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Joker 2019
A 2019 American psychological thriller film, Joker is directed by Todd Phillips who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver. The movie uses characters from DC Comics and stars Joaquin Phoenix in an alternative origin story for the Joker. Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill party clown and hopeful comedian, experiences a fall into moral emptiness that sparks a violent uprising against the rich in a crumbling Gotham City. Supporting actors include Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy.
Phillips developed the concept for Joker in 2016, and he and Silver completed the script during 2017. Their influences included character studies by 1970s and films from Martin Scorsese like Taxi Driver (1976) and The King of Comedy (1982); Scorsese was originally set to produce the film. Although the movie draws on elements from Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) and The Dark Knight Returns (1986), Phillips and Silver did not rely on specific comic sources, nor aimed to link it with previous Batman movies. Phoenix joined the project in February 2018 and was officially cast in July, with most of the main cast signing by August. Principal filming occurred in New York City, Jersey City, and Newark between September and December 2018. Joker became the first live-action theatrical Batman movie to be rated R by the Motion Picture Association.
The film made its debut at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, where it earned the Golden Lion. It opened in U.S. theaters on October 4 through Warner Bros. Pictures. Critics gave the film mixed reviews, although Phoenix’s acting was widely praised. The movie performed strongly at the box office, breaking records for an October release and earning over $1 billion globally. It was the first R-rated film to reach that milestone until it was overtaken by Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. The film received eleven nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two (Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Original Score), along with many other honors. A follow-up titled Joker: Folie à Deux appeared in 2024 but was both critically and commercially unsuccessful.
Trailer
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Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix[[Joker
- Robert De Niro
- Zazie BeetzSophie Dumond: A cynical single mother and Arthur's "love interest"
- Frances ConroyPenny Fleck: Arthur's mentally and physically ill mother
- Hannah Grossyoung Penny
- Brett CullenThomas Wayne
- Carrie Louise PutrelloMartha Wayne
- Douglas HodgeAlfred Pennyworth
- Dante Pereira-OlsonBruce Wayne
- Glenn FleshlerRandall and Gary
- Bill Campthe detectives Garrity and Burke in the Gotham City Police Department
- Marc MaronGene Ufland
- Sharon WashingtonDebra Kane
- Josh PaisHoyt Vaughn
- Brian Tyree HenryClark
- Frank WoodDr. Benjamin Stoner
- Gary Gulmanthe comedians at an open mic where Arthur performs
- Bryan CallenJavier
- Justin TherouxEthan Chase
- April Gracean Arkham therapist
Crew
- Director
- Todd Phillips
- Writer
- Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
- Producer
- Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper, Emma Tillinger Koskoff
- Cinematography
- Lawrence Sher
- Editing
- Jeff Groth
- Music
- Hildur Guðnadóttir
Details
- Production
- Bron Studios, DC Studios, Joint Effort, Village Roadshow Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures (United States)
- Distributor
- Warner Bros. Pictures (United States)
- Budget
- $55–70 million
- Box office
- $1.079 billion
