The film, though criticised for its violent themes and glorification of violent resistance, managed to set a record for an ‘October release’, as reported by movie industry observer Exhibitor Relations.
The film stars Joaquin Pheonix, who is a three-time Oscar nominee and has won a Golden Globe. The movie provides a backstory to the origins and rise of Batman’s nemesis.
The story portrays Joker as an aspiring stand-up comedian who is depressed and mentally unstable. The film revolves around his descent into madness as he is disillusioned with both his life and the happenings in his city, Gotham.
The film was directed by Todd Philips, who is known for directing comedies such as The Hangover Trilogy, Due Date, and Borat. A film as dark as the joker was unexpected of the director.
The film opened with some theatres providing extra security for cinema-goers, fearing an incident similar to the shooting in 2012 during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises. The incident in 2012 was reportedly motivated by fears that the movie may inspire violence.
The film has received unenthusiastic reviews from some, with the Washington Post calling the movie ‘grim, shallow and distractingly derivative’. The Hollywood Reporter reported a B+ score for the film by CinemaScore while the movie earned 69 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film opened on August 31 at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion, the festival’s highest prize.