Joker
Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film 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. 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 (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 and Newark, from September to December 2018. Joker is the first live-action theatrical Batman film to receive an R rating from the Motion Picture Association. 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. 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 highest-grossing R-rated film until being surpassed by Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. It was also the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2019. The film received numerous accolades, including two Academy Award wins at the 92nd Academy Awards for Best Actor (Phoenix) and Best Original Score out of 11 nominations including Best Picture, becoming the first DC film to do so. A sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, was released on October 4, 2024.
Hey, Arthur, I heard what happened. Sorry, mate. Yeah. It doesn't seem fair, getting fired like that. Did you really bring a gun to the children's hospital, Artie? What the fuck would you do that for? Is that part of your new act, Arthur? If your dancing doesn't do the trick, you're just gonna shoot yourself? Why don't you ask Randall about it? It was his gun. - What? - I still owe you for that, don't I? What the fuck are you talking about? Stop talking out of your ass, Art. Oh, no! I forgot to punch out.
Joker
And as our city tries to make sense of the brutal triple murder on the subway last week, we're joined by Thomas Wayne. Happy, look, Thomas Wayne's on TV. Yes, Mother. Thanks for having me on, Chuck. They're asking him about those horrible subway murders. Thank you, Thomas. I know this is a difficult time for you. Why him? Looks like he's gained weight. Yes, all three worked for Wayne Investments. Good, decent, educated. Although I didn't know any of them personally.
Joker
Like all Wayne employees, past and present, they're family. Did you hear that? I told you, we're family. There now seems to be a groundswell of anti-rich sentiment in the city. It's almost as if our less fortunate residents are taking the side of the killer. Yes, and it's a shame. It's one of the reasons why I'm considering a run for mayor. Gotham's lost its way. What about the eyewitness report of the suspect being a man in a clown mask? Well, it makes total sense to me. What kind of coward would do something that cold-blooded? Someone who hides behind a mask. Someone who is envious of those more fortunate than themselves, yet they're too scared to show their own face. And until those kind of people change for the better, those of us who have made something of our lives will always look at those who haven't as nothing but clowns.
Joker
I heard this song on the radio the other day, and the guy was singing that his name was Carnival. Arthur... Which is crazy, because that's my clown name at work. And until a little while ago, it was like nobody ever saw me. Even I didn't know if I really existed. Arthur, I have some bad news for you. You don't listen, do you?
Joker
I don't think you ever really hear me. You just ask the same questions every week. "How's your job? Are you having any negative thoughts?" All I have are negative thoughts, but you don't listen anyway. I said, for my whole life, I didn't know if I even really existed. But I do. And people are starting to notice. They've cut our funding. We're closing down our offices next week. The city has cut funding across the board. Social Services is part of that. This is the last time we'll be meeting. Okay. They don't give a shit about people like you, Arthur. And they really don't give a shit about people like me, either.
Joker
I think... I think most women look at sex like buying a car. You know, like, "Can I see myself in this long-term?" "Is it safe?" "Is it reliable?" "Could it kill me?" Most guys, we look at sex like parking a car. We're like, "There's a spot." "There's another spot. That would work." "Oh, I have to pay? Never mind." "Handicapped? I hope no one sees this."
Joker