-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004011930/https://www.npr.org/2019/10/03/765082771/joker-is-wild-ly-dull |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''The Guardian'' called it "the most disappointing film of the year". While praising Phoenix's performance and the first act, he criticized the film's political plot developments and overall found it too derivative of various Scorsese films.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/03/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips |title=Joker review&nbsp;– the most disappointing film of the year |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=October 3, 2019 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004190629/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/03/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Industry response=== ''Joker'' generated positive responses from industry figures. DC Comics chief creative officer [[Jim Lee]] praised it as "intense, raw and soulful" and stated that it had remained true to the character despite deviating from the source material.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Actor [[Mark Hamill]], who has voiced the Joker in animation and video games since ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'', thought the film had "brilliantly" reinvented the character and gave it "[two] thumbs up".<ref>{{cite web |last1=El-Mahmoud |first1=Sarah |title=Joker Actor Mark Hamill Shares His Take On Joaquin Phoenix's Movie |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2481659/joker-actor-mark-hamill-shares-his-take-on-joaquin-phoenixs-movie |website=CinemaBlend |access-date=October 6, 2019 |date=October 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006024705/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2481659/joker-actor-mark-hamill-shares-his-take-on-joaquin-phoenixs-movie |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' (1978) director [[Richard Donner]] called the film "brilliant", "fascinating", "really well-written" and stated that Phoenix's performance was "genius".<ref>{{cite podcast |last1=Abramovitch |first1=Seth |last2=Pope |first2=Chip |title=Richard Donner: 'Superman' |website=It Happened In Hollywood |via=[[Apple Podcasts]] |date=March 7, 2020 |time=50:00 |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/richard-donner-superman/id1437795866?i=1000467715548 |access-date=September 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531095825/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/richard-donner-superman/id1437795866?i=1000467715548 |archive-date=May 31, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Documentary filmmaker [[Michael Moore]] called ''Joker'' a "cinematic masterpiece" and stated it was a "danger to society" if people did not see it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lattanzio |first1=Ryan |title=Michael Moore Calls 'Joker' a Masterpiece: 'The Greater Danger to Society May Be If You Don't See This Movie' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/joker-michael-moore-1202179054/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=October 6, 2019 |date=October 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005170941/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/joker-michael-moore-1202179054/ |archive-date=October 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Actor [[Josh Brolin]] found the film powerful: "To appreciate ''Joker'' I believe you have to have either gone through something traumatic in your lifetime (and I believe most of us have) or understand somewhere in your psyche what true compassion is".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ayres |first1=Andrea |title=Thanos Snaps Back: Josh Brolin Defends Joker Movie in Fiery Post |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/josh-brolin-thanos-defends-joker-film |website=[[SyFy Wire]] |access-date=October 7, 2019 |date=October 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006185421/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/josh-brolin-thanos-defends-joker-film |archive-date=October 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Actor [[Vincent D'Onofrio]] vocally commended Phoenix's performance in the film on Twitter, stating that he "deserve[d] recognition for this performance", while actress [[Jessica Chastain]] agreed, replying: "It's one of the greatest pieces of acting I've ever seen".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jessica-chastain-joaquin-phoenix-joker-acting-praise-2019-11/?r=AU&IR=T|title=Jessica Chastain says Joaquin Phoenix's 'Joker' performance is one of the 'greatest pieces of acting' she's ever seen|work=Business Insider|first=Zack|last=Sharf|date=November 2, 2019|access-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830001001/https://www.businessinsider.com/jessica-chastain-joaquin-phoenix-joker-acting-praise-2019-11/?r=AU&IR=T|archive-date=August 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Actress and screenwriter [[Phoebe Waller-Bridge]] also praised the film, stating: "I think the reason people got so uncomfortable [with the film] is because it feels too true, too raw. I was watching it and thinking to myself, God, if this came out a year into [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama's time in office]], I don't think we'd be feeling as worried about it".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/phoebe-waller-bridge-cover-december-2019|title=The World According to Phoebe Waller-Bridge|work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|first=Lauren|last=Collins|date=November 6, 2019|access-date=November 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111080514/https://www.vogue.com/article/phoebe-waller-bridge-cover-december-2019|archive-date=November 11, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Filmmaker [[David Fincher]] said of the film's unexpected success, "Nobody would have thought they had a shot at a giant hit with ''Joker'' had ''The Dark Knight'' not been as massive as it was. I don't think anyone would have looked at that material and thought, 'Yeah, let's take [''Taxi Driver''{{'}}s] [[Travis Bickle]] and [''The King of Comedy''{{'}}s] Rupert Pupkin and conflate them, then trap him in a betrayal of the mentally ill and trot it out for a billion dollars'".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/david-fincher-joker-betrayal-mentally-ill-exclusive-netflix-deal-1234616163/|title=David Fincher Calls 'Joker' A "Betrayal Of The Mentally Ill" & Explains Signing Exclusive Netflix Deal|date=November 16, 2020|first=Tom|last=Grater|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116154358/https://deadline.com/2020/11/david-fincher-joker-betrayal-mentally-ill-exclusive-netflix-deal-1234616163/|archive-date=November 16, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref> Actor [[Brendan Gleeson]] felt that Phoenix's performance as the Joker was absolutely "indelible" and one of the most magnificent achievements in cinema he has ever seen, incidentally being that the reason he opted to join the film's sequel ''[[Joker: Folie à Deux]]'' (2024) as Jackie Sullivan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://extratv.com/2022/10/11/joker-2-star-brendan-gleeson-calls-lady-gaga-sensational-as-harley-quinn-exclusive/|title='Joker 2' Star Brendan Gleeson Calls Lady Gaga 'Sensational' as Harley Quinn (Exclusive)|last=Krause|first=Katie|date=October 11, 2022|access-date=October 20, 2022|archive-date=October 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017181755/https://extratv.com/2022/10/11/joker-2-star-brendan-gleeson-calls-lady-gaga-sensational-as-harley-quinn-exclusive/|url-status=live}}</ref> Filmmaker [[Ridley Scott]], who had previously worked with Phoenix in ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]'' (2000), felt "blown away" by the film; while he disliked the apparent way it celebrated violence, Scott felt that Phoenix's performance was remarkable enough to make Phoenix an "amazing asset" for his film ''[[Napoleon (2023 film)|Napoleon]]'' (2023) in a "creative and commercial sense".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/ridley-scott-napoleon-joaquin-phoenix-casting-joker-gladiator-1235566587/|title=Ridley Scott On Capturing Epic 'Napoleon' & Why He Chose Joaquin Phoenix To Play The Emperor – Contenders London|date=October 7, 2023|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007230119/https://deadline.com/2023/10/ridley-scott-napoleon-joaquin-phoenix-casting-joker-gladiator-1235566587/|archive-date=October 7, 2023|url-status=live|access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> ===Accolades=== {{Main|List of accolades received by Joker (2019 film)}} [[File:Todd Philips Venezia 2019 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Director [[Todd Phillips]] holding the [[Golden Lion]], awarded for ''Joker'' at the [[76th Venice International Film Festival]].]] In September 2019, ''Joker'' was awarded the Golden Lion'','' the festival's highest prize, at the [[76th Venice International Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-07 |title=Biennale Cinema 2019 {{!}} Official Awards of the 76th Venice Film Festival |url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/official-awards-76th-venice-film-festival |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=La Biennale di Venezia |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127061302/https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/official-awards-76th-venice-film-festival |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[92nd Academy Awards]], the film won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Phoenix) and [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] awards. It received overall eleven nominations (including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]) from the ceremony, breaking the record of eight held by ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' for the most nominations received by a film based on a comic book, [[comic strip]] or [[graphic novel]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/oscar-winners-2020-updating-live-full-list-1275973/item/motion-picture-1275975 | title=Oscars: The Complete Winners List | date=February 9, 2020 | access-date=February 10, 2020 | work =[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801115100/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/oscar-winners-2020-updating-live-full-list-1275973/item/motion-picture-1275975|archive-date=August 1, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Hildur Guðnadóttir]] also became the first woman to win an original score Oscar since ''[[The Full Monty]]'' (1997) in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/894322/jokers-hildur-gunadttir-becomes-1st-woman-win-original-score-oscar-22-years|title=Joker's Hildur Guðnadóttir becomes the 1st woman to win an original score Oscar in 22 years|website=The Week|date=February 10, 2020 |access-date=August 24, 2022|archive-date=February 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212235419/https://theweek.com/speedreads/894322/jokers-hildur-gunadttir-becomes-1st-woman-win-original-score-oscar-22-years|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[73rd British Academy Film Awards]], the film won [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]] (Phoenix), [[BAFTA Award for Best Casting|Best Casting]] and [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Music|Best Original Music]] out of a leading eleven nominations including [[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2020/2020-bafta-awards-winners-list-73rd-baftas/amp/|title=2020 BAFTA Awards: Full winners list of the 73rd annual British Academy Film Awards|date=February 2, 2020|last=Sheehan|first=Paul|publisher=[[Gold Derby]]|access-date=February 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202181210/https://www.goldderby.com/article/2020/2020-bafta-awards-winners-list-73rd-baftas/amp/|archive-date=February 2, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was nominated for four [[Golden Globe Awards]] for the [[77th Golden Globe Awards|77th ceremony]], winning the awards for Best Original Score and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama|Best Actor]] (Phoenix).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/golden-globes-2020-the-full-winners-list-joker-chernobyl-joaquin-phoenix/|title=Golden Globes 2020: The full winners list|last=Bisset|first=Jennifer|website=[[CNET]]|date=January 5, 2020|access-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106070941/https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/golden-globes-2020-the-full-winners-list-joker-chernobyl-joaquin-phoenix/|archive-date=January 6, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was nominated for seven awards at the [[25th Critics' Choice Awards]], winning [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Phoenix) and [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score|Best Score]] and was included in the American Film Institute and Cahiers du Cinéma's [[American Film Institute Awards 2019#Top 10 Films|top 10 films of 2019]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/critics-choice-nominations-film-tv-nominees-list-1202803785/|title='The Irishman','Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' Lead Critics Choice Nominations; Netflix Dominates With 61 Nods In Movies And TV|last=Hammond|first=Pete|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=December 8, 2019|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208185645/https://deadline.com/2019/12/critics-choice-nominations-film-tv-nominees-list-1202803785/|archive-date=December 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/awards/scorsese-irishman-joker-1917-afi-1203424814/|title=AFI Awards: Top Films and TV Shows Include 'Joker,' 'Farewell,' 'Succession,' 'Watchmen'|last=Tangcay|first=Jazz|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 4, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204200141/https://variety.com/2019/film/awards/scorsese-irishman-joker-1917-afi-1203424814/|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Having won an award at the [[26th Screen Actors Guild Awards]] for [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role|Phoenix's performance]], ''Joker'' also received nominations from other guilds including the [[72nd Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]] and the [[31st Producers Guild of America Awards|Producers Guild of America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/2020-writers-guild-awards-screenplay-nominations-announced|title=2020 Writers Guild Awards Screenplay Nominations Announced|publisher=[[Writers Guild of America Awards]]|date=January 6, 2020|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828211034/https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/2020-writers-guild-awards-screenplay-nominations-announced|archive-date=August 28, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/producers-guild-awards-2020-winners-list-full-1269972/item/outstanding-producer-animated-theatrical-motion-pictures-1269978|title=PGA Awards: '1917' Named Outstanding Motion Picture|last=Crist|first=Allison|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 18, 2020|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128182447/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/producers-guild-awards-2020-winners-list-full-1269972/item/outstanding-producer-animated-theatrical-motion-pictures-1269978|archive-date=January 28, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> It won a [[Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture|Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture]] award from the [[Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/make-up-artists-and-hair-stylists-awards-2020-muahs-winners-1202827805/|title=Make-Up & Hairstylists Awards: 'Bombshell', 'Fosse/Verdon', 'SNL' Lead Winners|last=Bennett|first=Anita|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=January 11, 2020|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408012217/https://deadline.com/2020/01/make-up-artists-and-hair-stylists-awards-2020-muahs-winners-1202827805/|archive-date=April 8, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Themes and analysis== {{further|Mental healthcare in the United States|Austerity#United States}} ''Joker'' deals with the themes of mental illness and its both psychological and sociological effects.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/09/02/joker-r-rated-post-credits-batman-questions-kids/ |title=Joker: Your Biggest Questions Answered (Spoiler-Free) |last=Davis |first=Brandon |date=September 2, 2019 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903221337/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/09/02/joker-r-rated-post-credits-batman-questions-kids/#2 |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> While its depiction of the Joker has been described as reminiscent of those who commit [[mass shootings in the United States]] as well as members of the incel community,<ref name="WE: Brilliant">{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-brilliant-new-joker-movie-offers-an-uncomfortable-message-about-mass-shooters |title=The brilliant new Joker movie offers an uncomfortable message about mass shooters |last=Kent |first=Stephen |date=August 30, 2019 |website=[[The Washington Examiner]] |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902134516/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-brilliant-new-joker-movie-offers-an-uncomfortable-message-about-mass-shooters |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=October 2024}} Christina Newland of ''The Guardian'' concludes that Fleck is not an incel, but wrote that incels are likely to relate to him.<ref name=GuardianIncel/> Vejvoda, Hammond and Newland interpreted the film as a cautionary tale—society's disregard of those who are less fortunate will create a person like the Joker.<ref name="IGN: Review" /><ref name="DL: Review" /><ref name=GuardianIncel>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/sep/02/incel-violence-joker-rightwing-film-joaquin-phoenix |title='Incel' violence is horrific, but Joker is complex, and doesn't take sides |last=Newland |first=Christina |date=September 2, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904200114/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/sep/02/incel-violence-joker-rightwing-film-joaquin-phoenix |archive-date=September 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Stephen Kent, writing for the ''[[The Washington Examiner|Washington Examiner]]'', described Arthur Fleck as blending shared aspects of mass shooters and interpreted its message as a reminder that society is riddled with men like the Joker.<ref name="WE: Brilliant" /> Writing in ''[[People's World]]'', Chauncey K. Robinson said the film "walks a fine line between exploration and validation" of Joker's character and is "ultimately an in-your-face examination of a broken system that creates its own monsters."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/joker-exposes-the-broken-class-system-that-creates-its-own-monsters/|title='Joker' exposes the broken class system that creates its own monsters|last=Robinson|first=Chauncey K.|date=October 4, 2019|website=[[People's World]]|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004174555/https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/joker-exposes-the-broken-class-system-that-creates-its-own-monsters/|archive-date=October 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Some writers have expressed concern that ''Joker''{{'s}} sympathetic portrayal of a homicidal maniac could inspire real-world violence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/markets-festivals/joker-controversy-toronto-international-film-festival-hustlers-1203322919/ |title=From 'Joker' Controversy to Oscar Contenders, 5 Burning Questions at the Toronto Film Festival |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=September 5, 2019 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905143554/https://variety.com/2019/film/markets-festivals/joker-controversy-toronto-international-film-festival-hustlers-1203322919/ |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/09/05/joker-movie-controversy-reviews/ |title=Joker Movie is Already Stirring Controversy |last=Outlaw |first=Kofi |date=September 5, 2019 |website=ComicBook.com |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905194351/https://comicbook.com/dc/2019/09/05/joker-movie-controversy-reviews/ |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Richard Lawson (writer)|Richard Lawson]] of ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' found the film was too sympathetic towards "white men who commit heinous crimes" and that the sociopolitical ideologies represented in the film are "evils that are far more easily identifiable" to people "who shoot up schools and concerts and churches, who gun down the women and men they covet and envy, who let loose some spirit of anarchic animus upon the world—there's almost a [[wikt:woebegone|woebegone]] mythos placed on them in the search for answers."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/08/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix/ |url-access=limited |title=Joker Review: Joaquin Phoenix Towers in a Deeply Troubling Origin Story&nbsp;— Todd Phillips's bracing, disturbing film has an undeniable impact—for good and bad. |last=Lawson |first=Richard |date=August 31, 2019 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903115639/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/08/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jim Geraghty of ''[[National Review]]'' wrote he was "worried that a certain segment of America's angry, paranoid, emotionally unstable young men will watch Joaquin Phoenix descending into madness and a desire to get back at society by hurting as many people as possible and exclaim, 'finally, somebody understands me!{{'"}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/burning-it-all-down-nihilism-and-the-joker/ |title=Burning It All Down, Nihilism, and the Joker |last=Geraghty |first=Jim |date=September 4, 2019 |website=[[National Review]] |access-date=September 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830001557/https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/burning-it-all-down-nihilism-and-the-joker/|archive-date=August 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Contrarily, Michael Shindler, reviewing the film in ''Mere Orthodoxy'', while agreeing that ''Joker'' depicts a sympathetic wish fulfillment fantasy, contends (drawing on insights from [[Sigmund Freud]] and [[Jacques Lacan]]) that it is for precisely that reason that the film will, if anything, preemptively quell real-world violence by rendering "the Flecks of the world into meek [[wikt:somnambulist|somnambulist]]s".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shindler |first1=Michael |title=The Joke's on You: Why Leviathan Needs Joker |journal=Mere Orthodoxy |date=October 15, 2019 |url=https://mereorthodoxy.com/joker-movie-review/ |access-date=October 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016183647/https://mereorthodoxy.com/joker-movie-review/ |archive-date=October 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> British [[neurocriminology|neurocriminologist]] [[Adrian Raine]] was impressed by how accurate the film's depiction of the psychology of a murderer was. In an interview with ''Vanity Fair'', he described it as "a great educational tool" and stated that he planned to present film clips during his classes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joker-joaquin-phoenix-psychology |url-access=limited |title=Leading Neurocriminologist Considers Joker "a Great Educational Tool" |last=Miller |first=Julie |date=October 14, 2019 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015101525/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/joker-joaquin-phoenix-psychology |archive-date=October 15, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Psychiatrist Kamran Ahmed highlighted the factors in Arthur's childhood such as parental abuse and loss and family history of mental illness in the genesis of his condition.<ref name="Ahmed-2019">{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Kamran |title=As a psychiatrist, I was blown away by the latest Joker |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/as-a-psychiatrist-i-was-blown-away-by-the-latest-joker-20191024-p5340p.html |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=October 26, 2019 |access-date=October 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028114317/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/as-a-psychiatrist-i-was-blown-away-by-the-latest-joker-20191024-p5340p.html |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> American [[psychiatrist]] Imani Walker, who is known for her [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]] television series ''Married to Medicine Los Angeles'' and working with violent criminals with [[mental disorders]], analyzed the Joker's apparent mental disorders and circumstances and noted that Arthur tries to find help before his downfall, only to be abandoned. She says of Arthur and others in poverty who have mental illness: "We as a society don't even pretend that they're real people and that's what this movie is about. He never had a chance."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://losangeleno.com/features/psychiatrist-analyzes-joker/ |title=Analyzing 'Joker' with a Psychiatrist Who Treats People Like the Joker |last=Pierce |first=Tony |date=October 9, 2019 |website=Los Angeleno |language=en-US |access-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101000359/https://losangeleno.com/features/psychiatrist-analyzes-joker/ |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Forensic psychiatrist Ziv Cohen criticized the film as misrepresenting the mentally ill as violent.<ref name="New York Daily News-2019">{{Cite web |title=What 'The Joker' gets wrong about mental illnes |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-what-the-joker-gets-wrong-about-mental-illness-20191004-eypdpcp3njhxncr7ouvnztdpwq-story.html |access-date=July 3, 2022 |website=New York Daily News |date=October 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628161117/https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-what-the-joker-gets-wrong-about-mental-illness-20191004-eypdpcp3njhxncr7ouvnztdpwq-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He argued the film conflates psychopathy (a lack of conscience) with mental illness, thereby creating a false impression of the mentally ill as dangerous.<ref name="New York Daily News-2019" /> Micah Uetricht, managing director of ''[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]]'', opined in a review published by ''[[The Guardian]]'' that he was shocked that the media did not understand the movie's message: "we got a fairly straightforward condemnation of American [[austerity]]: how it leaves the vulnerable to suffer without the resources they need and the horrific consequences for the rest of society that can result"; Uetricht thus declares that ''Joker'' presents a world that has devolved into "[[Barbarian#Marxist use of "Barbarism"|barbarism]]".<ref name=Uetricht>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/10/joker-far-right-warning-austerity|title=Joker isn't an ode to the far right – it's a warning against austerity|date=October 11, 2019|website=[[The Guardian]]|last1=Uetricht|first1=Micah|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017083705/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/10/joker-far-right-warning-austerity|archive-date=October 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Uetricht states that these themes are unsubtle to the extent that it was surprising that most media outlets had not identified them.<ref name=Uetricht/> Ahmed also highlights the lack of funding for already-stretched mental health services worldwide being alluded to.<ref name="Ahmed-2019"/> Alison Willmore wrote in ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' that the film has "impossible" and "deliberately contradictory" politics.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/joker-is-a-movie-with-deliberately-contradictory-politics.html |title=The Impossible Politics of Joker |author=Alison Willmore |date=2019-10-10 |publisher=Vulture }}</ref> The film's director and co-screenwriter, Todd Phillips, has stated that ''Joker'' is "certainly not a political film".<ref>{{cite news|title=Joker Director Todd Phillips Says It's Not a Political Film|url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/joker-director-todd-phillips-says-it-s-not-a-political-film/|work=ComicBook.com|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=April 21, 2023|archive-date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421012148/https://comicbook.com/dc/news/joker-director-todd-phillips-says-it-s-not-a-political-film/|url-status=live}}</ref> Phillips has also commented on discourse surrounding the film, pushing back on several criticisms of its themes. He responded to critics who have expressed concerns over the film's violence, saying "Isn't it good to have these discussions about these movies, about violence? Why is that a bad thing if the movie does lead to a discourse about it?" Phillips also commented on political backlash to the film, saying "What's outstanding to me in this discourse in this movie is how easily the far left can sound like the far right when it suits their agenda. It's really been eye-opening for me."<ref>{{cite news|title="Outrage is a commodity": Director Todd Phillips bashes "far left" criticism of "Joker"|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/09/26/joker-criticism-todd-phillips-gun-violence/|work=[[The Denver Post]]|date=September 26, 2019|access-date=April 21, 2023|archive-date=April 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421013655/https://www.denverpost.com/2019/09/26/joker-criticism-todd-phillips-gun-violence/|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Cultural impact== [[File:Piñera Joker 2019-11-12.jpg|thumb|upright|Mural depicting [[Chile]]an president [[Sebastián Piñera]] as the Joker during the [[2019–2022 Chilean protests]]]] During a [[Five Star Movement]] event in October 2019, Italian comedian and politician [[Beppe Grillo]] gave a speech wearing the Joker's makeup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2019/10/13/italia-5-stelle-beppe-grillo-apre-il-suo-intervento-a-napoli-truccato-da-joker-non-faccio-piani-sono-il-caos/5512374/|title=Italia 5 stelle, Beppe Grillo apre il suo intervento a Napoli truccato da Joker: "Non faccio piani, sono il caos"|date=October 13, 2019|website=[[Il Fatto Quotidiano]]|language=it-IT|access-date=October 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014074517/https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2019/10/13/italia-5-stelle-beppe-grillo-apre-il-suo-intervento-a-napoli-truccato-da-joker-non-faccio-piani-sono-il-caos/5512374/|archive-date=October 14, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Yusuke Kawai, a candidate for governor of [[Chiba Prefecture]], appeared on [[NHK]] with a Joker costume in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ashcraft|first=Brian|date=March 10, 2021|title=Politician Dressed Like The Joker Is Campaigning In Japan|url=https://kotaku.com/politician-dressed-like-the-joker-is-campaigning-in-jap-1846445527|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=[[Kotaku]]|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227071359/https://kotaku.com/politician-dressed-like-the-joker-is-campaigning-in-jap-1846445527|url-status=live}}</ref> References to the character were also found in anti-government protests worldwide.<ref name="France24">{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20191024-from-beirut-to-hong-kong-the-face-of-the-joker-is-emerging-in-demonstrations|title=From Beirut to Hong Kong, the face of the Joker is appearing in demonstrations|date=October 24, 2019|website=[[France 24]]|access-date=October 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025063446/https://www.france24.com/en/20191024-from-beirut-to-hong-kong-the-face-of-the-joker-is-emerging-in-demonstrations|archive-date=October 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CNN">{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/03/world/joker-global-protests-trnd/index.html|title=In protests around the world, one image stands out: The Joker|last=Kaur|first=Harmeet|date=November 3, 2019|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829001659/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/03/world/joker-global-protests-trnd/index.html|archive-date=August 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[17 October Revolution]], a group of graffiti artists called Ashekm painted a mural of the Joker holding a Molotov cocktail and it was also reported that there was a Joker facepaint station at the protests in [[Beirut]].<ref name="France24"/> In [[Los Ángeles, Chile]], during the [[2019–2022 Chilean protests]], the phrase "We are all clowns", which is adopted by Gotham City protesters in the movie, was written at the foot of a statue.<ref name="France24"/><ref name="CNN"/> In [[Hong Kong]], protesters challenged an [[state of emergency|emergency decree]] prohibiting the wearing of masks by wearing those of fictional characters such as the Joker.<ref name="France24"/> In France, during the [[Yellow vests movement|Yellow Vest Protests]], firefighters donned Joker makeup holding placards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/french-protesters-police-clash-on-yellow-vest-anniversary|title=French protesters, police clash on 'yellow vest' anniversary|date=November 17, 2019|website=[[SBS World News]]|access-date=April 15, 2021|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415172943/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/french-protesters-police-clash-on-yellow-vest-anniversary|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, during the [[George Floyd protests]], Argentine president [[Alberto Fernández]] compared the pictures of the protests to those seen in the film.<ref>{{cite news |title=Asesinato de George Floyd: Alberto Fernández dijo que las imágenes de la violencia en Estados Unidos son "impensadas" y las comparó con la película El Guasón |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/asesinato-george-floyd-para-alberto-fernandez-imagenes-nid2373091 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=[[La Nación]] |date=June 3, 2020 |language=es |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420040636/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/asesinato-george-floyd-para-alberto-fernandez-imagenes-nid2373091/ |url-status=live }}</ref> One of the locations seen in the film, a set of stairs in the Bronx, New York City, has been dubbed the [[Joker Stairs]]. The stairs have become a tourist destination and the subject of [[Internet meme]]s, with visitors often reenacting the scene from the film in which Fleck dances down the stairs in his Joker attire.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/30/meme-tourism-has-turned-the-world-into-the-seventh-circle-of-selfie-hell|title=Meme tourism has turned the world into the seventh circle of selfie hell|last=Mahdawi|first=Arwa|date=October 30, 2019|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829080150/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/30/meme-tourism-has-turned-the-world-into-the-seventh-circle-of-selfie-hell|archive-date=August 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/joker-dancing-meme.html|url-access=limited|title=The Dance of Freedom. The Death Bells. The Meme-ing of the Joker.|last=Alter|first=Rebecca|date=October 24, 2019|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501072316/https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/joker-dancing-meme.html|archive-date=May 1, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Ukrainian boxing champion [[Oleksandr Usyk]] wore a suit resembling that of Joker in a pre-fight press conference leading up to his fight with [[Anthony Joshua]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fordham |first1=Josh |title=Usyk 'dressed like the Joker' and was trying to get into AJ's head, says Hearn |url=https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/950046/oleksandr-usyk-dressed-joker-eddie-hearn-anthony-joshua/ |website=[[Talksport]] |access-date=November 28, 2021 |date=September 24, 2021 |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127060623/https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/950046/oleksandr-usyk-dressed-joker-eddie-hearn-anthony-joshua/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' listed it as one of the "21 Most Influential Films Of The 21st Century, So Far," with Pete Hammond describing it as a film "that emerged from a comic book to become a frightening comment on our own dark times, proving the genre from which it came is capable of being taken very seriously indeed."<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|first1=Mike Jr.|last1=Fleming|first2=Pete|last2=Hammond|first3=Todd|last3=McCarthy|first4=Joe|last4=Utichi|url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/most-influential-movies-21st-century-so-far-deadline-list-1234662894/ | title=The 21 Most Influential Films of the 21st Century, So Far | date=December 30, 2020 | access-date=August 14, 2023 | archive-date=July 23, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723005345/https://deadline.com/2020/12/most-influential-movies-21st-century-so-far-deadline-list-1234662894/ | url-status=live }}</ref> It also ranked 39 on ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]''{{'}}s list of the "100 Greatest Movies of the 21st Century," saying that "it represented another mature evolution for the comic book movie – and proved that DC adaptations could thrive outside the Marvel-style universe structure."<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2020 |title=The 100 Greatest Movies Of The 21st Century |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-century/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817230233/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-century/ |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]}}</ref> ==Sequel== {{Main|Joker: Folie à Deux{{!}}''Joker: Folie à Deux''}} ''Joker'' was intended to be a stand-alone film with no sequels but Warner Bros. [[greenlight|greenlit]] a follow-up project.<ref name="THR: Trailer" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |date=November 20, 2019 |title=''Joker'' Sequel in the Works as Todd Phillips Eyes More DC Origin Movies (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-sequel-works-as-todd-phillips-eyes-more-dc-origin-movies-1256255 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120143926/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/joker-sequel-works-as-todd-phillips-eyes-more-dc-origin-movies-1256255 |archive-date=November 20, 2019 |access-date=June 23, 2023 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> ''[[Joker: Folie à Deux]]'', with Phoenix and Beetz reprising their roles and [[Lady Gaga]] joining as [[Harley Quinn]], was released on October 4, 2024 to negative reviews and a poor commercial performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=August 3, 2022 |title=Todd Phillips' ''Joker: Folie À Deux'' Gets Fall 2024 Release Date |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/joker-2-release-date-1235084541/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803193547/https://deadline.com/2022/08/joker-2-release-date-1235084541/ |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |access-date=June 23, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2024-10-07 |title='Joker' Box Office Shocker: 'Folie à Deux' Bombs With $37.8M Opening After Receiving D CinemaScore |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joker-folie-a-deux-box-office-d-cinemascore-1236025168/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> ==Notes== {{Notelist}} {{Reflist|group=N}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Sister project links|wikt=no |d=Q42759035 |commons=Category:Joker (2019 film) |b=no |n=no |q=Joker (2019 film) |s=no |v=no |species=no |display=''Joker''}} * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb title}} * [https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/joker-script-final.pdf Official screenplay] * [https://instagram.com/jokermovie Joker] at [[Instagram]] {{Navboxes |title = ''Joker'' |list = {{The Joker}} {{Batman in film}} {{DC Comics films}} {{Todd Phillips}} {{Bradley Cooper}} }} {{Navboxes |title = [[List of accolades received by Joker (2019 film)|Awards for ''Joker'']] |list = {{Blue Ribbon Award for Best Foreign Film}} {{Japan Academy Film Prize for Outstanding Foreign Language Film}} {{Mainichi Film Award for Foreign Film Best One Award}} {{Saturn Award for Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture}} {{Golden Lion}}}} {{Portal bar|Film|United States|Comics|Crime|1980s}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Joker (2019 film)}} [[Category:Joker (2019 film)| ]] [[Category:2019 films]] [[Category:2010s English-language films]] [[Category:2019 controversies in the United States]] [[Category:2010s controversies]] [[Category:2010s controversies in the United States]] [[Category:2019 psychological thriller films]] [[Category:2010s American films]] [[Category:American psychological thriller films]] [[Category:American films about revenge]] [[Category:BAFTA winners (films)]] [[Category:Bron Studios films]] [[Category:Fiction about matricide]] [[Category:Fiction with unreliable narrators]] [[Category:Films about child abuse]] [[Category:Films about clowns]] [[Category:Films about comedians]] [[Category:Films about criminals]] [[Category:Films about murderers]] [[Category:Films about mother–son relationships]] [[Category:Films about poverty in the United States]] [[Category:Films about television people]] [[Category:Films directed by Todd Phillips]] [[Category:Films produced by Bradley Cooper]] [[Category:Films produced by Todd Phillips]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Scott Silver]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Todd Phillips]] [[Category:Films scored by Hildur Guðnadóttir]] [[Category:Films featuring a Best Actor Academy Award-winning performance]] [[Category:Films featuring a Best Drama Actor Golden Globe winning performance]] [[Category:Films set in 1981]] [[Category:Films set in psychiatric hospitals]] [[Category:Films shot in New Jersey]] [[Category:Films shot in New York City]] [[Category:Films shot in Newark, New Jersey]] [[Category:Films that won the Best Original Score Academy Award]] [[Category:Golden Lion winners]] [[Category:Joker (character) in other media]] [[Category:Live-action films based on DC Comics]] [[Category:Obscenity controversies in film]] [[Category:Political controversies in film]] [[Category:Social thriller films]] [[Category:Supervillain films]] [[Category:Village Roadshow Pictures films]] [[Category:Warner Bros. films]] [[Category:English-language thriller films]]'