Joker

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Joker

film by Phillips [2019]

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July 22, 2026

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The 2019 film Joker, directed by Todd Phillips, is a character study of Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill party clown and aspiring comedian. The film depicts his descent into madness and his transformation into the iconic villain, the Joker, a notorious archnemesis of Batman.12

The character of the Joker, created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, is known for his clownlike appearance and dark humor. Originally a small-time crook disfigured by chemicals, his portrayal has evolved over time, from a homicidal psychopath to a more campy character, and then back to a menacing killer. Joaquin Phoenix won an Academy Award for his portrayal of the Joker in the 2019 film.12

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the Joker
… (2008), and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker (2019) and its sequel Joker: Folie à Deux (2024). Both Ledger and Phoenix won Academy Awards for their portrayals of the character.
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… (2008), and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker (2019) and its sequel Joker: Folie à Deux (2024). Both Ledger and Phoenix won Academy Awards for their portrayals of the character.
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Robert De Niro
Comedies and later work
Movies from 2019 include Joker, a gritty origin story about the iconic Batman villain, and Scorsese’s The Irishman, a mob drama about a hit man who allegedly murdered Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino); the latter film received a theatrical release before airing on Netflix. In 2020 De Niro starred in the…
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Movies from 2019 include Joker, a gritty origin story about the iconic Batman villain, and Scorsese’s The Irishman, a mob drama about a hit man who allegedly murdered Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino); the latter film received a theatrical release before airing on Netflix. In 2020 De Niro starred in the…
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Marc Maron
Television and film work
…as a pawnshop owner, and Joker, a gritty origin story about the iconic Batman villain. He later appeared in the crime comedy Spenser Confidential (2020). In the biopic Respect (2021), about legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin, Maron played record executive Jerry Wexler. In 2022 he lent his voice to the…
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…as a pawnshop owner, and Joker, a gritty origin story about the iconic Batman villain. He later appeared in the crime comedy Spenser Confidential (2020). In the biopic Respect (2021), about legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin, Maron played record executive Jerry Wexler. In 2022 he lent his voice to the…
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Joaquin Phoenix
Later career: Joker and Napoleon
…villain in the psychological thriller Joker (2019). It was a blockbuster hit, and Phoenix won the Academy Award for best actor.
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…villain in the psychological thriller Joker (2019). It was a blockbuster hit, and Phoenix won the Academy Award for best actor.
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Justin Theroux
Later career: The Leftovers and White House Plumbers
…uncredited role in the megahit Joker, about the comic-book villain.
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…uncredited role in the megahit Joker, about the comic-book villain.
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