Page

Joker

❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

Watch trailer

02:24

Joker

Save

Summary

Psychological drama starring Joaquin Phoenix. Clown-for-hire and aspiring stand-up Arthur Fleck is a social outcast who lives with his mother and struggles with his mental health. When a video of his disastrous comedy set makes him a laughing stock at the same time that he discovers some upsetting details about his childhood, Arthur's emotional state rapidly deteriorates - with violent results.

Ad

Powered By

IMDB

Review

A star rating of 5 out of 5.

Emma Simmonds

This magnificently gritty, socially conscious skew on the comic-book origin tale from The Hangover director Todd Phillips turns Batman's arch-nemesis into an incel-like loner, languishing on the sidelines. Infused with the grimy splendour of a Martin Scorsese picture, it's set in Gotham City, 1981, and stars Joaquin Phoenix as luckless loner Arthur Fleck. With his life a succession of public humiliations and nights in with his elderly mother (Frances Conroy), Arthur dreams of stand-up success and develops a fixation on a talk-show host (Robert De Niro). Phoenix delivers a chilling, compelling turn, worthy of structuring a film around; Arthur's anxieties seem to course through the actor, infesting every inch of him as he contorts his emaciated frame like a man possessed. Although the character is as nihilistic as ever, Phillips also takes swipes at healthcare cuts and poverty. And, rather than leaven the tension with his trademark bad-taste humour, the director makes us stew in the discomfort. Joker feels like a damning indictment of societal ills, a study in how real monsters are made; it's a film that's desperately, maybe even depressingly relevant.

imdb-square

8.3/10

How to watch

Loading

Streaming

Credits

Cast

rolenameArthur Fleck / JokerJoaquin PhoenixMurray FranklinRobert De NiroSophie DumondZazie BeetzPenny FleckFrances ConroyThomas WayneBrett CullenDetective BurkeShea WhighamDetective GarrityBill CampAlfred PennyworthDouglas HodgeRandallGlenn FleshlerCarl (Arkham clerk)Brian Tyree HenryHoyt VaughnJosh Pais

Show more

Crew

rolenameDirectorTodd Phillips

Details

Theatrical distributor

Warner Bros

Released on

2019-10-04

Languages

English | English | German

Guidance

Violence, swearing

Available on

DVD and Blu-ray

Formats

Colour

News & features about Joker

See more about Joker

Ad

Ad

Ad