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Joker (Movie)

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Arthur Fleck, while doing his routine dressed as a clown, is harassed by grade-schoolers who steal his sign. They lead him to a blind alley-way, where they ambush him and leave him beaten on the floor. He goes up to his apartment to take care of his mother. She states t

Joker is a 2019 psychological thriller film co-written and directed by Todd Phillips. Loosely based on the eponymous DC villain, it centers around mentally ill comedian Arthur Fleck who becomes a nihilistic murderer out of anger at the ableist society of Gotham City.

Despite initial controversy, the film was a massive box office success and won two Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix in the leading role. A sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, was released in 2024.

Synopsis for "Joker (Movie)"

Arthur Fleck, while doing his routine dressed as a clown, is harassed by grade-schoolers who steal his sign. They lead him to a blind alley-way, where they ambush him and leave him beaten on the floor. He goes up to his apartment to take care of his mother. She states that she is waiting for a letter from Thomas Wayne.

The next day, Arthur goes to his workplace and Randall gives him a gun. His boss then insults him and accuses him of stealing the business' sign. While in his apartment's elevator, he meets Sophie, his neighbor.

While on the train after a failed job, three college youths approach Arthur to mock him; they knock him on the floor and start to kick and beat him. Arthur shoots two of the youths dead while one flees. Arthur shoots him in the back, leaving all three youths dead.

The next day, the train murders are broadcasted on the news. Thomas Wayne claims the murderer to be a coward and those who can't get their life together are "clowns." Arthur is then seen speaking to his therapist. She informs him that the meeting would be the last since the city cut funding to support it. This causes Arthur to no longer have access to his medication.

While walking in Gotham, he sees support of the killer clown from strangers, saying he represents the poor and forgotten. He goes back to his apartment and his mother asks Arthur to mail out some letters written by her to Thomas Wayne. Arthur opens the letters, only to discover that his mother is claiming him to be the illegitimate child of Thomas.

Arthur goes to Wayne Manor where he talks to Bruce and harasses Alfred. His mother is sent to the Gotham General Hospital and Arthur is suspected by police. Arthur views a taping of the Murray Franklin show, where they insult his stand-up.

Later, Arthur talks to Thomas, where Thomas calls his mother crazy and says he's not his son. Arthur goes to Arkham State Hospital to get his mother's records. He finds out that he is adopted and she is lying. Arthur goes back to Gotham General and kills her. Afterwards, he gets a call to be on the Franklin Show. Gary and Randall go to check up on him, only for him to kill the latter.

Arthur later runs from the police as he heads to the show. While on the show, Arthur assumes the name "Joker" and confesses to the train murders. Joker then kills Murray and is arrested. Riots break outside and the hit the police car, freeing Joker. He embraces them.

Joker is then seen in a mental hospital speaking to a new therapist. The movie ends with him in bloody shoes being chased, insinuating that he killed her.

Appearing in "Joker (Movie)"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

  • Penny Fleck (Single appearance; dies) (Flashback and main story)
  • Sophie Dumond (First appearance) (Also as a hallucination)

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

Cast

Notes

  • A number of scenes were cut from the final version of the film:
    • One of the deleted scenes revolved around Arthur visiting the Gotham Cemetery, presumably attending the funeral for his mother.[1] A shot from this scene remained intact in the final trailer released in August.
    • After Arthur leaves the Ha-Ha Talent Agency, an additional scene depicts an argument between him and Randall in front of a giant Amusement Mile graffiti.[2]
    • As seen in multiple teaser trailers, there was originally a scene in which Arthur is thrown out of the cinema by security guards and seen rolling down the stairs.
  • This is the first film produced by DC Studios not to be a part of the DC Extended Universe.
  • The events of the Titans episode, "Dude, Where's My Gar", reveal that the continuity of this movie is set on an Earth of the Post-Crisis Arrowverse Multiverse but its designation has not been revealed.

Trivia

  • The work badge of Arthur's social worker reveals her name to be Debra Kane. The character of social worker Debra Kane was originally created by writer Andrew Vachss for the novel Batman: The Ultimate Evil. Of course, the name is also a tribute to Batman co-creator Bob Kane.
  • The logo for Live! With Murray Franklin is written in the same font as the Batman: The Animated Series logo.
  • The colors of Arthur's Joker suit match the basic colors used for the curtains at Murray Franklin's talk show.
  • This is the third continuity in which the Webb Institute in Glen Cove, New York was used for exterior shots of Wayne Manor, following the Burtonverse films Batman Forever and Batman & Robin and the television series Gotham.
  • At Wayne Manor's private playground, Bruce Wayne is seen sliding down a pole before walking towards Arthur Fleck at the gates. As confirmed by director Todd Phillips, this is an allusion to the Batpole from the 1966 television series Batman.[3]
  • A green question mark graffiti is seen in the elevator at Arkham State Hospital, presumably a reference to the Riddler.
  • Penny Fleck's former therapist at Arkham State Hospital is identified as Dr. Benjamin Stoner. In the DC Comics, Benjamin Stoner was one of the head doctors at Arkham Asylum and an enemy to Doctor Fate.
  • Arthur's deadly appearance at the Murray Franklin show is reminiscent of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #3, where the Joker makes a similarly shocking talk show appearance.

See Also


  1. ↑ https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/11/27/joker-movie-2019-joaquin-phoenix-set-photos-costume-graveyard/
  2. ↑ https://comicbook.com/dc/2018/09/16/joker-movie-2019-origin-joaquin-phoenix-set-photos-dc-films/
  3. ↑ https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2487870/joker-director-todd-phillips-admits-to-one-intentional-batman-easter-egg
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