For the last several weeks when celebrities and parties have come up in the same sentence, it’s been a discussion of the parties thrown by Sean “Diddy” Combs that are the subject of a federal indictment against the rapper and mogul. Considering all of that, it's extra sweet to hear about Leonardo DiCaprio’s 50th birthday party, which looks to have been quite the shindig. And it apparently had a guest list that would make the Governor’s Ball at the Academy Awards blush, as it truly featured a murderer's row of celebrities.

Leonardo DiCaprio turns 50 years old today, November 11, but he held his party over the weekend. The guest list was shared by deuxmoi on Instagram, and it's absolutely staggering. From DiCaprio’s fellow stars from his generation to some of the great directors that he's has worked with (and those he almost collaborated with), the guest list included:

• Brad Pitt & Ines de Ramon
• Mark Ruffalo
• Benicio del Toro
• Soleil Moon Frye
• Todd Phillips
• Kevin Connolly & Zulay Henao
• Chris Rock
• Jamie Foxx
• Guillermo del Toro
• Paris Hilton
• Lukas Haas
• Steven Spielberg
• Bill Maher
• Casey Affleck
• Emile Hirsch
• Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom
• Cara Delevingne
• Tobey Maguire
• Robin Thicke & April Love Geary
• Odell Beckham Jr.
• Teyana Taylor
• Edward Norton
• Chuck Lidell
• Dr. Dre

There may have been even more stars in attendance, but this list alone is truly a who’s who of Hollywood. Being there had to be an incredible experience. Leonardo DiCaprio's father and stepmother were the only non-celebrities reported to be in attendance. It must have been a pretty amazing night for them, I'd think.

A few of these names are potentially surprising, but it’s very interesting to see who the Wolf of Wall Street star decided to invite to the event. He and Edward Norton have been friends for a long time. The same goes for DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, who were part of the same real-life poker game that inspired the movie Molly’s Game.

It's also great that Leonardo DiCaprio invited his Catch Me If You Can director Steven Spielberg. The same goes for Guillermo del Toro, who almost directed DiCaprio, as he was originally attached to star in Nightmare Alley before he had to drop out and was replaced by Bradley Cooper. I would have loved to have seen those two meet up at the party. If there’s a chance they could work together down the road that’s a very exciting prospect that they probably talked about.

DiCaprio’s One Upon A Time…In Hollywood co-star Brad Pitt -- along with his serious girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, -- was there, as was his Shutter Island co-star Mark Ruffalo. The Revenant star also invited a couple of people who it looks like he may have gotten to know in his role as a producer. DiCaprio produced Out of the Furnace, which included Casey Affleck in its cast. He also produced Kid 90, the documentary film directed by former Punky Brewster star Soleil Moon Frye.

Needless to say, certainly looks like Leonardo DiCaprio’s birthday party was the hottest ticket in town. Now I just need to figure out how to become his friend before next year.

No matter what happens between now and the end of the year, Todd Phillips’ Joker 2 is going to be remembered as one of the year’s most disappointing films released in theaters in 2024. The sequel bombed at the box office, alienated critics, and seemed to be a middle finger aimed at the audience that embraced the original movie. The movie can, and likely will, be examined for years to come about its intent, because there’s an argument to be made that Joker 2 was a direct reaction to the crowd that embraced Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) as a “hero.” And that’s part of the reason why Joker 2 co-star Tim Dillon hates the film, and thinks it failed.

Tim Dillon is a comic and a podcaster who played an Arkham Asylum guard in Todd Phillips’ Joker 2. And even though he’s in the movie, he’s no fan. While appearing on The Joe Rogan Podcast, Dillon got right to the point when he told the host:

One of the standout elements of Joker 2 was the choice by Todd Phillips to make it a musical… without actually being a musical. Yes, the movie stars Lady Gaga, And yes, there are multiple moments in the film where characters break into song – sometimes to move the narrative along, and other times just so Phillips can stage flashy sequences. It allowed the creatives behind Joker 2 to make the argument that the movie was NOT a musical, but that confusion bled into audiences trying to figure out what, exactly, Joker 2 was trying to be.

That confusion apparently swept up the cast as they worked on it. As Tim Dillon went on to explain to Joe Rogan:

Joker 2 kept audiences guessing about its true intent until the very last shot. And as I wrote, I disliked what the finale said about Arthur Fleck’s journey, mainly because I thought that it negated the impact of the first movie. Why would anyone go back and rewatch two movies about a guy who doesn’t eventually become the Joker? It’s almost like Todd Phillips was playing a joke on his audience. Which is why Tim Dillon ultimately surmisses:

This has been a pretty solid year for comic book stories. Deadpool and Wolverine was a box office smash, and audiences flocked to The Penguin on Max, and Agatha All Along on Disney+ earlier this year. DC launches its new cinematic universe in December with Creature Commandos, but I don’t think we’re going to get Joker 3 anytime soon. Or ever.

There are many factors that played into the success of 2019’s Joker, chief among them being a groundbreaking, Academy Award-winning performance by Joaquin Phoenix. He plays the bizarrely goofy titular character, Arthur Fleck, who is a complicated man that showcases a wide range of emotions. After all, he is known for an iconic laugh that comes about as a compulsion during moments that are anything but funny. In the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, we see a brand new Arthur Fleck quirk: his satirical Southern drawl. Now the film’s director Todd Phillips has given us the lowdown as to the accent’s origins.

I spoke with Todd Phillips on behalf of Joker: Folie à Deux, and when I asked about Joaquin Phoenix’s Southern accent while he was representing himself in the courtroom scenes, Phillips said this:

The scene in question is rather unsettling, in classic Joker fashion, as the manic Arthur Fleck provides something of a Matlock spoof during his tense murder trial. There are no surprises in Phillips’ response, as both Joker: Folie à Deux and its predecessor involve a plethora of film and television Easter Eggs. After all, the opening sequence of Folie à Deux is a Loony Toons-esque spoof, further emphasizing the idea that the character of Fleck has primarily experienced life through a television screen. It’s no coincidence, then, that this is where he committed the public murder that would define his legacy. The trial in Folie à Deux was also televised. I guess there are no coincidences.

Joker: Folie à Deux has thus far underwhelmed at the box office, especially when you consider the record-breaking performance of Joker. While audiences are ripping it apart, some folks are profoundly affected by the film, with CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell saying that he “can’t stop thinking about it.” With all of the mixed opinions and internet chatter, not to mention an ending that provides even more mystery surrounding this incarnation of Joker’s place in the DC canon, it’s worth seeing just to be a part of the conversation, if nothing else. I have spoken to critics who “loved” it, I have spoken to critics who “hated” it, and I have spoken to critics who were too floored to even develop an opinion. That’s cinema, folks, and a rather profound impact to have on pop culture!

You can see Joker: Folie à Deux in theaters right now! We may be approaching the end of the year, but there are plenty more exciting new releases coming our way in 2024, so keep it here at CinemaBlend for the latest updates!

With so many distinct stories being told involving DC Comics heroes and villains, one might assume that — for a grinning, face-painted example — the fate of Todd Phillips’ standalone sequel Joker: Folie À Deux wouldn’t have any direct effects on James Gunn’s Superman and the launch of the first chapter of the DCU. Which might have been the case had it made all the money in the world, but with the quasi-musical severely underwhelming at the box office, Warner Bros. execs are reportedly getting antsy.

Despite the ever-decreasing amount of goodwill and fanfare aimed at the Joker sequel and stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, hopes were still kept marginally high that the offbeat DC villain tale would defy the odds and crush its theatrical competition on the way to becoming another billion-dollar success story. Instead, the demented drama's debut weekend topped out below $38 million domestically, raising questions about how other upcoming DC movies may fare.

Even with a global box office intake that matches up with expectations, Joker: Folie À Deux's dramatically low weekend returns are apparently being viewed as the moviegoing fandom turning up its nose at Arthur Fleck and Lee Quinzel. According to one insider, per THR:

I can't imagine anyone at Warner Bros. expected its Joker follow-up, which allegedly wasn't part of any initial test screenings, to fall harder out of the gate than DC's non-blockbuster releases The Flash, Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Blue Beetle, not to mention also doing worse than the MCU's The Marvels and Sony's punchline factory Morbius. And yet it did, and unless the movie suddenly finds a miraculous growth in grassroots support, its weekend earnings will only dwindle from here on out.

Despite seeming to purposefully distance himself and the DCU from Todd Phillips' Joker films as much as possible, James Gunn's hot seat has become all the more searing after a string of DC box office blows. (Let's not forget the disappointing returns from Black Adam and the long-delayed Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.) And for all its financial woes, Joker: Folie à Deux also suffers from fan backlash over the devisive ending.

So while Gunn didn't appear to be under oodles of outward pressure while filming his upcoming Man of Steel adventure with David Corenswet, an industry insider said:

At this point, the hype and interest could not be more widespread for Gunn's Superman, the animated Creature Commandos series and other upcoming DC TV series, the rumored villain-fronted feature with Bane and Deathstroke, The Brave and the Bold, and the rest of the planned slate. As such, it almost seems silly to think that he and his partner in fictional crimefighting, Peter Safran, are actually nervous about the Joker sequel potentially having a negative impact on anything they do.

Granted, I don't think anyone would have predicted just how much of downfall Joker: Folie à Deux would suffer back when Joaquin Phoenix won the flipping Oscar for his first outing as Arthur. But it's not like any of the MCU's ups and downs over the years had any major impact on James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy films. And it's not as if the studio can gut the budget on a film that's already been filmed, when we already know it's going to be advertised across the entire universe.

So for now, the joke is squarely on this DC Elseworlds tale, but we shall see if its disappointing box office ripples extend all the way out to Superman's eventual release amidst the 2025 movie schedule.

Spoilers for Joker: Folie à Deux lie ahead here, so read on at your own risk.

The recently released Joker: Folie à Deux is causing a stir amongst critics and general moviegoers. Based on the reactions to Todd Phillips’ sequel, people take issue with the filmmaker’s creative choices. Among the biggest points of contention is the ending, which really pissed off fans of the original movie. Anyone looking for clarification on that is in luck, though, because Phillips provided clarity. He cleared up the mystery regarding a major decision on Arthur Fleck’s part and explained what that says about the man’s true identity.

What Happened At The End Of Joker 2?

Much of the critically panned Joker sequel revolves around the trial of Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck in the aftermath of the murders he committed in the 2019 film. The defense constructed by Fleck’s attorney, Maryanne Stewart (Katherine Keener), is built on the premise that Arthur has two personalities. One of those is Fleck himself, and the other is the Joker persona, who Stewart argues is truly responsible for the murders of Murray Franklin and more. And, for a while, Fleck solemnly helps his lawyer make this argument.

The Arkham inmate eventually takes matters into his own hands and becomes bent on representing himself. What ultimately happens, though, is that Arthur’s mindset changes after he hears former co-worker Gary Puddles’ testimony. The death of Fleck’s friend and fellow inmate, Ricky, at the hands of Arkham’s guards also deeply affects him. With that, at his sentencing the following day, Fleck admits to his crimes and formally discards his Joker persona, disappointing his avid followers and would-be lover, Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga).

Arthur’s choice proves to be a fatal one, as he’s later stabbed to death by a disappointed inmate in Arkham, with the set-up of the murder being formed as a joke. While Fleck bleeds to death, the patient laughs while carving a smile into their face – indicating that the true Joker has just been born. Needless to say, fans are feeling a way about Arthur’s decision, but it sounds like Todd Phillips didn’t make that storytelling choice lightly.

How Todd Phillips Explained The Movie's Ending

The Hangover director spoke with Entertainment Weekly, during which he broke down the conclusion of his 2024 movie release. He explained that Arthur’s course of action ultimately comes down to a few epiphanies on the lead character’s part. One of those is in regard to society as a whole, and the other involves his place within it:

Arthur long believed himself to be a social outcast but, after creating Joker, he seemed to find a twisted sense of purpose and belonging with those who rooted for him. However, as Todd Phillips explained, Ricky’s death was a major catalyst in letting Fleck know that he wasn’t actually affecting any societal change. And, on top of that, it became evident that the public was only interested in his clown-centric alter ego and not who he actually is.

Since fans have screened Joker 2, they’ve chastised not only the ending but the musical elements, Lee’s relatively small role and more. Audiences tore it apart on Rotten Tomatoes, and it also earned a D rating on CinemaScore, which makes it the lowest rated comic book movie ever on that platform. Despite all of the backlash, it does indeed sound like Todd Phillips told and ended the story the way he wanted to.

If you haven’t already, formulate your own take on Joker: Folie à Deux by checking it out in theaters now. Also, be sure to read up on the upcoming DC movies that are currently on the docket.

Critics were at odds when they saw Joker: Folie à Deux’s premiere at the Venice International Film Festival last month. Some — like Eric Eisenberg in the CinemaBlend review of Joker 2 — said it was tough to watch with its unrelenting cruelty and overindulgent musical numbers. Others raved about Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, and for our own Sean O’Connell, it changed the way he saw the first film. As audiences start to weigh in ahead of its release on the 2024 movie calendar, it’s pretty clear which side of the coin they collectively fall on, as the upcoming Batman movie is taking some brutal hits.

The next chapter of Arthur Fleck has pulled in a 48% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s in the audience reactions where the Todd Phillips sequel is really taking hits. The verified user Paul, for instance, gives the movie just 1 star out of 5, writing:

I actually love the description of the sequel as A Star Is Born: Joker Edition, especially given that Lady Gaga was encouraged to “sing poorly” in her role as Lee Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn). Many of the audience’s gripes seem to involve the musical aspect of the sequel. Other reactions include:

• Didn't realize it was a musical. Terrible ending for a joker film. – Marie
• I was excited to see this but was disappointed. They tried to make it a musical but most of the singing wasn't good. Not much of a story and little to no comedy. It was depressing really. – Bryan
• Save your money. I do enjoy broadway but not for joker movie. – German G.
• Ridiculously unnecessary and boring. – WTF
• Awful movie, waiting this long for the second part and they made so bad. – Raul E.
• Hated it and left with a headache. Such a disappointment. – Ayssa

If the decision to make the sequel to the 2019 Academy Award-winning film into a musical is confusing to you, you’re not the only one. It seems the people involved aren’t even sure about the genre, as Lady Gaga herself said it’s not a musical but then proceeded to describe it as exactly what a musical is.

Furthermore, while it does continue the story of Arthur Fleck following the events of the first movie, Todd Phillips doesn’t see Joker: Folie à Deux as a sequel. Audience member Brian B. says he was distracted by the music, and he’s not buying any of the conjecture that it’s not a musical, writing:

ELI is another verified moviegoer who feels Joker 2 does fans of the Batman villain a disservice, saying:

Many people are likely to head to theaters this weekend regardless of any negative opinions, just based on their love of the first movie, but assessments like this one from Moon likely aren’t going to do those box office numbers any favors:

What strikes me the most is that the audience members who are ripping on Joker: Folie à Deux went into the movie wanting to love it. Maybe the musical element changed the tone too much for their liking, but whatever it is, the response is brutal. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, the sequel hits theaters on Friday, October 4. Joker, meanwhile, is available to stream with a Max subscription if you’d rather just rewatch the first one.

Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga are two revered actors who, at various times in their careers, have been the subject of controversy and fan speculation. It’s only fitting, then, that Joker: Folie à Deux be as sensationalized as the actors themselves. Whether it’s Gaga’s official/unofficial hype track (which has now been confirmed with the release of her album Harlequin) or unrevealed details surrounding the film itself, it seems that fans online can’t stop talking about the follow-up to Todd Phillips’ Best Picture-nominated 2019 film. Not that Phillips himself would know, though, as he hasn’t read a word of it.

I spoke with Todd Phillips ahead of the upcoming sequel's release, and when I mentioned the internet chatter, he volunteered this information:

This makes perfect sense, especially when you consider that Todd Phillips had previously mentioned that when all eyes are on your project, it disrupts the creative process. Now that reviews are starting to roll in, with some of them being less than positive, it would be treacherous territory to keep up with all of the opinions and rumors.

Even though the director doesn’t view the film as a sequel, it would only be natural for him to hold it to the standard of Joker and its record-breaking success. That pressure mixed with the constant speculation would be maddening for anyone, which is ironic given Joker’s ability to spark more discussion surrounding the mental health of average folks.

This hasn’t kept Todd Phillips offline completely, though, as he recently took to social media to celebrate Joker: Folie à Deux's premiere at the Venice Film Festival. He has every right to be stoked, as the film is a pretty incredible accomplishment with unique musical pieces and dynamite chemistry between the two leads. Our own Sean O’Connell said that he “can’t stop thinking about it,” which could be a good thing, a bad thing or somewhere in between. Either way, doesn’t that sound like the kind of movie you should see?

Joker: Folie à Deux will be in theaters everywhere on October 4! Will it dominate at the box office like its predecessor? Keep it here at CinemaBlend to find out. If you require a rewatch of Joker in order to get prepared for Folie à Deux you can do so right now with a Max subscription.

No one could have foreseen the success of 2019’s Joker. Not only did the film hit the $1 billion mark globally and earn a best picture nomination, but it also sparked an important mental health discussion, making it one of the defining films of the last decade. Naturally, Warner Bros. -- the studio behind the film -- wanted a sequel immediately. So why did it ultimately take so long for the sequel, Joker: Folie À Deux, to be released? Well, writer/director Todd Phillips just explained all of that to CinemaBlend.

I recently caught up with Todd Phillips to talk about Folie À Deux. During our chat, I brought up the studio's push for more Arthur Fleck, and he said this:

It was just starting to feel like we were past the times of reporting on COVID delays in Hollywood but, alas, here we are. Todd Phillips’ patience with the studio is a little surprising, given how hard they must have been coming at him. However, it seems that the whole idea just came about naturally. That’s for the best, isn’t it? It’s fair to assume that great art comes about with free-flowing creativity, and not pressure from your corporate overlords.

Hopefully, this translates into a film that audiences love just as much as Joker. As of now, it’s fair to say that critics are mixed on Joker: Folie À Deux. In CinemaBlend's own Joker 2 review, Eric Eisenberg praised the pairing of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga but state that as a whole the film doesn’t “totally work.”

Joaquin Phoenix previously stated that he doesn’t really care about that type of success, . With that, I'd imagine that the actor -- who won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance as Fleck presumably be happy enough if the film impacted folks the way that the first film in the series did in 2019.

Regardless of how the film is received, it's clear that Todd Phillips and co. traveled down a long road to get to this moment. It'll be very intriguing to see how the film is ultimately received.

You can see Joker: Folie À Deux in theaters on October 4! To prepare for your own showing, be sure to stream the movie's 2019 predecessor with a Max subscription And, as always, be sure to read up on other film heading our way in 2024.

While cinematic universes continue to be the mold for most comic book projects, there are a few franchises that are unconstrained by them. That includes the Joker franchise, and its sequel Folie à Deux is the next upcoming DC movie heading to theaters. It's set in a unique timeline crafted by filmmaker Todd Phillips, who recently revealed how Joaquin Phoenix’s character would react to Batman.

In the first Joker (which is streaming with a Max subscription), we saw Arthur interact with a young Bruce Wayne. The Joker ending saw Bruce's parents killed in a wave of crime inspired by Fleck, so it would take many years before the newly orphaned Wayne could actually train and become The Dark Knight. During an interview with IGN, the Hangover filmmaker mused about how the Joaquin Phoenix character might react to Gotham's Protector. He said:

And now we know. Looks like rather than trying to make Batman smile or fight him in the streets of Gotham, Arthur would end up being amazed by the beloved DC hero. This might be surprising for hardcore fans of the comics, but the character is a new creation that isn't operating by the same rules as Mr. J.

What we now about Joker: Folie à Deux is limited, so it's unclear if Bruce Wayne will be seen or referenced throughout its runtime. But we can rest assured that there's no way Batman is showing up, so we'll never see the scene Todd Phillips is referencing. And since he's not interested in Joker 3, that's one character interaction that will presumably just be hypothetical.

Still, the cast list for Joker 2 is nothing to ignore, especially it leading duo Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. The trailer for Folie à Deux have teased the musical numbers that'll be included in the forthcoming sequel, which is an interesting departure from its predecessor. But after the first movie earned Phoenix an Oscar, Todd Phillips and company are seemingly able to take even bigger risks.

While there won't be a Batman, I'm eager to see if Lady Gaga's character Lee ever truly becomes the Harley Quinn we know and love. The Joker franchise isn't operating with typical rules of the comics, so just about anything could happen.

The truth will be revealed when Joker: Folie à Deux hits theaters on October 4th. Check out the 2025 movie release dates to plan your films for next year.

The Venice Film Festival is in full swing, with creatives coming from all over the world to showcase their movies in the Italian water locked city. Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie À Deux was one of the buzzy features that was screened in the past week, and it was a star-studded premiere. Both Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga showed up to the event to support the project along with the director. The filmmaker posted photos and a fun message from the festival on social media on social media as the press tour kicks off, and it's such a mood.

In his recent Instagram post, Todd Phillips showcased some highlights from the weekend in Venice. He shared photos of himself alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, who both had some big fashion moments throughout the weekend. The Venetian setting is one of the world’s most beautiful, somewhat contrasting the dark content of the latest Joker film. The trio looked fabulous together, cementing themselves as the effortlessly cool kids of the film festival. You can see the stars at the event below:

That's certainly a sweet way to debut your movie and kick off what's sure to be a massive press tour. And, seriously, the black-and-white motif totally works for me. In the caption for his social media post, the Hangover helmer thanked the festival organizers for such a wonderful weekend. He also referenced the fact that this was the second time his DC crew had been at the event, as 2019’s Joker also premiered in Venice. In his own words, the filmmaker said:

The film is already garnering buzz. However, reactions to the film out of Venice were admittedly polarizing. Our very own Eric Eisenberg reviewed Joker: Folie À Deux and, while he praised the chemistry and performances by Phoenix and Lady Gaga, he had problems with the pacing and tone of the film. He isn’t alone in his assessment as, in general, critics are mixed on Todd Phillips' film. However, the movie did still receive an 11-minute standing ovation in Venice.

Even if reviews so far are mixed, the franchise's first entry also had many naysayers and was considered controversial. Joker scored a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, and Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor for his performance. So Folie À Deux still may resonate with audiences and fans of the first film. We'll have to wait and see how the general public receives the movie but, right now, it seems obvious that Todd Phillips and co. are ready to soak in the buzz! Also, here's hoping he drops more black-and-white pics.

You can check out Joker: Folie À Deux when it hits theaters nationwide on October 4th amid the 2024 movie schedule. Fans can also revisit Joaquin Phoenix’s Academy Award winning performance in the first film, which is currently streamable for Max subscription holders.

Joaquin Phoenix’s new offering on the 2024 movie calendar may have the word “Deux” in the title, but he and the rest involved are not really considering Joker: Folie À Deux a sequel. The actor’s original portrayal of the classic Batman villain earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, and now Phoenix is back to continue Arthur Fleck’s story. Joker 2 premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 4 to mixed reviews, as critics say the film is “compelling,” and yet “senselessly devoted to sabotaging” itself.

The sequel picks up two years after the events of Joker, with Arthur Fleck living as a patient in the Arkham State Hospital, where he becomes interested in his music therapist Lee Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga). In the CinemaBlend review of Joker: Folie À Deux, Eric Eisenberg calls the musical “overindulgent,” saying that while the character study offers some real surprises, it harvests a blend of misery and monotony. He rates the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, writing:

Even CinemaBlend's critics appear to be somewhat at odds, as our own Sean O’Connell also weighs in on the project by returning director and co-writer Todd Phillips. He says he can’t stop thinking about the provocative sequel, as “a study in isolation, a fascinating analysis of the worshiping of false gods, and a showcase for the blistering talents of Joaquin Phoenix.” He continues:

Bill Bria of SlashFilm rates Joker 2 as an 8 out of 10, saying the decision to turn this movie into a musical makes it one of the most compelling comic book movie of the year. Bria writes:

Yasmine Kandil of AwardsWatch gives Joker: Folie À Deux a “B,” calling it a “deranged duet of musical mischief.” Blending the genres of musical and courtroom drama feels fresh, Kandil says — at least at first, as the format loses its charm over the 138-minute runtime. Still, the critic says:

Total Film’s Jordan Farley seems to have a response to that question, as the critic says the combination of those genres “fails to hit the high notes.” Farley notes that it feels smaller and more insular, providing a less-effective vehicle for Joaquin Phoenix to play in. The critic says:

Making the sequel into a musical is definitely a unique choice, with Lady Gaga no less, but does it make for an ingenious character study? Or does the genre dampen the movie’s message? You’ll be able to find out for yourself soon enough when Joker: Folie À Deux makes it to theaters on Friday, October 4.

Director Todd Phillips took some big swings with Joker. Yes, the film centers on one of the best and most notorious pop culture villains of all time (and it’s a role that earned Heath Ledger an Academy Award), but it was a gamble that asked audiences to accept its extreme grimness and a bleak character study that doesn’t prioritize anything that remotely resembles that is familiar as “comic book movie entertainment.”

Phillips was right to test the hunger for the style and approach, as the 2019 release was an immense success in multiple respects: the director found a phenomenal collaborator in Joaquin Phoenix, it’s a gripping and impactful drama that is hard to shake from one’s mind, and it spent years as the highest grossing R-rated release of all time.

To the credit of Joker: Folie À Deux, the five-years-later sequel, the big swings certainly continue. The familiar unpleasant atmosphere is back in full force, it is very much a musical (undeniably a shocking genre choice), and there is an evident meta commentary in Todd Phillips and Scott Silver’s screenplay that takes a surprising look at the audience’s reception of the previous chapter. The big difference this time out, however, is that some of those big swings end up being overswings that eclipse the movie’s best qualities.

Joker: Folie À Deux is only 16 minutes longer than its predecessor, but you really end up feeling that time thanks to the mix of unrelenting heavy vibes and cruelty, the minimalist approach to plot, and what is ultimately an overindulgent number of musical sequences. The dismal and horrific tale of Arthur Fleck remains compelling, the character once again brought to life with a chaotic and emotional turn by Joaquin Phoenix, and he’s provided a great scene partner in Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn – what proves to be an intriguing interpretation of the quirky villainess. But languid pacing renders the film thin, and the impact of its smart, shocking finale is dampened by the journey to get there.

The film catches up with Arthur Fleck as he lives life locked up Arkham Asylum awaiting trial for the murder of five people – including the on-air killing of talk show host Murray Franklin. While Gotham District Attorney Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) puts together a case against him, Arthur’s lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), builds a defense around the idea that “Joker” is a dissociative identity and hopes to get him acquitted of charges with an insanity plea.

Under the eyes of a brutish guard (Brendan Gleeson) who trades him cigarettes in exchange for a joke a day, Arthur is a model patient, and it earns him the opportunity to make visits to the minimum security ward and participate in organized singing classes. It’s in these sessions that he gets to know fellow patient Lee Quinzel – who he instantly falls in love with – and amid a public movement of support, he is encouraged to embrace his dark clown persona.

Joker: Folie À Deux is made up of impressive pieces that don’t quite come together as a whole.

Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix notably left their time making Joker not wanting to leave the world behind, and to their credit, Joker: Folie À Deux in no way feels superfluous or like a victory lap. In fact, it’s a bit of the opposite, as there is a read of the film as critical riposte to the most intense and rapturous reactions to the first movie. This is represented not just through the throng of sign-sporting Arthur supporters who protest on the killer’s behalf while court is in session, but particularly through the intense presence of Harley Quinn – a fan-favorite character now ubiquitous in pop culture played by a beloved superstar whose presence in the story is to coax and stoke her sick lover’s wickedest inclinations.

The collaboration between Phillips and cinematographer Lawrence Sher again produces intense aesthetics that instantly remind you of this world’s mood from the very first shot –Arkham Asylum guards escorting patients from their cells through dimness and dankness so they can dump the contents of their waste buckets into a sink – though this hopelessness is eventually contrasted by sharp and colorful spotlight duets with Arthur and Lee singing classics together (in the protagonist’s mind, of course).

Once again there is some crafty editing at play, with notable details not lining up shot-to-shot in Jeff Groth’s assembly, and there are certain developments that end up raising a lot of logical red flags – echoing its predecessor’s ability to make you question the authenticity of what’s on screen. This coating of fantasy again adds a touch of slyness to the big screen proceedings, but it also makes moments of actual reality hit particularly hard (be ready for scene-stealing turns from Zazie Beetz and Leigh Gill, who reprise their roles from Joker as witnesses in Arthur’s trial.

There are some terrific elements and pieces in Joker: Folie À Deux – but they’re overcooked.

Todd Phillips doubling down on what made Joker great doesn’t totally work.

Because of Joker’s novelties (no pun intended), the brutal, Scorsese-esque vision of Gotham was in its own way refreshing, and the way in which the 2019 film swallows you up in its world is impressive… but much like how one probably wouldn’t want to take a vacation to such a place twice, the second visit lacks any of the charms and just provides the oppressiveness. In fact, it’s even more oppressive given that Arthur spends the vast majority of the film being shuttled between an asylum where he is surrounded by lunatics and abusive guards and the courtroom where proceedings will determine whether or not he will receive the death penalty for his crimes.

The repetition and the dreariness takes a toll on the audience – and regular diversions from the story for musical numbers playing out in Arthur’s head don’t pace things up. There is no denying the gifts of Lady Gaga, and one can respect the film trying to get the most out of her abilities, but there are just too many return trips to the same well-dressed well (and there is also the simple fact that while is performances are ambitious, Phoenix is very obviously not on his co-star’s level melodically, hurting the aural experience).

There is a clear artistic vision both employed and concluded in Joker: Folie À Deux, which gives it a level of merit even though Joker exists perfectly well as a standalone movie. It’s an expansion of the character study that offers some real surprises, but it also harvests a blend of misery and monotony, and on a certain level, it’s a victim of familiarity breeding contempt. With longer consideration and study, its best qualities may leave it with a positive legacy, but it’s a tough film to sit through.

Every teaser that’s come out from Joker Folie à Deux has made me want to see this sequel more and more. From Joker 2’s first look of Arthur Fleck getting a shave to its latest trailer of stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s musical numbers, it looks like we’re going to get a Joker movie that’s never been done before. Director Todd Phillips just released his own tagline for the upcoming movie and I think I like his a lot more than Joker Folie à Deux’s actual tagline.

The official tagline for Joker Folie à Deux is “The world is a stage.” I can understand a tagline fitting for this movie considering all of the song and dance numbers from the trailers give us insight into how Arthur Fleck and Harley Quinn view the world. However, its director Todd Phillips came up with a tagline of his own when promoting Joker 2 on Instagram and I’ve gotta say that I like his better:

“Let’s give the people what they want” comes from what Harley Quinn says to Arthur Fleck in the official trailer after he says “I got this sneaking suspicion we’re not giving the people what they want.” Todd Phillips’ tagline seems to be a double entendre to Joker and Harley Quinn wanting to serve their audience and Phillips himself wanting to give his audience what they want too. After the first Joker movie exceeded expectations crossing the $1 billion mark and landed Joaquin Phoenix his first Oscar, you better believe audiences want to see the twisted antagonist’s story continue.

“The world is a stage” comes from Shakespeare’s As You Like It meaning we all have a part to play in life and how we play it is our decision. While that tagline fits Joker 2’s theme of the two DC villains shamelessly giving a wild performance of chaos and violence, I like “let’s give the people what they want” better to truly describe the mental state of the Joker.

The first movie presented the argument that society is drawn to violence whether it be sensational news stories or violent entertainment. Even when Warner Bros. responded to concerns of violence in Joker, they defended that the origin story film “provokes difficult conversations around complex issues.” By Harley Quinn saying to give people “what they want,” they are feeding into society’s hidden desire for violence.

Todd Phillips’ tagline also describes Joker’s life mission to create anarchy. In the subway scene of Joker, Arthur Fleck, donning his clown look, kills three Wall Street men who assault him. This act of violence led to a following of others wearing the same clown look in Arthur’s image. Then when he killed Murray Franklin live on his talk show in retaliation for the times the host condemned him, we see different news stations covering the shocking act of violence. By the end of the movie, rioters wearing clown masks see the film’s antagonist as a cult figure giving them what they want- rebellion and destroying societal norms.

Joker 2’s official tagline of “The world is a stage” may be a good way to describe Arthur Fleck and Harley Quinn committing violent actions shamelessly, but I like Todd Phillips’ tagline better illustrating the two characters giving “the people what they want.” This quote from the trailer demonstrates the main objective of the two characters feeding into the violent hidden desires of society and causing disorder within the status quo.

Audiences will get what they want seeing the 2024 movie release of Joker Folie à Deux in theaters on October 4th. In the meantime, you can revisit the first Joker movie available on your Max subscription.

While comic book movies are everywhere, a few projects stand out as wholly original. Chief among them is Joker, (which is streaming with a Max subscription) and the first movie earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar. The sequel Folie à Deux will be in theaters shortly, so will Joker 3 come after? Here's what the director himself thinks.

What we know about Joker: Folie à Deux is fairly limited, but fans are hyped to see the story of Arthur Fleck continue... especially alongside Lady Gaga's Harley Quinn. Anticipation for the movie is high, especially once Joker 2's trailer teased what's to come. Todd Phillips recently spoke to Variety about that sequel, where he expressed wanting to move on from that particular universe. In his words:

There you have it. It sounds like while Phillips enjoyed his time in Arthur Fleck's world over the last two movies, he's not envisioning an ongoing franchise for Joker. So moviegoers should enjoy seeing the Joker 2 cast together while they can.

Phillips' comments make a great deal of sense, as Joker was likely never intended to be a franchise. But following the wild success of the first movie, Warner Bros. and the filmmaker found a way to expand its story for Folie à Deux. And it should be fascinating to see where the story goes after Joker's ending, and its use of an unrealiable narrator.

Since the filmmaker doesn't want to make Joker into a full-blown trilogy, what's next for Todd Phillips? Later in that same interview, he mentioned wanting to work with Joaquin Phoenix on a very different project, saying:

There you have it. While some might be surprised by this pivot to comedy, it makes a great deal of sense. Todd Phillips has had great success in that genre before, particularly the Hangover movies. The Joker universe is a dark and grueling one, so I can't blame him for wanting to go back to projects that make people laugh.

Of course, we'll have to wait for the Joker sequel to arrive in theaters this fall before that happens. Anticipation for the sequel is high, with moviegoers curious about how musical numbers will factor into the story. Luckily the wait is nearly over.

Joker: Folie à Deux will hit theaters on October 4th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Deadpool & Wolverine struck the box office like a bolt of lightning upon its opening weekend weeks ago, and it’s kept up that momentum since then. It’s already become one of the latest 2024 movie schedule entries to hit $1 billion globally, and it recently secured another record as well. As it stands, the Marvel Studios production is now the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time. Todd Phillips’ Joker previously held that title and, upon his movie being usurped, the filmmaker responded with a kind message. Additionally, fans shared plenty of comments about the upcoming sequel to Phillips’ DC Comics film.

News of D&W’s new record dropped this weekend and, needless to say, it marks a major moment amid the film’s theatrical run. Upon seeing the news, Todd Phillips took to Instagram to react. The Hangover director not only shared a screenshot of a headline bearing the news, but he also dropped a funny photo of Deadpool dancing on the iconic Joker steps. In addition, Philips expressed his awe over the accomplishment via the following message:

It was certainly sweet of the Old School filmmaker to give that shoutout. Also, I’m curious as to where he acquired that photo of Wade Wilson dancing on the steps. (Now, I kind of want to see that sequence on the big screen). But, the picture aside, what makes this post particularly sweet is that Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy spotted it and shared a lovely reply:

Based on the exchange, this definitely seems to be a case of “game recognizes game,” if you ask me. And Shawn Levy is far from the only person who seems to be excited for the forthcoming Joker: Folie à Deux. A plethora of fans took to the comments of the Due Date director’s post to hype up the upcoming DC movie. If anything, it sounds like they’re confident that the movie will retake the title that the Oscar-winning first entry in the Joaquin Phoenix-led franchise just lost. Take a look:

• Congrats but not for long, we know what’s coming in October 🔥 - @jokerisjoaquin
• Fantastic film, but we know what’s to come in October. Patiently waiting. - @stormvisuals
• We did it first and with less money. - @kingkylie_jdoll
• Love it! Now let’s break that record with joker 2!!! Hyped. Love both these franchises. - @thegeekstrong
• Joker 2 is going to take it up again 🃏🫡🔥 - @alex.sjg01

It’d be fair to say that Todd Phillips’ latest film does have a chance at taking back the title. 2019’s Joker conjured up a serious storm at the box office, finishing its theatrical run with $1.079 billion globally. At the time, the psychological thriller became the first R-rated film to accomplish such a feat. One could argue that there’s even more hype surrounding the new movie, as the Folie à Deux trailer has many transfixed by the big musical numbers and spectacle. Adding to the anticipation is the fact that Lady Gaga was added to the Joker 2 cast as Harley Quinn.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman can certainly draw audiences to the theaters, but I’d imagine that Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga will have no trouble doing that this fall as well. Regardless of whether Todd Phillips’ sequel manages to earn Deadpool & Wolverine’s newly achieved title, I’m just glad to see that there’s such respect between Philips and Shawn Levy.

Joker: Folie à Deux is set to hit theaters on October 4, and the first film is currently available to stream with a Max subscription. You can also check out Deadpool & Wolverine in cinemas nationwide now.

The 2024 movie schedule has been filled with sequels and follow-ups, and among one that’s set to hit theaters in just a few months is the much-discussed Joker: Folie à Deux. A psychological thriller with musical elements, the film continues the story that began in 2019’s Joker. Todd Phillips is back in the director’s chair for the upcoming DC movie and also co-wrote the script again. With the film’s release date getting closer, Phillips is now providing additional details regarding what fans can expect from the flick and most recently explained why he doesn’t view the film as a sequel.

Some may be surprised that the War Dogs director holds that viewpoint, especially considering that – as the Joker: Folie à Deux trailer shows – the new movie picks up almost directly after the first. However, it sounds like the director’s reasoning for his perspective goes beyond the narrative. He spoke about his latest cinematic endeavor with Empire Magazine, with whom he shed some light on the production. When explaining why he doesn’t see this flick as a sequel, he used The Hangover to illustrate his point:

So Todd Phillips’ opinion is more so related to the approach that’s been taken for this new movie. He doesn’t see it as a traditional sequel, because this film as a whole is vastly different from the first installment in the franchise. I suppose I can understand his rationale on that front, and it’s hard to argue against the notion that this new feature seems set to take even bigger creative risks than Joker. Phillips went on to tell the news outlet about what his mindset was as he prepared to craft what could be one of the biggest films of the year:

Those sentiments are appropriate, especially since a portion of this movie seems to take place in Arkham State Hospital. In this new movie, Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck a.k.a. Joker is set to stand trial after murdering TV host Murray Franklin on air. While in Arkham, Fleck meets music therapist Lee (Lady Gaga), with whom he ultimately forms a romantic bond. Joining both Phoenix and Gaga in the Folie à Deux cast are stars like Harry Lawtey (the returning) Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener, Steve Coogan, and Brendan Gleeson.

Based on the footage that’s been revealed so far, it looks like Todd Phillips’ upcoming film is going to be a sight to behold. It’s likely that many will still commonly refer to it as a sequel in general. However, all signs certainly point to this being a production that surpasses its predecessor in some truly unique ways.

Joker: Folie à Deux opens in theaters on October 4 and, while you wait for it, you can check out its 2019 predecessor using a Max subscription.

Movie fans and professional wrestling fans alike were intrigued, if not excited by the prospect of a Hulk Hogan biopic starring Chris Hemsworth as the former wrestling champion. But five years after the project was announced, set to be directed by Joker’s Todd Philips and produced for Netflix, nothing has come of the movie. Unfortunately for fans who might have been into this, it looks like the movie is very much not happening.

Last fall Hulk Hogan revealed that the rights to his story had been lost by Netflix because the planned movie hadn’t moved forward. However, Hogan indicated he was still very interested in Hemsworth and Philips getting involved with the new project at the new studio where the rights now reside. Speaking with ScreenRant, Hemsworth indicates that there hasn’t been any further movement on the film, though he is still very much interested in playing the role. Hemsworth said…

Hemsworth was always a solid pick to play Hulk Hogan. Professional wrestling characters look like gods already, and Hemsworth certainly has experience with that. Movies like The Wrestler and The Iron Claw have shown that there is interest in stories that take a peek behind the curtain of the professional wrestling industry. Hulk Hogan may be the most famous name in all of wrestling so a movie based on his life would certainly draw attention.

While Chris Hemsworth is clear that he would love to make the movie that was originally envisioned, he does admit that there is one thing about a Hulk Hogan biopic that would be “nerve-wracking” which is the fact that his performance would be instantly compared to the real thing. He’s much more used to being able to create his characters himself, as he did with his role in the upcoming Furiosa movie with Anya Taylor-Joy. Hemsworth continued…

It looks like a new studio has the rights to make a Hulk Hogan biopic, so seeing that movie happen at some point seems likely. Whether it will look anything like what was previously announced remains to be seen, but it seems likely any studio making such a movie would want to consider Chris Hemsworth, he can certainly look the part, even Hulk Hogan thinks so, and he’s willing. And with the Joker: Folie à Deux release date coming later this year, Todd Phillips will likely be looking for something to do. 

Earlier this week, the first trailer for Joker: Folie À Deux dropped online to an explosion of reactions from fans. The teaser caught the audience up with Arthur Fleck after the events of Joker and introduced Lady Gaga entering the mix as Harley Quinn. Fans particularly can’t get enough of one shot from the movie that’s going particularly viral.

The trailer for the Joker sequel reportedly surpassed the number of views the first Barbie trailer pulled in a single day (per Variety) before it became the highest-grossing movie of 2023. Is Folie á Deux about to become Warner Bros’ next billion dollar hit come October? We’ll have to wait and see, but here’s the moment from the trailer that fans are really talking about:

The final shot in the trailer for the second Joker movie has Arthur Fleck behind glass and presumably speaking to Lady Gaga’s Harleen Quinzel when a hand draws a smile in red and a voiceover says “I want to see the real you.” Arthur then moves his face to perfectly match the red market, and smiles himself. Here’s another fan reaction:

The X (formerly known as Twitter) user called the moment “one of the coolest things ever” before announcing that “real cinema is back, baby.” Comments like this goes to show that people are really digging what Todd Phillips has in store with Joker: Folie À Deux. Another person retweeted the moment from the trailer and shared that their “interest has been peaked” thanks to the shot in particular. Check it:

In a Hollywood landscape where comic book movies are pretty much surefire to come out every few months, 2019’s Joker presented something unique and special when it hit theaters. The R-rated movie took a dramatic approach to telling the story of Batman’s most famous villain and not only became a commercial success, but a groundbreaking Best Picture nominee as well! With the new trailer dazzling fans already, some people are already putting the movie in the ring for Oscar season such as with this comment:

While this scene is clearly the standout of the trailer, there are honestly so many details (such as one particularly funny one we found), that make it re-watchable and exciting. Many of us especially wouldn’t have expected a Joker movie to be a musical, but the trailer offers a sneak preview into numerous song and dance numbers between Joker and Harley Quinn. Of course, when a scene goes viral, the memes have to follow. Check out this one from The Office inspired by the scene in question:

Joker: Folie À Deux is confirmed to be rated-R and will hit theaters on October 4. You can check out what other 2024 movies are coming out before then here on CinemaBlend.

Full coverage of Warner Bros’ CinemaCon 2024 panel can be found in CinemaBlend’s live blog. 

It’s been five years since Todd Philips was at CinemaCon, five years since Joker originally hit theaters in 2019. In that time the theater industry has gone through a pandemic, and the additional whammy of dealing with the aftermath of the double strike last summer. Philips know this has impacted distributors as the 2024 movie release schedule fleshes out, and he came to the Warner Bros. panel to show his appreciation for theaters, particularly after they showed support for the original movie, allowing him to make the upcoming DC movie Folie à Deux.  In fact, he opened up about how it was the theaters who once defended him from some trouble that arose just before his last movie about Arthur Fleck was released. 

If you were following the trajectory of Joker before it hit theaters, you may remember there was a lot of chatter before the movie hit theaters. There was preemptive backlash to the r-rated DC movie, particularly after a family member of an Aurora shooting victim penned a letter about the movie just a few years after a gunman had open fired during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises. 

Todd Philips was candid at the time that he hoped not everyone would love Joker, but stuck to his guns that people could “handle the message” of the movie, and even Joker's ending. Theaters, too, stuck with the film and kept it heavily in rotation, and Philips returned to CinemaCon 2024 to thank them for being there for his movie that grew and grew and grew.  

Philips noted he’d wanted to share the message in 2020, which hadn’t worked out for pandemic-related reasons, but it’s clear ahead of Joker: Folie á Deux's release that he hasn’t forgotten that particular kindness. 

Of course, it was a good move from a business standpoint, too. What ended up happening is that the critics of the film amped up word of mouth considerably. The R-rated film went on to make over a $1 billion at the box office, at the time becoming the fourth-highest grossing DC film. (It has since bumped into fifth place thanks to The Batman.) 

Of course, I can’t argue with the sentiment of some of the naysayers. Joker is after all, one of the best movies to watch if you want to ruin your day. And given what we’ve now seen in the Joker: Folie á Deux trailer, doubtless its sequel will be a doozy too. We won’t have too long to wait. It's out on October 4th.   

On Valentine’s Day, there’s plenty of beloved movie couples worth celebrating. But we were not considering perhaps one of the most (quite literally) toxic pairings of them all to make a big appearance on the holiday. That’s right, the Joker 2 director is celebrating the holiday with fresh looks at Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker and Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn. 

The filmmaker behind Joker: Folie à Deux took to Instagram on Valentine’s Day to share three new images from one of the most anticipated 2024 movies. Take a look at this Valentine’s Day treat: 

Wait, why does Joker 2 kind of look like La La Land? Todd Phillips shared the message: “Hoping your day is full of love” before reminding the public of Joker 2’s upcoming release date this October with the above post. The first one has Phoenix and Gaga loosely being positioned in the shape of a heart while the other two black and white photos illustrate some romantic sweetness between the pair. The second image has the couple touching noses as Joker stands behind bars, whereas the third image looks like a full on song-and-dance sequence that has Gaga’s Harley Quinn in a ballgown. 

Since the Joker sequel was announced, it has been described as a musical. So while it’s not exactly surprising that the Joker and Harley Quinn are dancing around, this is the first time we’ve really seen the pair showcase the genre it will be emulating. Considering the nature of the first Joker movie, we imagine much of the couple’s big music numbers will be more cerebral than anything, especially since the dictionary definition of the title “folie à deux” is a “delusion or mental illness shared by two people in close association.” 

On the same day last year, Todd Phillips dropped the first photos of Joker and Harley Quinn and simply wrote “Happy Valentine's Day.” Take a look: 

We do have to wonder how this musical vision will unfold in a Joker movie. Back in March, one set video may have revealed one of Lady Gaga’s songs in Joker 2. Aside from Gaga, the Joker 2 cast isn’t necessarily packed full of Broadway talent, between Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lawtey being part of the lineup, but you never know when an actor is secretly an amazing singer. 

At the end of 2019’s Joker, Joaquin Phoenix’s iteration of the iconic Batman villain confesses to a number of murders on live TV before shooting the show’s host. He then landed himself in a mental institution, which is where we figure he’ll meet Harley Quinn, and he also indirectly completed the Batman origin story by inspiring someone to murder Bruce Wayne’s parents in an alleyway. You can look forward to Joker: Folie à Deux hitting theaters this October 5. 

Lady Gaga is a worldwide pop star, and one of the most popular recording artists in the game right now. But she's also become a formidable actress over the years, appearing in prestige projects like A Star is Born and House of Gucci. Fans are eager to see her lead the cast of Joker 2 as Harley Quinn, and are eager for any glimpse at the upcoming DC movie. Director Todd Phillips recently shared some new images, and Gaga fans are absolutely freaking out.

What we know about Joker: Folie à Deux is limited, but anticipation is high for the sequel to the Oscar-winning drama. Fans are looking forward to seeing some footage, but it's unclear when that'll be. But director Todd Phillips posted on Instagram with two new stills from the film, the second of which includes a look at Lady Gaga. Check them out for yourself below:

Is it October yet? The wait for Joker 2 has already been painful, and the moviegoing audience is eager for any information or images from the movie. As such, this new look at Lady Gaga has already gone viral, especially among her fans aka the Little Monsters. And folks are sounding off online. 

Back in February, fans were treated to the first look at Gaga in Joker 2, although she hasn't been shown in full Harley Quinn regalia. But each new still helps to buoy anticipation for the movie, and send the Little Monsters reeling. Many of which are responding to the new look at Gaga over on Twitter. Case in point: one fan who responded with:

How funny is that? Gaga has a history of playing complicated women whose partner ends up dying-- either for one reason or another. That includes the tragic ending of A Star Is Born and more. And one can only imagine what lunacy is going to go down during Joker: Folie à Deux.

While the contents of Todd Phillips' sequel are currently a mystery, Joker 2 is apparently deep into the post-production process. And as such, we should be getting more images from the blockbuster sooner rather than later. Another Gaga fan posted a response to the most recent image, saying:

One thing you have to say about Gaga as an actress: she really commits to her movies. While her method acting ways have been the subject of some meme fodder, that commitment is why her performances are so fascinating. And since Joaquin Phoenix is also a method actor, that pair seems like an electric combination. Another Little Monster posted about the "Poker Face" singer's resume, offering:

We'll just have to wait and see how the second Joker movie performs, and if its as successful as Todd Phillips' original. That movie was a box office hit, and earned Joaquin Phoenix a ton of awards including an Oscar for his performance as Arthur Fleck. Could Gaga end up with another nomination for the sequel? Only time will tell.

Joker: Folie à Deux is currently set to arrive in theaters on October 4th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The Joker was certainly no stranger to the film realm prior to 2019, but that year saw Batman’s arch-nemesis score the cinematic spotlight for himself. Joker starred Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, whose descent into madness and embracing of nihilism saw him becoming a different kind of Clown Prince of Crime without the involvement of the Caped Crusader. Four years after Joker’s release, director and co-writer Todd Phillips commemorated the anniversary by sharing a new look at Phoenix in the upcoming DC movie Joker 2, a.k.a. Joker: Folie à Deux.

With Joker being Phillips’ most commercially successful movie (it was the first R-rated movie to cross $1 billion) and earning numerous accolades, including Phoenix netting the Academy Award for Best Actor, it’s only fitting that the filmmaker carved out some space on his Instagram to highlight its 4th anniversary, and including a fresh photo from Joker 2 is a welcome bonus. See for yourself:

Todd Phillips confirmed that Joker 2 was officially in development back in June 2022, and over a year later, much of what the sequel holds in store remains shrouded in mystery. While this picture doesn’t clear up anything in the way of concrete plot information, it’s certainly a striking image in the way that those multicolored umbrellas stand out amongst the drab greys of the clothing and background. It looks like we’re seeing Arthur being guided somewhere on the Arkham State Hospital premises by four guards.

When we left off with Arthur Fleck at the end of Joker, he’d been arrested for murdering talk show host Murray Franklin on live TV, which resulted in riots erupting across Gotham City fueled by people who embraced Arthur’s chaotic view of life. Although he was briefly freed after some rioters crashed into the police car carrying him, he was ultimately incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital, though it didn’t take long for him to start causing blood-soaked trouble within the institution. 

So what can we expect from Joker 2? Again, specific plot details are being kept under wraps, but there are two big things that will make it stand out from its predecessor. First, Lady Gaga is starring as Harleen Quinzel, the Arkham psychiatrist who falls in love with Joker and becomes Harley Quinn, his partner-in-crime. Second, Joker 2 will be a musical, which is one of the reasons why the sequel’s budget is so much bigger than Joker’s. Phoenix and Gaga are joined in the Joker 2 cast by Zazie Beetz reprising Sophie Dumond, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lawtey. As with the first movie, Phillips both directed and co-wrote the script with Scott Silver.

While today marks Joker’s 4th anniversary, tomorrow, October 4, will mean there’s only one year to go until Joker 2 arrives as one of the 2024 movie releases. While we wait for more updates on the sequel’s progress, feel free to stream Joker with a Max subscription.

Fans of Batman movies have a lot to look forward to in the next few years, because along with The Batman: Part II slated for late 2025, The Brave and the Bold will introduce its own Bruce Wayne, and his son Damian, into the new DC Universe. Additionally, there’s also Joker 2, a.k.a. Joker: Folie à Deux, on the way from a different corner of the DC multiverse, which will reunite audiences with the Arthur Fleck version of Gotham City’s Clown Prince of Crime and introduce Lady Gaga’s version of Harley Quinn. With filming having wrapped on the sequel, director Todd Phillips has celebrated the milestone with new pics of his two leading actors.

Joker 2 began principal photography in December 2022, six months after Todd Phillips confirmed that the sequel is moving forward. By February, we got our first official look at Lady Gaga opposite Joaquin Phoenix in the sequel, and now there are two more pictures of them, albeit separate from one another, to take in thanks to the below post from Phillips’ Instagram page:

In Photo #1, we have Lady Gaga’s Harleen Quinzel having donned the same kind of clown look that Arthur Fleck adopted in the first movie, thus presenting her transformation into the equally mirth-obsessed Harley Quinn. Then in Photo #2, Joaquin Phoenix is wearing the same kind of suit Arthur put on when he went full Joker the first time around, though it looks like he’s in some kind of prison transport judging by the caging over the windows. So now the public has a few more official peeks into Joker 2, while Todd Phillips will now begin the process of stitching the footage from the upcoming movie together.

Although specific story details for Joker 2 are being kept close to the vest, it will deliver its own take on Harleen Quinzel falling in love with Joker while he’s being kept at Arkham Asylum. Arguably the biggest way the sequel will stand out from its predecessor is by being a musical, which was reportedly one of the factors that led to the budget being nearly tripled from what the first movie received. Speaking of tunes, a leaked set video from a few days ago may have revealed that Gaga’s Harley will belt out a song once sung by The Wizard of Oz’s Judy Garland.

Lady Gaga will be the second actress to play Harley Quinn in a live-action film following Margot Robbie’s outings as the character in the DCEU, and Joker 2 marks the actress’ third time leading a movie following 2018’s A Star is Born and 2021’s House of Gucci. The sequel is also bringing back Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond, who was Arthur’s neighbor before his descent into madness, and Joker 2’s cast also includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lawtey in undisclosed roles. As with the first movie, Todd Phillips co-wrote the script with Scott Silver.

Joker 2 arrives in theaters on October 4, 2024, so Todd Phillips has plenty of time to focus on the editing process. HBO Max subscribers can stream Joker now, but those of you done reading this story should check our CinemaBlend’s coverage of other upcoming DC movies.

Since Joker: Folie à Deux started filming a couple of months ago, the ball has started rolling on any juicy on-set stories. Well, that’s one word to describe the reported tension that’s occurring. Apparently, it all has to do with bathroom breaks that are leaving those on set pissed.

One of the things we know about Joker 2 is that it’s going to be a musical which clearly means a lot of hard work. But sources told TMZ that extras are reportedly angry for working over two hours non-stop and not receiving a bathroom break or a drink of water. It’s been said these complaints come up around camera setup times which last between 20 minutes to an hour. Due to some extras allegedly having been scolded for asking time for the bathroom , this brings out fear in other background actors asking to step out for a quick pee break.

Bathroom break disputes have seemingly been an ongoing issue on Joker sets. While filming the first movie, movie extras allegedly peed onto subway tracks for being refused some bathroom time. During this time, extras said they were stuck in the subway car unable to leave. A complaint was filed with the Screen Actors Guild which required extras to get a bathroom break every two hours. Not being allowed to leave the subway car resulted in a violation. With SAG and Warner Bros. getting involved in this, you would think incidences like this would not repeat themselves going forward.

TMZ sources continued to say that one extra “terribly” had to use the restroom, but needed to “state their case” to the assistant director about why it was considered an emergency. I mean, how else do you describe your bladder feeling like it’s going to explode if you don’t head in the direction of a bathroom? When this particular extra came back from using the restroom, they grabbed a cup of water and was asked by the assistant director why they were drinking when they knew it would lead to another bathroom break. Another assistant director reportedly felt skeptical about all of these requested bathroom breaks, wondering if they were actually in there for a pee break.

With a big cast list and a lot of work being put into this five-week scheduled shoot, the stress appears to be going high with the need for all extras to be present at all times. TMZ learned that SAG received a complaint about this violation with production being spoken to. Production has been said to be cooperative and Joker 2’s set will be monitored. 

Hopefully for the rest of the shoot, the Joker: Folie à Deux set will recognize the urgency to respect the bathroom breaks of all people on set. Remember to add this Joker sequel to your watchlist which premieres in theaters on October 4th, 2024. In the meantime, there are a number of 2023 movie releases for you to look forward to this year.

It’s no secret that superhero movies are everywhere. And as the DCEU is going through sweeping changes, there are a few upcoming projects set outside of that timeline. Chief among them is Todd Phillips’ Joker, and its upcoming sequel Folie à Deux. Not much is known about its contents (although fans are psyched), but Lady Gaga is back on the silver screen playing fan favorite character Harley Quinn. And it sounds like Mother Monster is really putting in “work” for the upcoming sequel, which she’ll star in opposite Joaquin Phoenix.

The first Joker movie was a grueling story that told Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness and murder, with Joaquin Phoenix sweeping the Best Actor category that Awards Season and winning an Oscar. But the sequel Joker: Folie à Deux is reportedly going to be a musical, which sounds like quite the departure. Lady Gaga hasn’t been super active on social media, but an anonymous Inside told ET that it’s because she’s completely immersing herself in filming Joker 2. As they put it,

Sounds about right. Lady Gaga only has a handful of movie credits on her resume, but she’s known for going to great lengths in order to transform into someone else. Given how much prestige is already surrounding the burgeoning Joker franchise (and how beloved Harley is) she’s likely feeling pressure to deliver. And that requires prep.

While Lady Gaga’s commitment to her roles in projects like House of Gucci have been poked fun at and transformed into memes online, she’s going to presumably be in good company for Joker 2. Joaquin Phoenix is also a method actor, offering a fascinating and haunting performance as Arthur Fleck throughout the original film. So having these two actors who work so similarly has the potential to be truly electric on screen.

Todd Phillips’ Joker was a bold take on its title character, and included an original story largely independent of the DC comics. And as such, it should be fascinating to see what his approach to Dr. Harleen Quinzel will be, especially regarding her romance with Mr. J. Add in musical numbers and it seems like just about anything could happen. While Lady Gaga has been keeping tight-lipped regarding Joker 2, she confirmed her role via Instagram a few months ago. Check it out below:

Principal photography for Joker: Folie à Deux surprisingly began shortly before the holidays, with Todd Phillips sharing a first day photo on December 10th. Lady Gaga wasn’t expected to begin her role until the New Year, so she should presumably be deep into filming at this point. And as such, it makes sense that she’s “laying low” as that anonymous insider put it. I have to wonder how Arkham Asylum is treating her.

Joker: Folie à Deux is currently expected to arrive in theaters on October 4th, 2024. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Considering how popular Todd Philips Joker movie was, a sequel was always going to be something fans were interested in. The fact that the Joker sequel will apparently be a musical, and will also co-star Lady Gaga, has even more people curious to say the least. The film is currently in production, and we’ve seen an early behind-the-scenes image of Joaquin Phoenix in his return as Arthur Fleck. Fans are waiting to see Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, but they’ll have to wait a bit longer. 

A few days ago Joker: Folie à Deux director Todd Philips posed an image to Instagram of Joaquin Phoenix on day one of production. It seems that many people are already wondering when we’ll get our first look at his new co-star, Lady Gaga, so Philips posted a comment to his own image to let people know that the actress isn’t on set yet, and won’t be until some time next month. Phillips said…

Honestly, seeing Joker 2 go into production this late in December is a bit surprising since we usually see films taking time off for the holidays, just like most other jobs. Whatever work is being done at this point is probably minor and things are likely set to really get underway after the first of the year. 

We expect Joker 2 to tell a version of the Joker and Harley Quinn story, where Quinn was a doctor in the asylum where Joker was locked up. Typically working with him drove her to the same delusions that he suffered from, so smart money says the movie will probably see the two of them together. Perhaps the plan is to film what parts of the movie will only include Phoenix’s character now, and then bring in Gaga for the bulk of filming they will do together.

Joker: Folie à Deux will certainly make for an interesting sequel. What set the first Joker apart was the way the film, while based on a comic book character, wasn’t really about that at all. It wasn’t simply an attempt to tell a grounded and realistic version of a Joker origin story, but, it seemed, simply the story of a man losing his mind, or perhaps had already lost his mind, with a familiar aesthetic on top of it.

While an incredibly successful film, making $1 billion at the box office while also taking home Oscars, Joker certainly wasn’t a movie that needed a sequel, but the people behind it think they have a story worthy of going back again.  Whatever we see early from production, it will be a while until we see the finished product, as Joker: Folie à Deux won't hit theaters until October 2024.

DC Studios has seen a number of shake-ups as of late, with some movies like Wonder Woman 3 seemingly being removed from its schedule. However, other films established under the old regime are still moving forward, including Joker 2. The sequel to Joaquin Phoenix’s 2019 film has been in pre-production for months now, and it was unclear as to when filming would actually begin. Well, the shoot has commenced, as returning director Todd Phillips announced the news via social media. Not only that, but he also gave fans their first official look at the upcoming sequel.

Up to this point, the public has only gotten light teases of what’s to come in Joker: Folie à Deux and, even now, exact plot details have yet to be revealed. So those looking for a juicy morsel should be somewhat pumped by what Todd Phillips shared to his Instagram. The filmmaker commemorated the first day of shooting by sharing a photo that shows Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck getting a shave. Take a look: 

Well, he’s certainly a sight for sore eyes. There’s, of course, no context provided for the moment, so fans are just going to have to speculate as to why the killer is getting cleaned up. Still, fans will likely be quite happy to know that cameras are officially rolling on the highly anticipated follow-up.

Todd Phillips confirmed Folie à Deux back in June via a post he shared to Instagram. Despite plot details being close to non-existent, it’s been confirmed that the film will be a musical and introduce Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The film’s subtitle, which translates to “folly of two” or “madness of two,” suggests that the two central characters are going to get into some serious (and potentially deadly) shenanigans. The movie’s DP, Lawrence Sher, also hyped up Gaga ahead of filming. He believes that the Grammy-winning pop star is a “really cool fit” for the role and sees the cast and crew finding “magic every day on set.”

The two stars will of course be joined by a number of other capable actors for this sequel. Zazie Beetz is set to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond, Arthur Fleck’s former neighbor (who he fantasized as his girlfriend). Harry Potter alum Brendan Gleeson joined in an undisclosed role as well. Get Out’s Catherine Keener also scored a part as did Maze Runner’s Jacob Lofland. Finally, the Joker sequel has also tapped Industry’s Harry Lawtey to play a mystery character.

Joker: Folie à Deux’s reported budget would suggest that the movie is going to be an incredibly ambitious venture. Todd Phillips certainly has his work cut out for him as he attempts to build upon his work in the original. That’s also true for the highly paid Joaquin Phoenix, who took home the Oscar for Best Actor in 2020 for his performance as Arthur. Time will tell what they end up doing but, in the meantime, I’d expect Phillips to drop occasional behind-the-scenes snapshots.

Joker: Folie à Deux is scheduled to open in theaters on October 4, 2024 and, while you wait, you can stream the first movie using an HBO Max subscription.

Comic book movies are a dime a dozen, as the genre continues to dominate the film industry. But a few projects stand out as something wholly unique, as Todd Phillips’ Joker was definitely in that category. Development on the sequel is currently underway, and Joaquin Phoenix is reportedly getting a major pay bump for Joker 2. 

After years of rumors it looks like Todd Phillips is finally moving forward with Joker 2. The first movie was a massive success, which ultimately earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor. And according to a new report by Variety, the Gladiator actor is getting a huge raise for reprising his role as Arthur Fleck. Because while in the first film he earned 4.5 million, Joker 2 will give the actor a $20 million payday.

This pay bump makes a great deal of sense considering just how well the first Joker movie performed upon its 2019 release. After all, the movie earned over $1 billion at the box office, with Joaquin Phoenix doing a ton of heavy emotional work. It also became an Awards Season favorite, and Phoenix swept the Best Actor category of that year. That includes the coveted Academy Award. So it makes sense that negotiations for a bigger payday might occur before signing on to reprise his role.

While Joker was originally intended to be a standalone project rather than part of a franchise, the movie’s wild success seemed to change the tune of Warner Bros. and Todd Phillips alike. The studio has also moved forward with other projects set outside of the DCEU like The Batman. There were even rumors that Phillips was asked to have a larger creative impact on DC movies as a whole.

While much of Joker’s sequel is a mystery, the project’s development definitely piqued the interest of the moviegoing public. Todd Phillips is serving as both director and co-writer of the movie’s script, with Joaquin Phoenix back as the title character. There were also reports that Lady Gaga might be playing Harley Quinn, which seems like another Awards Season project for the singer-actress to appear in following A Star is Born and House of Gucci. Her potential casting came with another rumor: that Joker 2 could potentially be a musical. This would be a huge departure from the dark and grueling tone of its predecessor.

The ending of the first Joker movie definitely led to conversation about its contents, and whether or not a sequel could occur. Throughout the R-rated movie Joaquin Phoenix’s title character proved himself as an unreliable narrator who suffered from delusions. As such, it was unclear if all of the events of the film actually occurred. But we’ll presumably get more answers once Joker 2 finally hits theaters.

Joker 2 is currently in development and does not have a release date. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Warner Bros. has been producing a ton of comic book projects lately, set both within and outside the main DCEU timeline. Todd Phillips’ Joker was in the latter category, and was a massive box office and critical success that ultimately earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar. A sequel is currently in development, with some reports indicating that Lady Gaga might be starring opposite Phoenix. And more Joker 2 fan art with Gaga as Harley Quinn has arrived online as rumors about her role continue to swirl.

Aside from being a truly iconic pop star, Lady Gaga has been establishing herself as an actress recently, thanks to roles in projects like A Star is Born and House of Gucci. Given her penchant for working on Awards Season favorites, it would make a great deal of sense if she signed on to Joker 2 as Harley Quinn. Now, thanks to Instagram, we can see yet another awesome fan art rendering of what she might look like as Mr. J.’s sidekick. Check it out for yourself below,

I mean, how cool is that? Lady Gaga looks positively awesome as Dr. Harleen Quinzel aka Harley Quinn in this piece of fan art. While previous renderings of Mother Monster as the character feature her in full Harley mode, this piece of art shows what she might look like working from within Arkham Asylum. We’ll just have to wait and see if this casting and plot line actually play out in Joker 2 aka Joker: Folie à Deux.

The above image comes to us from the social media of digital artist Aitesam Farooq. They’re extremely popular on Instagram, thanks to bringing fan theories and rumors to life in front of our eyes. In fact, Farooq has nearly 200k followers as a result of his talent and passion for comic book properties- both MCU and DC alike.

Right now there are a number of rumors swirling about the possible contents of Joker 2, so this type of fan art will likely continue being produced until Todd Phillips and/or Warner Bros. actually confirms or denies them. The report about Lady Gaga possibly playing Harley Quinn came as it was also rumored that the mysterious sequel might actually be a musical. That concept definitely turned a few heads, especially since the first Joker movie was so gritty and emotionally grueling to watch.

There are tons of questions about Joker: Folie à Deux, largely because of just how unique Todd Phillips’ original 2019 was. Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck was an unreliable narrator, so it’s unclear how much of the movie’s events actually happened. Case in point: Arthur’s imaginary relationship with Zazie Beetz’ Sophie. While the movie’s ending put the newly crowned Joker in Arkham Asylum, some fans wondered if that was real also. We’ll just have to see what Phillips has up his sleeve for the developing sequel.

Joker 2 doesn’t currently have a release date, but the next DC movie hitting theaters is Black Adam on October 21st. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.  

Warner Bros. has been on a roll with its comic book movies in recent years, set both within and outside the DC Extended Universe. Todd Phillips’ Joker is in the latter category, and was a massive box office and critical hit when it arrived back in 2019. The sequel is taking major steps forward, with Lady Gaga possibly playing Harley Quinn in the developing project. And some Joker 2 fan art combined Harley and La La Land to delightfully bonkers results.

Fans waited patiently for Joker’s sequel to come together, and Warner Bros. recently revealed some thrilling updates about the developing movie. The sequel will be titled Joker: Folie à deux, with Gaga rumored to be playing Harley Quinn and the movie possibly being a musical. As a result, artist Boss Logic shared some epic fan art mashing up Joker and La La Land. Check it out for yourself below,

I mean, how funny is that? While this mashup was originally a joke by Boss Logic, Ha Ha Land doesn’t seem that far off from what’s benign rumored about Joker 2. Let’s just hope that Joaquin Phoenix's return to Arthur Fleck includes a jaunty tap dance and an appearance by John Legend. 

While not much is known about the contents of Joker: Folie à deux, the internet is having a field day with the rumors surrounding Todd Phillips’ sophomore DC effort. Namely because a musical sequel with Lady Gaga sounds like a far departure from the gritty and grisly original movie. We’ll just have to wait and see what’s actually confirmed by Warner Bros. and Phillips.

In the image we see above, Harley Quinn is none other than Margot Robbie in a costume from the 2016 Suicide Squad movie. I have to wonder if we’ll see more fan art that adds Mother Monster to the mix as Joker’s fan favorite sidekick. Gaga is a talent that could play a number of superhero roles, but fans will no doubt be thrilled to see her take on Harley.

It should be interesting to see where Todd Phillips takes the story of Joker 2, especially given the 2019 movie’s ending. Arthur Fleck had finally transformed into the titular villain, before seemingly being arrested and sent to Arkham Asylum. But Joaquin Phoenix’s protagonist was also established as an unreliable narrator, leading audiences to question everything they’d seen throughout the 122-minute runtime.

Both Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix have expressed interest in re-teaming for a Joker sequel, so the reports about the movie’s title and possible casting are no doubt thrilling for moviegoers out there. Phoenix ultimately won an Oscar for his haunting portrayal of Arthur Fleck, while the movie made a ton of money at the box office.

Joker is currently streaming on HBO Max, and the next DC movie hitting theaters is Black Adam on October 21st. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Although Batman’s arch-nemesis The Joker has been played by multiple actors on film over the decades, in 2019, the Clown Prince of Crime finally got the cinematic spotlight to himself in Joker. Starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, the standalone DC movie ended up hauling in over $1 billion worldwide. As a result, although Joker was originally intended to be a one-and-done affair, there’s been talk in the years since then about making a sequel, and now director Todd Phillips has confirmed that Joker 2 is indeed happening by revealing its title.

Taking to his Instagram account, Todd Phillips shared two pictures: the first showing the cover page of this Joker sequel, and the second of Joaquin Phoenix reading the script. As you’ll see below, the movie's working title is Joker: Folie à deux, the latter French term translating into English as “folly of two” or “madness of two.” It’s the name of a psychiatric syndrome referring to the sharing of delusional beliefs, and sometimes even hallucinations, between two people.

Todd Phillips didn’t reveal anything else about this movie he co-wrote with Scott Silver, but sharing a title like that is more than enough to get the brain juices flowing. Here’s a quick refresher though: at the end of the first Joker movie, Arthur Fleck, who’d fully embraced his clownish persona, was thrown into Arkham State Hospital, but his influence had already spread across Gotham City. After murdering talk show host Murray Abraham on live TV, the clown-masked protestors across the city instigated riots, and amidst the chaos, the young Bruce Wayne saw his parents gunned down by one of the rioters. Now that we know Joker 2 is called Folie à deux, that indicates one of the people who looked up to Arthur will follow in his footsteps and become a new Joker.

Assuming this is indeed what Joker 2’s premise will be, this sounds a lot like what Willem Dafoe pitched back in January about wanting to play a Joker impostor who clashes with Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. However, there is another angle to consider: instead of another Joker, what if we’ll meet a different version of Harley Quinn than the one Margot Robbie plays in the DCEU? Harleen Quinzel crossed paths with the Clown Prince of Crime while working as a psychiatrist at Arkham, and after succumbing to his charms, she became his love interest and partner-in-crime. Perhaps Folie à deux is in reference to her.

It may be a while until we learn specifically what the Joker sequel has in store, and quite frankly, Folie à deux may not end up being its final title. Still, for those who enjoyed that first movie, this is another big step forward for this corner of the DC multiverse. This news also arrives days after it was reported that Todd Phillips was asked by Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav to serve as an advisor for upcoming DC movies.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on the Joker sequel’s progress. Joaquin Phoenix can be seen later this year in the A24 movie Disappointment Blvd. alongside actors like Nathan Lane, Patti Lupone and Amy Ryan.

Warner Bros. has been on a roll with its superhero projects lately, producing projects set both within and outside of the main DCEU. Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker movie was the first project in the latter category, and was a giant Oscar-winning hit. But is filmmaker Todd Phillips going to have a bigger role in the DCEU? Here’s the latest.

The Hangover director Todd Phillips dipped his toe into the comic book genre for the first time with Joker, putting his own spin on the Clown Prince of Crime’s backstory. The dark and gritty vision really resonated with audiences, and according to a new report by THR, he was potentially asked by Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav to help as an advisor to upcoming DC movies. 

According to this interesting new report, David Zaslav is focused on exactly how to lead Warner Bros.’ continued efforts with DC movies. While Zack Snyder was the original architect for the DCEU, he ultimately had a falling out with the studio over Justice League. Since then director-driven projects have continued to be released, although they are lacking in crossover moments.

Of course, there is a potential downside to Todd Phillips’ possible new job with Warner Bros. and DC. Namely because the director-writer isn’t necessarily an expert on DC lore from the comic books. But it’s perhaps for this reason that his take on Joker was such a success; he offered something fresh and disconnected to the beloved action from the page. And there’s no telling how this POV might ultimately affect the overall DCEU if he signs on for the long haul.

Aside from this rumored role in the DCEU, plenty of moviegoers are still holding out hope that Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix reunite for a Joker sequel. While the project was seemingly in the early stages of development following the original’s massive success, there haven’t been any real updates from the powers that be at Warner Bros. But given Phillips’ aforementioned vision for Gotham City, it seems like he could take the story seemingly anywhere. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed.

The ending of Joker definitely was up for interpretation, and left audiences with plenty of questions about what they had seen over the last 122 minutes. Did Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck actually kill all those people, or was it merely another delusion like his relationship with Zazie Beetz’ Sophie? The ending also saw Bruce Wayne’s origin story play out, with his parents dying as a result of the riots inspired by Arthur himself. Perhaps we could see Batman rise in a sequel? Only time will tell.

The next DC movie hitting theaters is Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam on October 21st. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Warner Bros. has been producing a ton of superhero movies lately, set both within and outside of the main DCEU timeline. Todd Phillips’ Joker was in the latter category, and was a massive success that earned Joaquin Phoenix an Academy Award. But is Joker 2 still happening? Here’s the latest.

Joker made a ton of money when it hit theaters back in 2019, while also being a strong contender during Awards Season. While both Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix seemed interested in bringing a sequel together, there hasn’t been much news. But a new report by The Ankler (via The Direct) indicated the possible sequel is still in the works– even if it’s taking longer than expected.

According to this latest (unconfirmed) report about Joker, Warner Bros. is still moving ahead with a sequel for Joaquin Phoenix’s gritty drama. The script is seemingly being worked on, and filming could begin in early 2023. Although it’s not all good news. Because Todd Phillips allegedly hasn’t actually submitted a draft of the script for Joker 2 yet. So if that process continues for longer than expected, perhaps these plans will be further postponed. Only time will tell.

While some moviegoers would have liked to already be catching up with the likes of Arthur Fleck in Joker 2, it’s definitely exciting that Warner Bros. is seemingly still interested in the burgeoning franchise. And since Todd Phillips’ story isn’t connected to the events of the DCEU or The Batman, he should presumably be given narrative freedom. There just happen to be a number of Jokers occupying the big screen these days.

Todd Phillips offered a bleak, gritty take on Gotham City and its inhabitants throughout the course of Joker’s runtime. The disturbing drama saw Joaquin Phoenix’s protagonist Arthur Fleck descend into madness, and accidentally kickstart an anarchist revolution in the DC location. Phoenix gave an outstanding performance, transforming his body, mind, and voice in order to become this new take on the character. And by the end he truly became the Clown Prince of Crime.

The ending of Joker definitely left the story open for more entries, especially now that Arthur Fleck has become the titular villain. While some fans were hoping to see a crossover with Robert Pattinson’s version of Batman, the two franchises will be kept separate narratively. After all, actor Barry Keoghan made his debut as a different form of Joker in The Batman, albeit with limited screen time.

Hopefully Todd Phillips is able to complete the writing process for Joker’s sequel sooner rather than later. While a follow-up movie seemed all but guaranteed back in 2019, fans have been patiently waiting for any real updates from the studio. Because who wouldn’t want to return to that version of Gotham City, and those iconic stairs?

The Batman is in theaters now, and the next DC flick hitting theaters is Black Adam on October 21st. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It’s awards season, and during this time of the year, we often talk about the crazy lengths certain actors go to really delve into their roles. For example, Lady Gaga stayed in her House of Gucci accent for almost a year, and Andrew Garfield learned how to sing ahead of Tick, Tick… Boom!. But here’s a throwback movie fact we don’t talk about enough: Ed Helms full-on removed a tooth to play Stu in The Hangover. 

Back when the movie came out, it was reported that Ed Helms actually had his tooth pulled ahead of starring in the movie with Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis. But now with nearly 15 years have passed since The Hangover's release, Helms spoke about it in greater detail. During his episode of Hot Ones, the actor said this: 

The first part of the story is that they tried other options (thankfully).  Ed Helms put a marker to one of his teeth to make it look like he’d lost a tooth on Stu’s fateful night in Las Vegas. However, it did not look good. Helms continued: 

The dentist removed the crown placed when Ed Helms was 20 years younger, and for three months, the actor was visibly missing a tooth to star in The Hangover. He also said this: 

Talk about commitment! Even though it was an implant in his mouth, to even go to the dentist for a role and have them take out an implant and then replace it goes to show that Ed Helms was willing to go the extra mile. Then the former Office star would wear a retainer to play Andy Bernard during that time. Pretty crazy, right? 

That’s not the only wild thing to happen during the production of The Hangover. The Las Vegas cops were also called while the movie was being shot thanks to Ken Jeong going nude for an improvised sequence. 

The Hangover hit theaters in the summer of 2009 and was one of the biggest successes of that year. It was the sixth highest grossing movie of 2009 domestically under Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Up, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Avatar. On the worldwide charts, it was the tenth in line, which is incredible for a comedy that reportedly cost $35 million to produce.

 Plus, the careers of just about every member of The Hangover core cast are doing incredible over a decade after the film’s release. So in that sense, it seems like pulling a tooth was worth it for Ed Helms. Just don’t expect a The Hangover sequel anytime soon. 

In modern comic book movies, cameos are not only a regular source of fun for audiences, but also commonly used as a storytelling tool. With series often planned out in advance, filmmakers have sometimes used special appearances by known actors as a means of teasing future chapters – with the perfect example being Samuel L. Jackson's debut as Nick Fury in the first Iron Man. All that being said, if you happen to be a person who is expecting to see more from Justin Theroux in Joker 2 following his extremely minor part in Todd Phillips' villain origin tale, we have some bad news for you.

With news recently circulating about Joker 2 taking steps towards becoming a reality, The Hollywood Reporter recently asked Justin Theroux if he was in any way "vying" for a role in the project, and the actor essentially shut that talk down. According to the Mosquito Coast star, he hasn't been in contact with Todd Phillips in a long time, and he doesn't personally see a path towards bringing his character back. Said Theroux,

In Joker, Justin Theroux plays an actor named Ethan Chase... but if you didn't know that it's not exactly a sleight against your comic book movie knowledge. It's a case of a cameo being less of a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" appearance and more of a case of "squint-or-you'll-miss-it." As seen in the screenshot at the top of this article, he only shows up for a few seconds in the film, and he's only ever featured on a television screen as a guest on an episode of Murray Franklin's talk show (Arthur Fleck watches and imitates him as he prepares for his own appearence).

For what it's worth, there is a bit more to Justin Theroux's Joker cameo beyond a familiar face being featured in a sly way. In Todd Phillips' 2010 movie Due Date, Zach Galifianakis plays an actor named Ethan Tremblay who travels across the country to move to Los Angeles – and his plan is to perform under the stage name Ethan Chase.

As for what's happening with Joker 2... there isn't much to report. Todd Phillips has apparently made a deal that will see him return to co-write the sequel, but we have no idea what the movie will be about, or how long it will be before it's a project that is ready to go into production. There's a lot of anticipation for more information, however, so we'll surely get more updates soon.

In 2019, after decades of appearing as an antagonist in Batman movies (and Suicide Squad), The Joker finally snagged the cinematic spotlight for himself. Joaquin Phoenix starred as DC Comics’ Clown Prince of Crime in Joker, which was met with a solid amount of positive critical reception and raked in over $1 billion at the box office. Although Joker was originally intended as a standalone story, there was talk afterwards about potentially delivering a sequel, and now it looks like Joker 2 is further along in the development process than we thought.

Buried in a THR piece about Hollywood’s top attorneys, it’s mentioned that Joker co-writer/director Todd Phillips signed a deal to co-write the next Joker “installment.” Outside of Joker 2 being mentioned as in development earlier this month, this is the biggest update we’ve gotten on the project for a long time. And considering how it was under Phillips’ watchful eye that Joker came together, it’s only logical that Warner Bros and DC Films would bring him back for another round of maniacal clown-induced chaos.

That said, the use of the word “installment” rather than “sequel” in this article is curious. Given all the accolades Joaquin Phoenix received for his performance as Arthur Fleck, including winning the Academy Award for Best Actor, one would imagine bringing him back would be the best way to ensure that Joker 2 comes anywhere close to the level of success its predecessor enjoyed. On the other hand, perhaps Warner Bros and DC are more interesting in going the anthology route with a new Joker movie, and we could see a different take on how the Clown Prince of Crime came to be starring a new character.

Then there’s the Batman of it all to contemplate. If Joker 2 is indeed a direct sequel to Joker, then the groundwork’s already been laid for the Caped Crusader to appear. Dante Pereira-Olson played a young Bruce Wayne in Joker, and during the riots that broke out in Gotham City after Arthur Fleck shot talk show host Murray Franklin on live television, Bruce watched his parents being gunned down in Crime Alley by one of the clown-makes rioters. Joker 2 could easily pick up several decades later and follow the now-adult Bruce becoming Batman and hunting down the man who was indirectly responsible for his parents’ murder.

However, if Joker 2 is more of a self-contained follow-up, then we could potentially see a story where the Joker of this story succumbs to insanity when Batman is already on the scene. Although The Joker has multiple origin stories in the comics, he’s most often been depicted as a nameless criminal who’s transformed into his chalk white-skinned, green-haired self after falling into a vat of chemicals during a confrontation with the Dark Knight. That’s not to say the next Joker movie would need to deliver the same kind of tale, but it would be interesting to see a story unfold where Batman played a role, however accidental, in The Joker rising up to terrorize Gotham City.

Clearly there are a lot of questions that need to be answered about Joker 2, so as soon as more concrete details roll in, we’ll let you know. For now, stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the biggest news concerning upcoming DC Comics movies.

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It's no secret that comic book movies are everywhere. The superhero genre has proven itself endlessly profitable over the last decade, and plenty of studios have gotten in on the action as a result. Some of these projects have been able to bring something new to the table, like Todd Phillips' Joker. Joaquin Phoenix earned an Oscar for portraying Arthur Fleck, but a new deepfake has added Jim Carrey in that role... and I can't look away.

Deepfakes have been steadily gaining popularity on the internet, as fan castings and theories are brought to life by adding the faces of actors to already established film projects. That's exactly what recently happened to Joker, imagining what actor/comedian Jim Carrey could have brought to the role of Arthur Fleck. You can check it out below.

I mean, how cool is that? Jim Carrey actually feels like an excellent choice to play Arthur Fleck in Joker, once again allowing him to flex his dramatic muscles for the role. Obviously Joaquin Phoenix was able to do this, winning countless awards in 2019 as a result. Let's break down what this deepfake is showing us.

The above video from YouTube account Stryder HD cuts together a bunch of footage made famous by Joker's various trailers. But instead of featuring Joaquin Phoenix as the ill-fated protagonist, Jim Carrey's face has been added to the Oscar winning actor's body. While this is effective in shots of Arthur riding the bus or watching a movie in Gotham's theaters, the deepfake is perhaps most successful with close-ups, like when the protagonist is speaking to his mandated therapist for the final time.

Of course, the deepfake does run into some issues when Arthur is shown wearing clown makeup. It's obviously much harder to add Jim Carrey's face, especially when said make up or a clown nose in the way. After all, the video isn't made by professional visual effects artist. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the clip's final moments, as the Joker makeup looks bizarre on Carrey's superimposed face.

Regardless of the success of the deepfake's visuals, cinephiles will likely agree that Jim Carrey would have been an excellent choice to play Arthur Fleck in Todd Phillips' Joker. While obviously Joquin Phoenix's performance was universally acclaimed, Carrey has proven his acting abilities with dark material. Just look at his work in projects like The Number 23 or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Joker is currently streaming on HBO Max. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Overall, Joker was able to do add something unique to the comic book genre. Todd Phillips' acclaimed drama was surprisingly pulled back, and didn't feature any colorful costumes or the title character's signature sense of humor. Instead audiences were forced to watch as Gotham City beat down Arthur Fleck and his mental health declined until he became a murdering anarchist.

Given the box office and critical success of Joker, moviegoers have been wondering if Warner Bros. might produce another pulled back, gritty villain origin story. Batman's rogue gallery is filled with tragic and human stories, so the possibilities are fairly endless. And while Jim Carrey obviously never got to play Arthur Fleck, he might be a good choice to play a character like Mr. Freeze. We'll just have to wait and see.

Of course, Batman and his villains are already being adapted for the silver screen in a variety of highly anticipated projects. The most notable of these upcoming movies is Matt Reeves' The Batman, which will see Robert Pattinson's title character take on three beloved villains. Additionally, the Snyder Cut will bring back Jared Leto's joker on HBO Max.

Joker is currently streaming on HBO Max, which will be the eventual home of the Snyder Cut. Be sure to check out our 2021 release list to plan your trips to the movies next year.

Netflix’s Top 10 list has given subscribers a great way to engage with content that a lot of other people care about. A lot of times this content ends up being Netflix Originals, movies like Spenser Confidential and Extraction or TV shows such as The Umbrella Academy. Yet, as users look for more traditional films on the platform, the subscription streaming service has kind of been a place for people to find middling or forgotten movies again. This week that means Robert Downey Jr. and Nicolas Cage movies that are around a decade old are finding new life on the streamer.

If you were to peruse Netflix’s Top 10 list right now, you’d find some original content like the fun rom-com Love, Guaranteed and the new season of Lucifer in the Top 10. Regardless, in the midst of that content both the Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifiniakis starrer from Todd Phillips Due Date and the Nicolas Cage and John Cusack-led The Frozen Ground are also in the Top 10.

Both movies have high-profile casts and came out several years ago, with Due Date hitting theaters in 2010 and The Frozen Ground coming out three years later in 2013. Both also have in common that they were not super well-received when they first came out. Neither are bad movies, per se, and both have middling reviews on aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB. One major difference between the two movies is that Due Date was a wider release, The Frozen Ground never really got the chance to shine as it was sent to VOD in most places.

But like a lot of mediocre movies – and in fact despite Due Date making a profit at the box office -- neither were really part of the cultural vernacular until they randomly saw a resurgence on Netflix. It’s something the subscription streaming service has started to be notable for as it has become a little bit clearer about the ways people consume content in a binge-able format. If you are only paying $13 dollars a month for the content and just looking for something random to watch on a Tuesday night, suddenly something like Due Date, which is at the time of this writing a #5 hit on the streaming service, may seem like a pretty good proposition.

And if you haven’t seen The Frozen Ground, the #9 movie is about serial killer Robert Hansen, known as the Butcher Baker. I can absolutely see how it ties into some of Netflix’s other crime genre content, particularly its popular series Mindhunter. The fact that these movies, which may be movies people did not see during their original runs and may in some ways feel like new content, are gaining new light is honestly fascinating to watch.

If I had to hypothesize myself, I would probably have guessed that subscribers were using Netflix to watch old staples in genres like rom-coms or brand-spanking new originals, of course. But it seems that users’ tastes are more varied. They may be looking for more content that is new rather than old hot – even if it’s new to them and not new to the test of time.

This isn’t the first time this has happened, either. Earlier this summer, a Mark Wahlberg flop, Patriots Day, made Netflix’s Top 10 list. More recently, a Kevin James flop also dominated the Top 10.

As some perennial favorites like Marvel movies or franchises like Harry Potter have shifted to different streaming services, it makes sense that some of the most popular content on Netflix might end up being forgotten movies from the mid-aughts. But it does make me wonder if people will always be happy to settle for good enough.

It would probably be an understatement to say things aren’t great in today’s current events. It’s been a tumultuous year so far, and it can feel like there aren’t any signs of things getting better. So in his own concise way, Joker director Todd Phillips dropped some perfect and depressing commentary on the subject, including imagery from his psychological drama.

If you follow Todd Phillips on social media, you know he doesn’t shy away from commenting on social and political issues. He especially likes to use his hit movie Joker as a tool to communicate what he feels is happening in the world today. Recently, he took to social media to do just that. Check it out:

If you’ve seen Joker, this picture of Arther Fleck on the now iconic stairs likely resonates in many different ways. For those that haven’t, this is around the time in the movie where Arthur Fleck, aka. Joker, has his “awakening” moment, a villain born from a cruel society that’s crumbling around him. It's a powerful sequence, and now Todd Phillips has brought it to the current day of self-quarantine.

For a large part of the Joker, the audience witnesses Arthur Fleck endure consistent and cruel torment from everyone around him. In this world, society is a very dark place and Arthur Fleck is a victim of it. Todd Phillips has said before that he believes the film’s over-arching theme is kindness, and also a lack of love and empathy in society.

To a degree, it’s hard to fully interpret what Todd Phillips is getting at with this Instagram photo, but with words like “stay safe,” it’s likely he’s talking about the coronavirus. Most know by now that the pandemic has caused plenty of uncertainty around the world, including the movie industry. As a result, people have been spending more time isolated at home. Phillips comments on his post about how this has affected his perception of days, saying "what's the difference?"

Early this year, all major theaters have shut down and many major studios in Hollywood have halted production and delayed release dates. High profile actors like Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have contracted the coronavirus, but have since recovered. While they were lucky, many other actors have passed away due to the virus.

On top of the pandemic, there's an ongoing conversation about race in the country. Protests have inspired change in both legislation and the entertainment world, resulting in institutions like Disney (which recently made the announcement they would change Splash Mountain’s theme) and HBO Max (which temporarily removed Gone with the Wind due to racial stereotypes) to make changes as well.

These combined issues likely contributed to Todd Phillips' message of staying safe. Although such a comforting thought is unique paired with visuals from Joker, just a few scenes before Arthur Fleck inspires Gotham City to fall into chaos. Still, it's nice to hear kind words during this time.

It's no secret that comic book movies are everywhere. Plenty of studios have started their own cinematic universe, with heroes and villains in tights clashing on the big screen, and making tons of money in the process. But there are some adaptations that stand out among the rest, like Todd Phillips' Joker. The 2019 drama was a grueling and thrilling moviegoing experience that made a ton of money at the box office and earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for playing the title character. Phillips assembled a killer cast including Robert De Niro, but it turns out that he and Phoenix clashed for a very specific reason at the start of Joker's production.

Joaquin Phoenix obviously carried Joker with his stunning performance, but the supporting cast no doubt helped him achieve those levels of emotionality. Robert De Niro's Murray Franklin had an antagonistic relationship with Arthur Fleck, and it turns out that the two actors did briefly have a disagreement IRL. Specifically, about the movie's table read.

Table reads are a common practice on film and TV sets, where the cast and crew assemble to read through the entirety of script. This can be an important part of the process, as it gives the cast a full view of the movie, rather than just their own scenes. And according to a profile by GQ, this was a point of contention between Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro. While Phoenix doesn't like to rehearse or do table readings, it was reportedly a demand by the latter actor.

What resulted was a small conflict at the very start of Joker's production. Joaquin Phoenix uses his anxiety to fuel his film performances, which is why rehearsing and read throughs are against his process; he wants total spontaneity. Phoenix's refusal to do a table reading inspired a strong reaction by Robert De Niro, as he reportedly told Todd Phillips:

Looks like Robert De Niro didn't mince words ahead of filming Joker. He wanted to fully understand the psychological drama, and that meant hearing Todd Phillips and Scott Silver's dialogue in full. And after initially saying "There’s no fucking way I’m doing a read-through," Joaquin Phoenix did eventually relent and do a read-through at De Niro's company's office. Although the report indicates that Phoenix didn't put much performance into it, likely in hopes of saving his creative energies for the set.

Joaquin Phoenix has said that Robert De Niro is his favorite American actor, which might have contributed to his decision to go through the read through. But despite this initial conflict, Joker was a resounding success when it hit theaters. The unnerving drama made over a billion dollars at the box office, and was nominated for countless awards. In the end Phoenix ended up sweeping the Best Actor category across all award ceremonies.

It should be interesting to see if Joker ends up getting a sequel, or if Todd Phillips creates a dark origin story for another comic book character. In the meantime, Warner Bros. is moving forward movies set within the DC Extended Universe. The next of these is Wonder Woman 1984, which is set to hit theaters on August 14th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Todd Phillips' Joker has been one of the most talked about releases of the last year. After debuting to critical success at film festivals, the unsettling psychological drama appeared to be a front runner for Awards Season. Joker broke box office records, and was nominated for a whopping 11 Oscars, with Joaquin Phoenix winning for Best Actor. Given the film's success, rumors about a possible sequel soon began swirling around the internet. And now actress Zazie Beetz has broken her silence on the subject.

Zazie Beetz starred as Sophie in Joker, with all of her scenes opposite Joaquin Phoenix himself. She was a love interest and Arthur's one source of kindness, before it was revealed that their relationship was a delusion in the mentally ill man's mind. Beetz was asked about the possibility of a Joker sequel on the red carpet of the Academy Awards, to which she said:

Well, that was honest. It looks like Zazie Beetz doesn't really think that Joker needs a follow-up movie. That said, she trusts the creative vision of director Todd Phillips.

Zazie Beetz' comments to MTV News show what the Atlanta actress truly feels about the possibility of another Joker movie. While getting the gig in the first one was an honor and she was pleased to work so closely with Joaquin Phoenix, Beetz isn't sure the story needs an entirely new movie. Although if anyone can make it work, it would be director Todd Phillips.

Narratively, Zazie Beetz makes a great deal of sense. Joker had a clear story toward Arthur Fleck's madness, with the audience watching as Gotham City beats down the protagonist throughout the movie's runtime. This makes his transformation into the Clown Prince of Crime feel earned, with his villain status cemented by killing Murray Franklin on live television.

The origin story for the title character seemed complete by the end of Joker, although there was some discussion about how much of the film's contents "really" happened. Arthur Fleck suffered from delusions consistently through the movie, fantasizing about meeting Murray Franklin and inventing his relationship with Sophie. So one popular theory is that the entire movie was in his head, an imaginary world thought up by an inmate of Arkham Aslym. What's more, Todd Phillips has even fanned the flames of this theory.

We'll just have to wait and see if a Joker sequel actually happens. Personally, I'm hoping that the movie is left alone, with Todd Phillips crafting another unique origin story for a comic book character instead. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

While not exactly gender-diverse, this year’s race for Best Picture at the Academy Awards is an interesting one. In addition to there being an interesting mix of genres represented in the films up for the prize, the 2020 class has filmmakers who have taken very different paths to where they are today. It’s a mix of legends and first-time nominees, and the result is that it’s hard to precisely predict who will end up walking away with the trophy.

We here at CinemaBlend have our own thoughts on the proceedings, and in recent weeks members of our staff have been letting their voices be heard by ranking the nominees in all of the major Oscar categories. Votes were only cast by those who saw every film in a given category, and each vote ranked the five nominees from most to least deserving (a "1" being the best, and a "5" being the lowest). Those scores have been averaged, and those averages have generated the order you see below.

#5. Todd Phillips, Joker

Average Rank: 4.5789474

If you time traveled to 2010 and told random movie fans that Todd Phillips would one day be up for Best Director at the Oscars, it would probably inspire a fair bit of laughter. After all, ten years ago Phillips was best known for making broad comedies like Old School, Road Trip, and The Hangover, which weren’t exactly movies sending out awards screeners. That being said, Phillips’ profile as a filmmaker has changed a great deal in recent years, and Joker is excellent evidence of that.

Phillips had a chance to express the deepest parts of his dark sensibilities with the DC Comics adaptation, and what he has crafted is a disturbing and impressively atmospheric feature unlike any comic book movie we’ve seen before. The feeling that you need to take a shower after watching Joker is evidence of its effectiveness, as the film gets under your skin in all the ways that it should.

#4. Martin Scorsese, The Irishman

Average Rank: 3.8947368

The Irishman is a project that has been with Martin Scorsese for years – long imagined as a film that would not only reunite him with fellow legends Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, but also give him his first opportunity to work with Al Pacino. But the director had to bide his time, waiting for the industry to catch up with vision of what the movie could be. It took more than a decade for it to get done, but what he accomplished with the project is truly extraordinary.

There are 20-year-old directors to struggle to manage the reins of an 80 minute comedy, but the 77-year-old Martin Scorsese builds The Irishman in all of its three-and-a-half hour glory like a sculptor with a scalpel, designing one of the most incredible works he’s ever done.  It’s a tremendous blend of classic and modern cinema techniques, and a remarkable journey that only Scorsese could deliver.

#3. Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

Average Rank: 2.2105263

This is the first year that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have recognized the work of Bong Joon-ho, but the reality is that the filmmaker has been delivering extraordinary work for years. Each of his movies explores new genre and theme, but all of his work is marked by fantastic camerawork and sharp commentary. One could make a strong argument that the director’s work has been overlooked by the Academy before, but at the very least that’s not happening this year with what is his best work to date.

Parasite is a mind-blower of craftsmanship, with every scene delicately building the escalating plot, the narrative striking many different tones, and it upending expectations each step of the way. It’s a shocking and brutal examination of class warfare with no detail left overlooked, and an incredible achievement for Bong Joon-ho as a director. In short, it was ranked as CineamBlend’s number one film of 2019 for a reason.

#2. Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Average Rank: 2.2105263

Quentin Tarantino’s work has changed a great deal over the course of his career. When he first started in the 1990s he earned acclaim for his tremendous contributions to the crime genre, but since the start of the 21st century, and the release of Kill Bill, his films have become far more experimental. An extension of this, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is unlike any movie that he’s ever made, but infused with all the greatest elements of his sensibilities, it easily ranks as one of his greatest contributions to cinema.

The statistical tie between Tarantino and Bong Joon-ho in the rankings was broken by the former having more #1 votes (six versus four), and he finishes here higher than he did in our vote for Best Original Screenplay, where Once Upon A Time In Hollywood finished in third. Still, while our staff didn’t deliver it the ballots for the Best Director trophy, there is a lot of love here at CinemaBlend for Tarantino’s epic journey through Los Angeles in 1969.

#1. Sam Mendes, 1917

Average Rank: 2.1052632

Making a film is tremendously hard work. It involves coordinating hundreds of people, executing a plan that is guaranteed to change along the way, and managing input from a wide variety of sources, all while dealing with the immense pressure that comes from the money invested in the project. To purposefully make the whole process infinitely harder by attempting something as intrepid as capturing the feeling of everything being in a single shot is, on paper, a crazy thing to do – but that just emphasizes the magnificence of what Sam Mendes has accomplished with 1917.

There is an incredible urgency added to the plot of the film through its stylistic choices, and Mendes’ collaboration with cinematographer Roger Deakins has resulted in one of the most audacious and impressive war movies of all time. You can’t help but marvel at the technical achievement that’s seen in the final product on the big screen, but that gets taken to the next level when you take into consideration the level of synchronization that was necessary to achieve everything. It’s a remarkable accomplishment, and one that the CinemaBlend team feels makes Sam Mendes deserving of the 2020 Oscar for Best Director.

As for who will actually win the award, we won’t find that out until tomorrow night when the Academy Awards are broadcast around the globe. We have tons more coverage of the event coming your way, so stay tuned, and be on the lookout for more of our rankings of the Oscar nominees in the top categories.

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If you’ve seen Joker, you know Joaquin Phoenix is bleak and a little unhinged, sharing a portrayal of the effects of ill-nurturing and mental illness on individuals and in society as a whole. The movie opens with Phoenix’s character dressed as a clown, who is beat up shortly after a sign he is carrying is stolen. There’s a lot happening with the performance, to the point where Joker’s cinematographer was a little concerned Phoenix would take the role a little too far.

Surprisingly, while the violence inherent to Joker was at the forefront of the conversation when the movie came out, less was said about how Joaquin Phoenix went really deep into character when taking on the role. Sure, his weight loss has been noted, but according to cinematographer Lawrence Sher there was at least the concern in the back of his head that the role might go too far or be difficult for Phoenix.

Ultimately, Joaquin Phoenix would lose 52 pounds in order to inhabit the look of Arthur Dent in the Oscar-nominated Joker. Phoenix would later explain that prepping for the role really happened when the weight started coming off, but that it also affected his psychology as well. Great for the movie but I’d assume not so great for his personal health.

Unlike Heath Ledger, who allegedly had trouble sleeping while playing the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (he later overdoses on sleeping pills and prescription drugs), Lawrence Sher also told NME he was more worried because of the physical commitment Joaquin Phoenix took on playing Arthur Dent. It's a comparison Phoenix also seems to have taken to heart as he's said on the awards circuit he's "standing on the shoulders" of the late actor. Per Sher there were no specific examples of this beyond feeling Phoenix was taking it to the very edge:

Those involved with Joker have gone on the record of saying Joaquin Phoenix originally wanted to gain weight for the role, and the actor has noted, ‘it just seemed like it would be easier,” when asked why. He and Todd Phillips had a little back and forth about whether it would ultimately be weight loss or gain and the loss won out. Phoenix told us more about this on CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend podcast late last year.

There’s a lot that’s been written about Joker in the months since Todd Phillips’ big movie was released by Warner Bros. and DC. The movie has attracted a lot of notice and has been nominated for more Academy Awards than any other movie this year. Much of this may be directly credited to the way Joaquin Phoenix portrayed the iconic Batman villain and that may not have been possible without the rigorous physical and mental toll it took on the actor.

In the interview, Lawrence Sher even mentioned that Joaquin Phoenix was injured early in the process of making the movie and never complained, even running during certain scenes. He was dedicated to the role and Sher says he admired “it big time.”

The work put into the performance paid off in spades. Joker has gone on to make over a billion dollars worldwide and has been a huge success for its parent studio given its relatively low budget. Joaquin Phoenix already won a Golden Globe and several other awards for his performance, and the movie as a whole has both won and been nominated for its score, its direction, its screenplay and much, much. Next up, we'll see how it fares at the 2020 Oscars, which air on ABC on Sunday, February 9 at 8 p.m. ET.

Has any other 2019 movie been more buzzy than Joker? The intimate drama inspired by the famed comic book villain broke massive records at the box office and became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. It’s been a polarizing movie critics and audiences love to discuss. Oh, and it was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. Why is Joker such a phenomenon?

While speaking at a screening of Joker at the Landmark in Los Angeles (via TheWrap), director Todd Phillips talked about the aspect of the film that he’s been approached the most about since the film hit theaters. In his words:

When Todd Phillips set out to make Joker, he wanted to make a movie about the “power of kindness” in a society that he feels lacks empathy. But he had no idea that the film’s most important subject matter to people would be its focus on mental illness. Since the movie’s release, he’s been flooded with messages and conversations with fans about their association with the movie.

In Joker, Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck's descent into madness has a lot to do with the cruel world he lives in, along with his own mental health issues. It looks like fans have certainly been affected by Todd Phillips’ intended message to look at other people in a different light the next time they interact with someone.

Todd Phillips touched on how he thinks the Joker’s success will make it out to be a blockbuster, but he says that was never his motivation for making the movie. It wasn’t about stamping a highly recognizable name on a movie title – the director and co-writer felt he had something unique to say through the lens of the Clown Prince of Crime.

But not everyone find Joker to be the kind of healing release Todd Phillips describes. When the movie hit theaters, it caused a stir and controversy over its violence. And some have felt it creates empathy for the people behind the mass shootings that have made headlines in the U.S. in recent years. Or it's just overrated for its huge success.

Joaquin Phoenix has been heavily praised for his turn as The Joker. The actor lost an incredible 52 pounds for the role and improvised some of the small-budget film’s most memorable sequences. Phoenix recently won a Golden Globe, SAG and Critics’ Choice Award for playing Arthur Fleck, and he could very well be on his way to nabbing his first Oscar win.

Joker is available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital now.

Since before its release, Todd Phillips' Joker has been the subject of much discussion. The dark psychological drama made a big splash at film festivals, before breaking records with its wide theatrical release. Since then Joker has become a favorite for awards season, earning a whopping 11 nominations for the 2020 Academy Awards. Joaquin Phoenix is a favorite to win the Best Actor statue, especially after his win at the Golden Globes. Phoenix has been open about his process, and he recently explained why he doesn't like to rehearse scenes, especially for movies like Joker.

Joaquin Phoenix is an acclaimed actor, who has been celebrated for his roles in movies like Gladiator, Signs, Walk the Line, and Her. He's clearly got a certain method for bringing out these powerful performances, and that includes not rehearsing much-- especially for heavy scenes like Joker's. Phoenix recently put it,

Touche. There's a reason Joaquin Phoenix is a four-time Oscar nominee. He strives to be as authentic as possible, and therefore avoids rehearsing if possible. We'll just have to see if his efforts in Joker get him his first win.

Joaquin Phoenix's comments come from his recent interview with Anderson Cooper for 60 Minutes. Phoenix did a deep dive into his process with the journalist, especially regarding his acclaimed performance as Arthur Fleck in Joker. Phoenix had his work cut out for him, and very big clown shoes to fill by playing the Clown Prince of Crime. But he and director Todd Phillips ultimately succeeded by crafting a story unlike anything we've seen. And from the sound of it, there wasn't much rehearsing for the star.

Related: The Joker Team's Biggest Fear About The Movie Will Just Make You Laugh Now

It makes sense that Joaquin Phoenix wouldn't want to spend time rehearsing Joker, considering the dark places the movie already required him to go. The actor expertly portrayed Arthur Fleck's descent into madness, and the character's complicated mental health state. Arthur's laughing was no doubt an exhausting part of his characterization, and Phoenix was also dieting severely to maintain the character's emaciated appearance.

Considering how much Joker required of Joaquin Phoenix, he wanted his honest reactions to shine through on screen. That's exactly what occurred, and all of the stories fro he and Todd Phillips make it seem like a very live set. After all, he improvised the iconic bathroom dance scene. What's more, his protagonist was emotionally vulnerable and void of affection, and his delusions only get worse once his aid and therapist are revoked.

Joker is currently available for home purchase now, and is the running for a ton of Academy Awards. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Joker is one of the most talked about movies to come out of 2019, and is faring very well this Awards Season. After Joaquin Phoenix took home the Golden Globe for Best Actor, Todd Phillips' dark psychological drama was given a whopping 11 nominations at this morning's Academy Awards announcement. Phoenix is a favorite to take home the Oscar as well, and he recently explained his thought process behind Arthur Fleck's iconic bathroom dance.

Arthur Fleck's descent into madness is a gradual decline throughout Joker, although things get really kickstarted when Joaquin Phoenix's character kills for the first time. After murdering three Wayne Enterprise employees who beat him up, Arthur flees to a public bathroom to gather himself. The character then begins a bizarre dance of freedom and peace. Phoenix spoke to his motivations at this moment, explaining:

This type of message was certainly portrayed during Joker's bathroom scene, which wasn't even originally in the script. It was the first true step to Arthur becoming The Joker, eventually resulting in the chaos of the movie's third act.

Joaquin Phoenix's comments to Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes shows how methodically the acclaimed actor approached his work on Joker. He and Todd Phillips sought to create a movie unlike any other comic book adaptation. They did just that, mostly by crafting a story that wasn't actually based on anything on the page.

Related: The Joker Team's Biggest Fear About The Movie Will Just Make You Laugh Now

As a reminder, you can check out Joker's bathroom dance scene below.

While Arthur Fleck was originally terrified after killing the trio of young professionals, his attitude changed once he was in private. Killing was a transformative experience, and that change began in that grimy public bathroom. Arthur seemed to bloom, rather than being crushed with guilt or terror.

Arthur's point of view on killing the men who attacked him was reinforced throughout Joker by unhappy denizens of Gotham City, as well as the protagonist's own delusions. He imagines a conversation with Sophie, where she praised the person who murdered those Wayne employees on the subway. What's more, he unknowingly inspires a revolution, as anarchy grips the city.

It should be interesting to see how Joker performs at the Academy Awards, considering how many nominations Todd Phillips' movie received. Only time will tell, but clearly the Academy really enjoyed it.

Joker is available for On Demand and DVD/Blu-ray now. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

For all the monumental success Joker has had, it seems that its creators had no idea it would be a hit. In fact, the film’s director had a serious fear about the film’s ability to connect with audiences. And now he’s able to reflect on why that fear seems so laughable now.

Todd Phillips has been clear about the reasons he made Joker. He meant for the film to be a commentary on the consequences of living in a world without compassion. While those themes are definitely relevant, they’re not exactly what you can usually expect to find in a comic book film.

And Joker’s director was well aware of that. In a conversation with Variety, he discussed the mindset he had as they got ready to film the movie. He made it clear that while he was ready to shake up the comic book genre, he was also aware that he was treading a thin line when it came to fans:

While Joker doesn’t feature any complicated gadgets or a massive fight for humanity’s survival, there’s definitely plenty of tension and violence. Still, Todd Phillips and his creative team were right to be wary of the change in tone. Though there have been plenty of “dark” comic book films, there has never been one that addressed isolation and mental illness quite as directly as Joker. Despite being aware of how easily their approach could backfire, though, Todd Phillips says they dove into the challenge head on:

That’s a bit of an understatement. Though Joker has been one of the most divisive films in recent memory, that hasn’t kept moviegoers away. To date, it’s the highest grossing R-rated film of all time, having made more than $1 billion at the box office. Though it’s hard to say how many of those viewers are die-hard comic book fans, it’s clear that the movie’s impact can be felt well beyond the genre.

More than Metropolis is for Superman or Coast City is for Green Lantern and perhaps even more than New York City is for Spider-Man, Gotham City is a character unto itself within the Batman mythos. And although the Dark Knight was nowhere to be seen, that quality largely held true for the origin story of his greatest villain with Gotham turning Arthur Fleck into the Clown Prince of Crime in Joker. On the special features of the film’s digital release, director Todd Phillips revealed which real city his Gotham was based on, saying:

Before Joker was released in theaters and before we had really seen anything from it, the word was that the film would be a period piece set in the late '70s or early '80s, in keeping with its primary influences Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. And although the film itself doesn’t explicitly define its time period with a title card revealing the year, director Todd Phillips had a very specific city and time in mind: New York City in 1981.

The director, who was born in Brooklyn, based the Gotham in Joker on the New York City of his youth and that’s what guided him while making the film. He wanted to recreate the look and feel of the real-life city of that time period in Joker’s Gotham as the setting and conduit for Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness.

In addition to being based on New York City, Todd Phillips also shot Joker in the Big Apple. So in theory that made it easier to recreate the city from the 80s for Joker’s Gotham.

The Gotham we see in Joker is a run down and broken city with crippling income inequality and where basic social services are failing. Cruelty and apathy runs rampant in Gotham, giving rise to despair and violent revolt. As Todd Phillips says on the Joker special features, he took a lot of this from his memory of New York in 1981.

Violent crime in New York and in the United States generally has fallen over the past 25 years, but in the 80s and early 90s New York City was a very violent place. There’s actually an article from The New York Times from February of 1981 calling the previous year the worst year of crime in the city’s history.

So it makes sense that Todd Phillips would base his Gotham on such a city at such a time as it seems like the kind of place a Joker could come from. Although just because it’s based on 1981 New York, doesn’t mean it is 1981 New York. Todd Phillips didn’t want it to be specific within the film itself, saying:

We’ve heard in the past that Todd Phillips made Joker a period piece to make a strong distinction between his film and the DCEU as separate entities and he reiterates that here. But it’s also sort of an Elseworlds thing, where the story takes place in an alternate universe. Arthur Fleck isn’t the Joker, he’s just a Joker in this alternate reality version of the story.

New York City in 1981 or not, alternate universe or not, what Todd Phillips’ Gotham in Joker does better than a lot of true Batman films is show the character and the people of Gotham City and what kind of place it is. Gotham in the Christopher Nolan Trilogy, which was based on Chicago, told us a lot about how Gotham was a bad place but we didn’t see it, it just looked like a normal city. In Joker you can really see and feel it and that’s one of the film’s true accomplishments.

Joker arrives on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD today. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to keep track of all of the movies headed to theaters this year.

Joker has been out for a number of months, but the conversation around Todd Phillips' dark psychological drama hasn't slowed down. The movie gave an origin story to the title character, and showed how Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck descended into madness after being beaten down by 1981 Gotham City. Joker's contents have been discussed and dissected thanks to its unreliable narrator, as Phillips and company reveal more information about its contents. One of the questions surrounding Joker was the fate of Zazie Beetz' character Sophie, although the actress revealed that she knew exactly what happened to Arthur's neighbor.

Throughout the first two acts of Joker, we watch as Arthur and Sophie begin dating. But it turns out that those scenes were delusions in the protagonist's mind, a symptom of his lack of aid and medication. It's originally unclear if he killed Sophie and her daughter, as he learns the truth and is seen in the hallway afterward. But Zazie Beetz always knew what happened to her character, and recently revealed her feelings about the ending. As she recently put it,

Sophie might not have actually been Arthur's girlfriend in Joker, but she was still kind. She was nice enough to acknowledge him in the elevator. And that was unfortunately more love than he had in his life at that point.

Joker did the seemingly impossible, providing a genuine origin story for The Joker. Part of what made Heath Ledger's version so terrifying in The Dark Knight was that he was a pure agent of chaos, without motive or backstory. But Todd Phillips did the opposite. Arthur Fleck's villainous actions were to all of those who wronged him. He just happened to start a city wide riot in the process.

Related: Is Joker's Joaquin Phoenix The Best Actor Oscar Frontrunner?

Later in her conversation with THR, Zazie Beetz went on to explain why Sophie is likely safe. What's more, she acknowledged the debate about her fate, saying:

Once again, Sophie was shown displaying empathy toward Arthur Fleck. Even if she was terrified in the moment, that type of kindness is what would likely stop Joaquin Phoenix's character from harming her. After all, he spares Gary later in the movie for being kind to him.

Joker is currently available on digital, DVD, and Blu-ray now. Be sure to check out our 2020 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Todd Phillips’ Joker largely exists as its own thing and because of that, it mostly avoids any sort of allusions to the greater Batman mythos, with the notable exception being Bruce Wayne and the murder of his parents. It’s really a story about Arthur Fleck and Todd Phillips has explicitly said that he doesn’t do Easter eggs. However, on the special features on the Joker Blu-ray, the director admits to one intentional Batman Easter egg in the film.

In Joker, when Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck goes to Wayne Manor he encounters a young Bruce Wayne. Bruce slides down a pole in his playhouse/jungle gym to go meet Arthur at the gates. It turns out that this was an Easter egg, as Todd Phillips explained:

So although Todd Phillips doesn’t like Easter eggs and doesn’t even like the term Easter egg, he admits that young Dante Pereira-Olsen’s Bruce Wayne sliding down the pole of his jungle gym falls under that designation. And although the director previously said that any Easter eggs were the result of the art department on Joker sneaking things in, this one was entirely intentional.

As Todd Phillips revealed on the home video release of Joker, Bruce sliding down the pole of his playhouse is an Easter egg reference for the Batman television series. In the 1966 television series Batman, Adam West and Burt Ward’s Batman and Robin would slide down their designated Batpoles from Wayne Manor to reach the Batcave. Bruce Wayne would always say “To the Batpoles!”

Todd Phillips and his team discussed including this Easter egg in Joker and ultimately decided to do it despite the director’s general aversion to such things. He figured ‘why not’ and we got this Easter egg for the great 60s Batman in Joker.

It seems that Todd Phillips was okay with doing this Easter egg just as long as it wasn’t too cute and as long as the film didn’t do a bunch of other Easter eggs in addition to it. Easter egg inclusion was a case-by-case basis it seems and in this instance, it felt appropriate. You can understand why Todd Phillips might be generally against Easter eggs for Joker though.

Joker is a somber character study and too many knowing Easter eggs and winking nods to stuff outside the film might take you out of it and shatter the atmosphere the film creates. So it’s rather funny that a ‘66 Batman reference made its way in considering how that light and fun depiction of these characters is the tonal opposite of Joker. But it’s so brief and subtle that I think you have to be really looking for that kind of thing and familiar with Batman to pick up on it.

A sequel has yet to be confirmed but I imagine that a Joker 2 would include more references to the Batman mythology. Todd Phillips has even said that he'd like to see a Batman movie set in the Joker world. In the meantime, after racking up tons of green at the box office, Joker is looking for gold this awards season. The film already nabbed two Golden Globes last night for Best Actor and Best Original Score.

Joker is now on digital and it hits Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on Tuesday, January 7. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to keep track of all of the big movies coming this year.