Joker is the 2019 American psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix in an origin story of the iconic Batman villain. Based on DC Comics characters and released by Warner Bros. Pictures, the film premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, where it won the prestigious Golden Lion, before opening in U.S. theaters on October 4, 2019. Phoenix's haunting portrayal of Arthur Fleck became the defining element of the film, earning widespread critical acclaim and solidifying the character's place in cinema history.
The film became a cultural and commercial phenomenon, achieving a milestone as the first R-rated film to cross $1 billion worldwide at the box office. Its gritty, character-driven approach to the comic book genre marked a departure from traditional superhero films, exploring themes of isolation, mental illness, and societal breakdown with unflinching intensity. The 2024 sequel Joker: Folie à Deux continued the story, expanding the universe Phillips created. From the stark imagery of Arthur Fleck on the subway stairs to the electric energy of his transformation, these posters capture the raw power and complexity of one of modern cinema's most compelling characters.
