What is Joker about?
Joker is a 2019 psychological thriller that serves as an origin story for the DC Comics villain. Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix, it follows Arthur Fleck, a struggling party clown and aspiring stand-up comedian living in a decaying Gotham City. The film charts his mental collapse and his slide into violence, ending with the birth of the Joker persona.
Who is Arthur Fleck?
Arthur Fleck is a lonely, impoverished man in his thirties who supports his ill mother and works as a rent-a-clown. He lives with a condition that makes him laugh uncontrollably at the wrong moments, and he depends on city-funded medication and counseling to function. When those services are cut, his grip on reality loosens.
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What happens in the plot?
The story moves through a series of humiliations and rejections that push Arthur toward the edge.
- Teenagers beat him in an alley and destroy his work sign.
- A coworker gives him a gun, which he brings to a children's hospital and drops, costing him his job.
- On the subway, he shoots three wealthy men who harass a woman, sparking citywide protests.
- He learns his mother lied about his past and that he was adopted and abused as a child.
- He murders his mother, his coworker, and a talk show host on live television.
Who is the Joker in this version?
In this version, the Joker is not a criminal mastermind but a broken man reacting to neglect and cruelty. Arthur invents no grand plan and commands no gang. His followers in the clown-masked protest movement adopt him as a symbol after his subway shooting.
Does Joker follow the comics?
Joker borrows loose elements from DC lore rather than adapting a specific storyline. The film draws on the ambiguity of The Killing Joke and the tone of 1970s character studies set in New York. It also sits outside the main DC Extended Universe continuity.
What themes does Joker explore?
The film centers on social neglect, mental illness, and the failure of public services. It also examines media cruelty and the way humiliation can turn into rage. Class resentment runs through the protest subplot that frames Arthur as a folk hero to some Gotham residents.
How was Joker received?
Joker premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion, and opened in US theaters on October 4, 2019. Joaquin Phoenix won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and Hildur Guðnadóttir won Best Original Score. The film earned more than one billion dollars worldwide against a budget near fifty-five million.
Is there a sequel?
A sequel titled Joker: Folie à Deux was released on October 4, 2024, with Phoenix returning and Lady Gaga playing Harley Quinn. It continues Arthur's story inside Arkham State Hospital and adds musical sequences.