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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Joker (2019 film)

Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, an origin-story version of the DC Comics character the Joker.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film that presents an original, standalone origin story for the DC Comics villain, starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck.

What it is

Directed by Todd Phillips and co-written with Scott Silver, Joker is a character study set in Gotham City. It follows Arthur Fleck, a struggling party clown and aspiring comedian, as his life unravels and he transforms into the Joker. The film is not based on a specific comic storyline but draws from DC Comics characters.

Key details

Joaquin Phoenix won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. The film was a major box-office and cultural success. A sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, was released in 2024. In Canada, the film was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and had a wide theatrical release.

Why it matters

Joker redefined the superhero genre by focusing on a gritty, psychological character study rather than action spectacle. Its success and Phoenix's Oscar win demonstrated the viability of darker, more adult-oriented comic-book films.

In short

  • Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, an original Joker origin story.
  • Directed by Todd Phillips; not based on one specific comic.
  • Phoenix won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
  • A sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, came out in 2024.
Canadian angle

The film was distributed in Canada by Warner Bros. Pictures and was widely released in Canadian cinemas as part of its North American theatrical rollout.[4][10]

Quick questions

Who played the Joker in the 2019 movie?
Joaquin Phoenix played the Joker.
Is Joker based on a comic?
Yes, it is based on DC Comics characters but is an original standalone story.
What is the Joker's real name in the film?
Arthur Fleck.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joker_(2019_film)
    Supports: Director, cast, premise, and DC Comics basis
  2. DC — https://www.dc.com/movies/joker-2019
    Supports: Standalone story, director, cast, and DC Comics character basis
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7286456/
    Supports: Director and principal credits
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/joker_2019
    Supports: Director, release, genre, and basic film details
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Phoenix
    Supports: Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker and sequel mention
  6. Simple English Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joker_(2019_movie)
    Supports: Director and cast identification