"[155] 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. Geeks + Gamers: Joaquin Phoenix Wins Oscar For Best Actor! "[172] Actor Vincent D'Onofrio, who portrays Wilson Fisk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, vocally commended Phoenix's performance in the film over 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. In denial, Arthur visits Arkham State Hospital and steals Penny's case file; the file says Penny adopted Arthur as a baby and allowed her abusive boyfriend to harm them both. [124] Following this, journalists were disinvited from the premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre, with only photographers being allowed to interact with the filmmakers and cast on the carpet. [98] The score was released on October 2, 2019, by WaterTower Music. [200][201] During the 2019–20 Lebanese protests, 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. Times are tough and, due to his issues and occupation, Arthur has an even worse time than most. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Funding cuts shut down the social service program, leaving Arthur without his medication. The city is collapsing under unemployment, crime, and financial ruin, leaving segments of the population disenfranchised and impoverished. Phoenix's agent suggested setting up an exploratory meeting with Warner Bros., but he declined and let go of the idea. However, sources associated with Leto deny that he attempted to get Joker canceled and left CAA because of it. [34][77] Bradley Cooper joined the film as a producer,[78] and the director of photography was Lawrence Sher, both of whom Phillips had previously collaborated with. [159] 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. Joker. [37][73] Alec Baldwin was cast as Thomas Wayne on August 27, but dropped out two days later due to scheduling conflicts. [104] The trailer, prominently featuring the song "Smile" performed by Jimmy Durante, generated positive responses, with some commentators comparing it to Taxi Driver and Requiem for a Dream and praising Phoenix's performance. [105][106] Writers described the trailer as dark and gritty,[107] with ComicBook.com's Jenna Anderson feeling it appeared more like a psychological thriller than a comic book film. "[54] 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. [148] It made $5.4 million from four countries on its first day and $18.7 million from 47 in its second, for a two-day total of $24.6 million. Similarly, Phillips commented that there were "a zillion hurdles" during the year-long writing process due to the visibility of the character. [72][23] At the end of July, Marc Maron,[38] and Bryan Callen joined the cast. [12] Prior to War Dogs, Phillips was mostly known for his comedy films, such as Road Trip (2000), Old School (2003), and The Hangover (2009); War Dogs marked a venture into more unsettling territory. [27] Alec Baldwin was initially cast in the role but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. [15], Following the disappointing critical and financial performance of Justice League (2017), in January 2018 Walter Hamada replaced Jon Berg as the head of DC-based film production at Warner Bros.[62] Hamada sorted through the various DC films in development, canceling some while advancing work on others; the Joker film was set to begin filming in late 2018 with a small budget of $55 million. "[208], On November 20, 2019, The Hollywood Reporter announced that a sequel was in development, with Phillips, Silver, and Phoenix expected to reprise their duties; however, Deadline Hollywood reported the same day that The Hollywood Reporter's story was false and that negotiations had not even begun. Arthur took a lot of anti depressant medication, and didn't seem to accept being offered alcohol, like when Randall and Gary came to his apartment with what appeared to be a wine bottle so did Arthur have to avoid alcohol while taking his anti depressant medication? Gotham is rife with crime and unemployment, leaving swaths of the population disenfranchised and impoverished. Frightened, Sophie tells him he is in the wrong apartment and asks him to leave; their relationship was merely a figment of Arthur's imagination. While Phoenix's performance, the musical score, and the cinematography were praised, the dark tone, portrayal of mental illness, and handling of violence divided opinions and generated concerns of inspiring real-life violence; the movie theater where the 2012 Aurora, Colorado mass shooting occurred during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises refused to show it. [45] Phoenix ruled out the Joker for his "character study" idea and tried to think of a different one. [103] At CinemaCon on April 2, 2019, Phillips unveiled the first trailer for the film,[39] which was released online the following day. [39] 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. [136], In August 2019, BoxOffice magazine analyst Shawn Robbins wrote that he expected Joker to gross $60–90 million during its opening weekend in North America. What I would like to see someone tackle is what Batman looks like from that Gotham. [168] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called it "the most disappointing film of the year." [30] Douglas Hodge plays Alfred Pennyworth, the butler and caretaker of the Wayne family,[31] and Dante Pereira-Olson plays Bruce Wayne, Thomas' son, who becomes the Joker's archenemy Batman as an adult. He seemingly escapes from his psychotherapy session, leaving behind a trail of bloodied footprints as he runs from an orderly. ", "Joker: Mark Hamill Weighs in on Joaquin Phoenix's Chilling Trailer", "We Just Got Our First Look at Footage of Joaquin Phoenix in DC's Joker", "Joker Trailer Clocks Up Over 8 Million Views in a few hours", "Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Movie Releases New Teasers, Reveals Trailer Release Date", "Kevin Smith Praises the New Joker Trailer", "Joaquin Phoenix's Joker film praised as a dark and twisted "masterpiece" by critics as first reactions land", "Joker Is Powerful, Confused And Provocative, Just Like The Character", "Trump hosts White House screening of 'Joker, "JOKER Rushed Back to Theaters After Double-Digit Oscar Nominations", "U.S. Military Issues Warning to Troops About Incel Violence at Joker Screenings [Updated]", "Joaquin Phoenix walked out of an interview after a critic asked him whether 'Joker' would inspire mass shooters", "Warner Bros. says the 'Joker' team won't give interviews at its red carpet premiere", "Joker Is Coming To Digital, DVD And Blu-ray Just In Time For The Holidays", "Joker becomes first R-rated movie to gross $1 billion worldwide", "Joker is now the most profitable comic book movie of all time", "Box Office: How 'Joker' Became Insanely Profitable", "New Box Office Tracking Suggests Joker Could Close in on $100M Opening Weekend", "Long Range Forecast: Terminator: Dark Fate, Plus a Big Joker Update", "Box Office: Joker Scores $55 Million Second Weekend", "Box Office: 'Maleficent 2' Stumbles to No. Arthur Fleck works as a clown and is an aspiring stand-up comic. [176] At the 73rd British Academy Film Awards, the film won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Phoenix), Best Casting and Best Original Score out of a leading eleven nominations including Best Film. [63] The deal with Phoenix was finalized in July 2018,[64] after four months of persuasion from Phillips. In Gotham City, mentally troubled comedian Arthur Fleck is disregarded and mistreated by society. 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. "[173] 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. [4], Joker premiered 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. The following day, Arthur kills Penny at the hospital. Discover five fun facts about Joker in our Pop Trivia. [212] During an interview with Variety at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Phillips expressed interest in a spin-off focusing on Batman, saying, "It's a beautiful Gotham. [18][71] Frances McDormand declined an offer to portray the mother of the Joker, and Frances Conroy was cast. That's all I meant by that. While the filming start date was scheduled for September 10, Joker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, United States Department of Homeland Security, List of accolades received by Joker (2019 film), BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture, "Warner Bros. [46][98] The use of "Rock and Roll Part 2" generated controversy when it was reported that its singer Gary Glitter (a convicted sex offender) would receive royalties, but it was later confirmed he would not. Here are some great movies worth streaming that you won't see at the Oscars this year. [36] By mid-November, filming had moved back to New York. "The movie, with great pain and in detail, explains how Arthur Fleck turns into Joker dejected by the way the world treats him. [88] At CinemaCon the following month, he stated the film was "still taking shape" and was difficult to discuss, as he hoped to maintain secrecy. [141] 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 million debut), and that Joker was its second-bestselling R-rated film of 2019 behind John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. Randall lies to management that Arthur bought the gun himself and Arthur is fired. The stairs have become a tourist destination and the subject of Internet memes, with visitors often reenacting the scene from the film in which Fleck dances down the stairs in his Joker attire. Template:Good article Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film directed and produced by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver. "[11] 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. When he meets Marla (Helena Bonham Carter),... See full summary ». 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. Online shopping for Movies & TV from a great selection of TV, Movies & more at everyday low prices. [a] Rioters in an ambulance crash into the police car carrying Arthur, freeing him; he stands atop the car, dances to the cheers of the crowd, and smears blood on his face in the form of a smile. "[57] 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. After a gang of delinquents attacks Arthur in an alley, his co-worker Randall gives him a gun for protection. "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.'" "[162] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said he was lost for words in describing Phoenix's performance, calling the film "gut-wrenching" and "simply stupendous. [161] Deadline Hollywood's Pete Hammond believes the film redefines the Joker and is "impossible to shake off." [58] Having grown up in New York, Phillips also drew inspiration from life in New York City during the early 1980s. All I have are negative thoughts. Was this review helpful to you? [120], 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 community. [135] Deadline Hollywood estimated the film made a net profit of $437 million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues. Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. 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." Over time these issues bear down on him, shaping his actions, making him ultimately take on the persona he is more known as...Joker. [97] Additionally, the film features the songs "That's Life", "Send In the Clowns", "White Room," and "Rock and Roll Part 2". [12] Instead, they used certain elements of the Joker lore to produce an original story,[61] which Phillips wanted to feel as authentic as possible. The film, based on DC Comics characters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker and provides an alternative origin story for the character. This path brings him face-to-face with his alter-ego: the Joker. [133], On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 68% based on 576 reviews, with an average rating of 7.30/10. [66] 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. Directed by Todd Phillips. [200][201] In Hong Kong, protesters challenged an emergency decree prohibiting the wearing of masks by wearing those of fictional characters such as the Joker. Joker [15], Phillips pitched the idea for Joker to Warner Bros. after his film War Dogs premiered in August 2016. "[67], Scorsese's longtime associate Koskoff joined to produce,[68][69] although Scorsese left his producing duties due to other obligations. [7] Despite this, Joker became a major box office success and set records for an October release. [53], The script draws inspiration from Scorsese films such as Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and The King of Comedy (1983),[50][46] as well as Phillips' Hangover Trilogy. Sophie attends Arthur's stand-up routine, which goes poorly; he laughs uncontrollably and has difficulty delivering his jokes. [131], Joker grossed $335.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $738.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.074 billion. "[94] In the United Kingdom, the BBFC gave the film a 15 certificate. The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe. [55] 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. 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. [144] During its second weekend, the film made an additional $125.7 million worldwide,[150] and $77.9 million in its third. He struggles with severe depression personally but finds some form of optimism in performing for others and trying to make people laugh. Arthur intercepts a letter written by Penny to Thomas, alleging that he is Thomas's illegitimate son, and berates his mother for hiding the truth.