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8.0
Warner Bros. Pictures Acclaimed

Joker

DC · Joker Collection

2019 122 min R
Critic8.0
Crime Drama Thriller
Max Apple TV
Trailer Where to Watch

Overview

In a decaying 1981 Gotham City, isolated and mentally ill party clown Arthur Fleck struggles to be seen. As society repeatedly rejects him, his gradual descent gives rise to the persona of the Joker.
Story 7.5
Acting 9.5
Direction 8.0
Cinematography 8.5
Music 9.2
Pacing 7.5
Originality 8.0
Emotional Impact 8.2
Overall 8.0

Editorial Review

By FindEdition Cinema Desk

8.0 /10

A career-defining turn

Joaquin Phoenix's transformative, Oscar-winning performance carries the entire film.

Haunting craft

Hildur Guðnadóttir's cello-driven score and Lawrence Sher's cinematography create a suffocating mood.

Pros

  • Joaquin Phoenix's transformative performance
  • Haunting, Oscar-winning score
  • Striking cinematography and period detail
  • Ambitious, character-first storytelling

Cons

  • Bleak, uncomfortable tone
  • Divisive handling of its themes
  • Derivative of its cinematic influences
Verdict A bold, unsettling character study anchored by a towering Joaquin Phoenix performance and a haunting score. Divisive in its themes, but undeniably crafted and committed — a comic-book film that plays like a 1970s drama.

AI Review

Todd Phillips' Oscar-winning, billion-dollar character study of the Joker — a grounded, divisive origin story led by Joaquin Phoenix.

A bold, unsettling character study anchored by a towering Joaquin Phoenix performance and a haunting score. Divisive in its themes, but undeniably crafted and committed — a comic-book film that plays like a 1970s drama.

A must-see for its lead performance and craft — stream on Max; note it is a heavy, mature drama.

Awards

Academy Awards

Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) · Won

Academy Awards

Best Original Score · Won

Academy Awards

Best Picture · Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Director · Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Adapted Screenplay · Nominated

Venice Film Festival

Golden Lion (Best Film) · Won

Timeline

Release Date
Theatrical Date
Digital Date
Physical Date
Premiere
Festival
Status
Development

Conceived as a standalone origin story separate from Warner Bros.' shared DC universe, with Todd Phillips co-writing and directing.

Principal photography

Filmed in New York City, Jersey City and Newark from September to December 2018.

Release

Premiered at the Venice Film Festival on August 31, 2019 and released in the US on October 4, 2019.

Academy Awards

Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) Won

Academy Awards

Best Original Score Won

Academy Awards

Best Picture Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Director Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated

Venice Film Festival

Golden Lion (Best Film) Won

Production

Development

Conceived as a standalone origin story separate from Warner Bros.' shared DC universe, with Todd Phillips co-writing and directing.

Principal photography

Filmed in New York City, Jersey City and Newark from September to December 2018.

Release

Premiered at the Venice Film Festival on August 31, 2019 and released in the US on October 4, 2019.

Streaming

Max Apple TV

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix Arthur Fleck / Joker
Robert De Niro Murray Franklin
Zazie Beetz Sophie Dumond
Frances Conroy Penny Fleck
Brett Cullen Thomas Wayne
Glenn Fleshler Randall
Bill Camp Detective Garrity
Shea Whigham Detective Burke
Marc Maron Gene Ufland

Characters

Arthur Fleck / Joker Joaquin Phoenix
Murray Franklin Robert De Niro
Sophie Dumond Zazie Beetz
Penny Fleck Frances Conroy
Thomas Wayne Brett Cullen
Randall Glenn Fleshler
Detective Garrity Bill Camp
Detective Burke Shea Whigham
Gene Ufland Marc Maron

Crew

Todd Phillips Director
Todd Phillips Writer
Scott Silver Writer
Hildur Guðnadóttir Composer
Lawrence Sher Cinematographer
Jeff Groth Editor
Todd Phillips Producer
Bradley Cooper Producer
Emma Tillinger Koskoff Producer

Videos

Official Trailer

Soundtrack

  1. Original Score — Hildur Guðnadóttir

Trivia

  • The first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion worldwide.
  • Received a leading 11 nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, winning Best Actor and Best Original Score.
  • Won the Golden Lion, the top prize at the Venice Film Festival.
  • Joaquin Phoenix reportedly lost a significant amount of weight for the role.
  • Hildur Guðnadóttir became one of the few women to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score.

Quotes

"The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't."

"I used to think my life was a tragedy. But now I realize it's a comedy."

Goofs

  • During the subway sequence the revolver appears to fire more rounds than its cylinder capacity without a reload.

Community

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8.0 expert rating
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Community Insights

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Collections

Part of Joker Collection

Browse collection →

Universe

DC (standalone)

Explore universe →

Franchise

DC

A standalone origin story followed by the 2024 sequel Joker: Folie à Deux.

Browse franchise →

Recommendations & Alternatives

For higher ratings, consider Mad Max: Fury Road (9.3/10). A similarly themed alternative is Kung Fu Panda 2.

Higher Rated

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AI Recommendation Insight

Todd Phillips' Oscar-winning, billion-dollar character study of the Joker — a grounded, divisive origin story led by Joaquin Phoenix. Similar picks: Highly Rated Crime, Shared Cast, Highly Rated Thriller

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