The Joker is a fictional supervillain appearing in DC Comics, first introduced in Batman #1 in 1940. He is depicted as a criminal mastermind with a clown-like appearance and is widely recognized as Batman’s archenemy.
In 2019, the character was portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the film “Joker,” directed by Todd Phillips. This standalone origin story explores Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian in Gotham City who descends into madness, eventually becoming the Joker. The film received critical acclaim, with Phoenix winning the Academy Award for Best Actor.
A sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” was released in 2024, featuring Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The film received mixed reviews and earned Phoenix and Gaga a Razzie Award for Worst On-Screen Duo. Recently, Lady Gaga humorously addressed this during her Saturday Night Live monologue, joking about her performance and promising not to make a “Joker 3.”