Todd Phillips' gripping film “Joker,” featuring Joaquin Phoenix in the leading role, left no viewer unmoved. Some hail it as the movie of the decade, while others deem it excessively violent and call for a ban. Meanwhile, many were drawn into Arthur Fleck's narrative, reveling in the chaos and turmoil he stirs in Gotham. Regardless, Joaquin Phoenix is confidently sweeping up accolades for his performance. He has already secured the Golden Globe, the Critics' Choice Award, the SAG Award, and BAFTA, with the Oscars on the horizon. As the year's top film award approaches, I've gathered in “GoSeekNest” magazine some fascinating facts about the “Joker” movie that may surprise you.
4 Intriguing Secrets About the Film “Joker” You Might Not Know
1. The Protagonist's Laughter
Joaquin Phoenix's iconic laugh in “Joker” (source: Twitter)
In the story, Arthur Fleck lives with his ailing mother, works as a clown for a small entertainment agency, and dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. He also suffers from a neurological condition that triggers laughter at the most inappropriate moments. This uncontrollable, involuntary laughter became the character's signature trait.
To prepare for the role, Joaquin Phoenix studied videos of people with affective disorders where laughter is pathological. He aimed to create a character utterly distinct from himself. Before filming began, director Todd Phillips shared his vision of the Joker's laugh with Phoenix—he wanted it to feel almost painful. Joaquin experimented with various laughs and voluntarily demonstrated his techniques to the director.
Interestingly, the film features at least three different types of laughter: the pained laugh caused by his illness, a typical male laugh, and the genuine joy-filled laugh the Joker displays at the film's conclusion.
2. Role Preparation and Improvisation
Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from “Joker”
Watching the film, it's impossible to overlook Arthur Fleck's gaunt appearance. For authenticity, Joaquin Phoenix followed a grueling diet before filming, losing nearly 24 kilograms. According to Vanity Fair, the same doctor who worked with him on “The Master” helped him shed the weight. Once filming wrapped, Phoenix quickly regained 11 kilograms.
Ray Bolger and Joaquin Phoenix
In preparing for the role, Joaquin studied the movements of silent film stars like Buster Keaton and Ray Bolger. However, he refused to mimic earlier actors who had played the Joker. At a press conference before the Venice Film Festival, he explained that the new film was a fresh creation, not meant to evoke anyone else. That was crucial for both him and Todd Phillips. The director himself drew inspiration from the film “The Man Who Laughs.”
The Joker dashing through the streets
The protagonist's clumsy run also became a hallmark, completing his persona. It was later dubbed the “Arthur Run.” The film is rich in metaphors—for instance, the clown makeup was deliberately made to look old-fashioned, and the red-brown lips were meant to evoke the blood the Joker spilled.
According to lead makeup artist Nicky Ledermann, who crafted the looks, Arthur Fleck's crooked grin is further proof that nothing is perfect. Some may find it ridiculous, others not so much…
The Joker dancing in the bathroom
Improvisation played a role in the film. The famous bathroom dance was neither rehearsed nor staged—Joaquin Phoenix improvised on the spot, and he did it brilliantly! Moreover, the script changed constantly, sometimes right before a take. Actors had to adapt and maneuver quickly, often improvising dialogues.
Zazie Beetz in “Joker”
Zazie Beetz, who played Arthur Fleck's neighbor Sophie, bore the brunt of the changes. According to Todd Phillips, her character caused the most confusion. The director later praised her collaborative spirit and improvisational skills. Zazie embraced the script revisions and helped write her character's dialogue.
3. Time and Location of Filming
Though “Joker” depicts events set in 1981, the director deliberately placed the story in the past to separate it from the DC Extended Universe films. This is a standalone picture, unconnected to modern events. It chronicles Arthur Fleck's development and the emergence of his alter ego, the Joker. Notably, Alan Moore's iconic comic “Batman: The Killing Joke” served as inspiration for the film about the failed stand-up comedian.
The script was written specifically for Joaquin Phoenix, whom Todd Phillips envisioned in the lead role. The actor read it in late 2017 and agreed to the large-scale project, even after his mother gave her approval. Interestingly, Phoenix knew and had close interactions with Heath Ledger, another performer of Arthur Fleck. Ledger posthumously won an Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker in “The Dark Knight” in 2008.
Arkham State Hospital in Gotham appears not only in this film but in many others. This psychiatric institution has housed criminals like the Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, the Penguin, and other villains. Though the facility is entirely fictional, its building is real—it's the Brooklyn Army Terminal in New York.
The iconic staircase has a real address: in the Bronx on 167th Street between Shakespeare and Anderson Avenue. After the film's release, fans began a pilgrimage to the spot, which even earned a Google Maps entry labeled “The Joker Stairs.” During filming, paparazzi constantly interfered, trying to capture the perfect shot. Tired of the disruption, the director himself posted several high-quality frames online.
Another landmark from the film is the Wayne Hall Building, modeled after the Hudson County Superior Court in Jersey.
The scene where Arthur Fleck is beaten in an alley was deliberately designed and shot to resemble comic book panels. Another clever trick involved the film's title appearing full screen: it was first shot on film, then digitized again to give the text a rough, old-school look.
4. Other Fascinating Facts About the Film
Arthur Fleck's idol in the movie is popular TV host Murray Franklin, whose evening show he watched daily with his mother. The role was played by legendary Robert De Niro, Joaquin Phoenix's favorite actor. Yet paradoxically, the two barely interacted during filming. This was partly due to their differing views on the filmmaking process, and some tension arose between them.
De Niro preferred to run through scenes with all actors before filming, while Phoenix flatly refused to rehearse anything. Fortunately, they reached a friendly agreement despite their opposing approaches.
It's also noteworthy that director Todd Phillips asked composer Hildur Guðnadóttir to write the film's music before the script was even ready—a highly unusual move in the film industry.
A curious aside: the battle between male and female colors – how to seduce a man and move past conflict – explains why women were historically pushed to adore pink.
The film premiered at the 76th Venice Film Festival on August 31, 2019. It not only won the Golden Lion Award but also received a thunderous ovation. After the final credits, the standing audience applauded for eight minutes! Later, at the global box office, “Joker” grossed over $1 billion, securing seventh place among the highest-grossing films of 2019.
By the Way!
The Oscars offered nominees a fully vegan menu – all because of Joaquin Phoenix.
Oscar parties are going vegetarian. At the traditional nominees' breakfast held the day before in Los Angeles, animal-based dishes were excluded from the menu.
The Beverly Hills closed party hosted by the William Morris Endeavor film agency on February 7 will also be vegan.
Organizers emphasize that they were inspired by Joaquin Phoenix, who has followed a plant-based diet for many years and advocates for animal rights. This year, he competes for an Oscar in the Best Actor category.
As for the official after-party, the Governors Ball, the menu will be 70% “green” but will still include fish and meat dishes.
The 92nd Academy Awards will take place on the night of February 9–10.
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