Joker (2019 film)
An alternative origin story for the Joker.
In 2019, director Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver, released *Joker*, an American psychological thriller. Drawing from DC Comics characters, the film stars Joaquin Phoenix in an alternate take on the Joker’s backstory. The story centers on Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill party clown and would-be stand-up comedian. His slide into moral nihilism sparks a violent uprising by the poor against Gotham City’s wealthy elite. Supporting roles are filled by Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy.
Phillips first had the idea for *Joker* in 2016, and he and Silver worked on the script throughout 2017. Their inspirations came from character-driven films of the 1970s, especially Martin Scorsese’s *Taxi Driver* (1976) and *The King of Comedy* (1982); Scorsese was initially set to produce. The movie loosely borrows plot points from the comics *Batman: The Killing Joke* (1988) and *The Dark Knight Returns* (1986), but Phillips and Silver otherwise avoided specific comic references and did not intend for it to connect to any earlier Batman film series. Phoenix signed on in February 2018 and was officially cast that July, with most of the rest of the cast joining by August. Principal photography took place from September to December 2018 in New York City, Jersey City, and Newark. This film became the first live-action theatrical Batman movie to earn an R rating from the Motion Picture Association.
*Joker* debuted at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, where it won the Golden Lion, and hit U.S. theaters on October 4 through Warner Bros. Pictures. Critics gave it mixed reviews, though Phoenix’s acting was widely praised. Commercially, it was a huge success, breaking records for an October release and eventually earning over $1 billion worldwide. While often noted for its R-rated box office milestone, it was actually *Deadpool* (2016) that first achieved this feat. *Joker* held the record for highest-grossing R-rated movie until *Deadpool & Wolverine* surpassed it in 2024. At the 92nd Academy Awards, the film received eleven nominations and won two: Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score. A sequel, *Joker: Folie à Deux*, came out in 2024 but was a critical and commercial disappointment.
**Plot**
Set in 1981, Arthur Fleck works as a party clown and tries his hand at stand-up comedy, living with his mother Pe
- Release year
- 2019
- Director
- Todd Phillips
- Screenplay by
- Todd Phillips and Scott Silver
- Starring
- Joaquin Phoenix
- Genre
- Psychological thriller
- Runtime
- Not specified
- Box office
- Over $1 billion worldwide
Lore & Background
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 (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 they 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 and Newark, from September to December 2018. Joker is the first live-action theatrical Batman film to receive an R rating.
Reader's Guide
Joker premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019 where it won the Golden Lion, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 4 by Warner Bros. Pictures. It received mixed reviews from critics, though Phoenix's performance received widespread acclaim. It was a major box office success, setting records for an October release and going on to gross over $1 billion worldwide, becoming the first R-rated film to do so. It held the record for highest-grossing R-rated film until being surpassed by Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. The film was nominated for eleven awards at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning two (Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score) and received numerous other accolades. A sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, was released in 2024, to critical and commercial failure.
Did You Know?
- Joaquin Phoenix lost 52 pounds (23 kg) for his role in the film.
- The film is the first live-action theatrical Batman film to receive an R rating from the Motion Picture Association.
- Joker became the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.
- Alec Baldwin was initially cast as Thomas Wayne but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
More in Supervillain films 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record