JOKER Has Now Officially Passed The $1 Billion Mark At The Worldwide Box Office

Although today's final figures have yet to be tallied, Joker stood at $998 million late last night, which means it has now officially crossed the $1 billion point at the global box office! Check it out...

By MarkCassidy - Nov 15, 2019 08:11 AM EST

Filed Under: Joker

Joker has now laughed its way past $1 billion at the global box office, making it the first ever R-rated film to achieve this milestone - and it did so without a release in China.

Today's final tally hasn't been announced yet, but the Todd Philips-directed DC Comics movie - which was produced on a reported budget of around $62 million - had reached $998 million by close of business last night, which means it has now joined the illustrious billion dollar club.

JOKER Spoilers: A Detailed Plot Breakdown Of Todd Philips' Controversial Origin Story
This is obviously a very impressive feat for a number of reasons, and while a sequel has yet to be announced, you have to believe Warner Bros. is at least strongly considering the idea after the first film's tremendous performance. We already know Philips and star Joaquin Phoenix would be interested in returning... under the right circumstances!

Tell us, did you anticipate this for Joker? If a sequel is greenlit, how would you like to see Arthur Fleck's story continue? Let us know in the comments, and find out how the movie could set up a possible face-off with Batman by clicking the view list button.

Simply click on the VIEW LIST (ONE PAGE) button below!

Young Bruce Wayne

We'll start with the most obvious one: The Joker actually meets the future Batman in this movie.

As many rightly guessed, that young boy Arthur Fleck is forcing a smile onto in the trailers is indeed Bruce Wayne. Arthur makes his way to Wayne manner after discovering that Thomas Wayne is his real father, and shows the lad a few magic tricks through the gate. Bruce is unimpressed.

Their interaction is brief, but there is definitely a bit of weight and emphasis placed on the scene. Granted, part of that is down to Arthur believing he's meeting his half brother at the time.

A Different Joker

There is a theory doing the rounds that Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck could simply be the inspiration for the actual Joker, and he'll be the one to face off against The Batman in the future.

It sounds like a stretch, but this movie does actually leave some room for it.

Fleck's actions inspire an uprising in Gotham, with hundreds of citizens rioting throughout the city wearing clown masks. Isn't it possible that one of these people could take up the mantle of Joker a decade or so later, around the same time Bruce Wayne is beginning to feel a little batty?

The Murder Of Thomas And Martha Wayne

Image result for joker thomas wayne punch

Joker leans into Batman mythology heaviest right at the end, when we're presented with a very faithful depiction of the murders of Bruce Wayne's parents.

A thug inspired by Arthur's execution of Murray Franklin live on TV and his assertion that people like Thomas Wayne are to blame for the degradation of the city follows the Waynes into an alley after a screening of Zorro. As he opens fire, he echoes Fleck's "you get what you deserve" from the Franklin killing.

Of course, we're supposed to assume this will eventually bring Bruce to the conclusion that Joker was at least partially responsible for his parents' deaths.

The Ending

Image result for joker movie zazie beetz

The ambiguous ending, or more accurately, epilogue, of Joker is wide open to interpretation, and leaves plenty of room for Warner Bros. to fold the events of Philips' film into a shared universe.

After Arthur leaves Gotham in flames and fully embraces the Joker persona, we cut to him chuckling during a therapy session in Arkham. Is he recounting his story to his therapist, or imagining the whole thing? We know Fleck is an unreliable narrator and made up an entire relationship in his head, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

This gives the studio leeway to basically pick and choose what they want to establish as real, and what we are to believe were the delusions of a damaged mind.

That Final Shot Of Bruce

Image result for bruce wayne dead parents

Perhaps most telling is that quick glimpse of Bruce Wayne standing among the bodies of his slain parents.

Arthur never witnessed this event, so why is it burned into his mind? It's possible that he heard about it after, but either way, this still feels like a major bit of foreshadowing, and not something Reeves or the studio would have added to the film at such a specific moment for no reason.

There were probably a few more Easter Eggs and references, but I've only seen the movie once and these are the major ones I picked up on. Did you spot any more? Let us know in the comments down below.

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218 Comments

1 2 3 4 5 6

MaximusTheMad - 11/15/2019, 8:24 AM

Well deserved.

ComicBookPsycho - 11/15/2019, 8:24 AM

Without China too. Damn.

mastakilla39 - 11/15/2019, 8:45 AM

@ComicBookPsycho - South Park was right we dont have to kill Winnie the Pooh to be profitable or abide to china's censorship!

L0RDbuckethead - 11/15/2019, 9:27 PM

@mastakilla39 - South Park has been so great this season.

Ryguy88 - 11/16/2019, 6:06 AM

@mastakilla39 - South Park is pretty much always right

Kman - 11/15/2019, 8:29 AM

Cool movie - great performance - but at the same time I'm apprehensive about it.

I feel like if we get a sequel to this movie - Pattinson's Batman may never meet the Joker. Which would disappoint me.

GhostDog - 11/15/2019, 8:36 AM

@Kman - Reeve's Joker has to be radically different but that's easy. Just make him the actual Joker.

I would try and go for a Scott Snyder take. Always liked how he wrote Joker. Lean into the maniacal comicbooky aspects of him.

GhostDog - 11/15/2019, 8:33 AM

$$$

Shake...

That laffy taffy

mastakilla39 - 11/15/2019, 9:28 AM

@BlackBeltJones - Can't wait to see Batman challenge joker to a dance off in the sequel

Battabing - 11/15/2019, 9:32 AM

@mastakilla39 -

RedHood92 - 11/15/2019, 8:34 AM

ThorArms - 11/15/2019, 8:34 AM

This is truly impressive

NinnesMBC - 11/15/2019, 8:34 AM

Impressive! 👍

Reeds2Much - 11/15/2019, 8:35 AM

1 2 3 4 5 6

JOKER Has Now Officially Passed The $1 Billion Mark At The Worldwide Box Office

Although today's final figures have yet to be tallied, Joker stood at $998 million late last night, which means it has now officially crossed the $1 billion point at the global box office! Check it out...

Young Bruce Wayne

A Different Joker

The Murder Of Thomas And Martha Wayne

The Ending

That Final Shot Of Bruce

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Star Steve Coogan Reveals Who He's Playing In Todd Phillips' Upcoming DC Sequel

THE FANTASTIC FOUR Adds RUSSIAN DOLL And POKER FACE Star Natasha Lyonne In A Mystery Role

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Star Steve Coogan Reveals Who He's Playing In Todd Phillips' Upcoming DC Sequel

JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX's First Trailer Debuts To Over 167 Million Views In Its First 24 Hours

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Todd Phillips On Casting Lady Gaga As Harley Quinn & Sequel's Musical Elements

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Star Steve Coogan Reveals Who He's Playing In Todd Phillips' Upcoming DC Sequel

JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX's First Trailer Debuts To Over 167 Million Views In Its First 24 Hours

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Director Todd Phillips On Casting Lady Gaga As Harley Quinn & Sequel's Musical Elements

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX - Arthur Fleck Isn't Alone Anymore... In First Trailer For Joaquin Phoenix's DC Sequel

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX: First Teaser Features The Return Of Joaquin Phoenix As Arthur Fleck

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Officially Rated-R For "Strong Violence, Some Sexuality, & Full Nudity"

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