JOKER Spoilers: A Detailed Plot Breakdown Of Todd Philips' Controversial Origin Story

Todd Philips' Joker hits theaters this weekend amid a mixture of critical acclaim and backlash, and if you want a detailed breakdown of everything that happens in the standalone DC movie, right this way...

By MarkCassidy - Oct 03, 2019 09:10 AM EST

Filed Under: Joker

Because Joker received its first screenings at film festivals early last month, the reviews, reactions and hot takes have been flooding the internet for quite a while now. This weekend, though, fans will finally get to see Todd Philips' controversial origin story for the iconic DC Comics villain for themselves.

JOKER Review: Joaquin Phoenix Shines In Todd Phillips' Unnerving Psychological Thriller
The movie actually goes on general release in The US tomorrow, but it's already screening in a lot of other locations around Europe. Whether you've seen it and fancy joining in the discussion or simply want to know what to expect for before entering the theater, you'll find a detailed breakdown of all of the major plot points and reveals below.

The script that leaked online earlier in the year was fairly accurate, but there were a few major changes to the final film. So even if you read that, It goes without saying that massive spoilers follow!

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

Meet Arthur Fleck

Image result for joker movie arthur fleck

We are introduced to Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) almost immediately, and it's clear from the start that this guy has some serious issues.

Arthur suffers from an unspecified mental illness, along with a condition that forces him to burst into fits of laughter in stressful situations. Living and caring for his mother (Frances Conroy), he gets by on medication, weekly therapy sessions and focusing on his job as a street clown. But a violent assault from a gang of kids that steal his sign kicks off a series of events that will take Arthur down a very dark path.

The Neighbor Who Wasn't There

Image result for joker movie zazie beetz

Arthur meets a sympathetic single mother named Sophie Dummond (Zazie Beetz) who lives in his apartment building. The two seem to hit it off and actually embark on a romantic relationship, but something about it always seems a bit off (she's fine with him stalking her for a start), and we eventually find out why.

We're jumping ahead here, but towards the end it's revealed that Arthur was actually imagining all of his dates with Sophie and embracing the delusion of companionship. This is fully confirmed when he walks into her apartment and she reacts with fear, barely recalling his name.

One Bad Day...

Okay, so it's a lot more than one bad day in Arthur's case, but a certain series of events in close succession do ultimately tip him over the edge.

A seemingly altruistic clown colleague gives Fleck a gun when he hears about the assault, but when it falls out of his pocked during a visit to a children's hospital, Arthur is fired.

His boss also tells him that the same workmate that gave him the gun denied all knowledge, and actually said Arthur tried to sell it to him.

The First Kills

On the way home on the subway, Arthur is mocked and assaulted by three wall-street jocks who had been hassling a woman on the seat across from them. When Fleck begins to laugh uncontrollably, they target him.

Not a good idea, boys.

Arthur guns two of them down and chases the third outside where he mercilessly executes him on the steps to the street above. Afterwards, we're treated to a haunting scene of Arthur dancing slowly in the bathroom, preparing to fully embrace a whole new persona.

Thomas Wayne

Arthur's mother is obsessed with Mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, who used to employ her. She writes him multiple letters, none of which are ever responded to.

After the subway murders, Arthur decides to read her latest letter and discovers that Wayne is actually his real father. Upon confronting his mother about it, he decides to go to Wayne Manor and winds up running into a young Bruce Wayne.

The future Batman seems unimpressed with Arthur's magic tricks, and a butler-type (could be Alfred, but seems unlikely) steps in. He tells Fleck that his mother is crazy and gets a near-throttling for his trouble.

"You Think This Is Funny?"

Image result for joker thomas wayne punch

Arthur decides to get answers from Wayne (Brett Cullen) himself, and poses as a bellboy (a little nod to his comic book counterpart's penchant for disguises, perhaps?) at the opera in order to confront him in the bathroom.

Things do not go well, as the ruthless Wayne denies being Fleck's father and reveals that he never even slept with his former employee, who spent time in Arkham Psychiatric Hospital back when he knew her. When Arthur begins to laugh maniacally and grows angry, Wayne punches him and returns to his seat.

Disturbing Revelations

Still not convinced, Arthur goes to Arkham to check his mother's records. The orderly (Brian Tyree Henry) tells him that he can't reveal any details, so Arthur steals the file and uncovers the shocking truth.

The mentally ill woman Arthur believed to be his mother actually adopted him, and a police report reveals that she allowed one of her boyfriends to sexually abuse him as a child.

Arthur then suffocates Penny Fleck with a pillow, telling her that he now views his life as a comedy.

Scissors

A representative for popular talk-show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) calls Arthur and asks him to come on the show to discuss a video of his excruciating stand-up act that Murray mocked earlier in the movie.

As Fleck prepares by putting on his makeup and holding a gun to his head, two former colleagues - one of whom gave him the gun drop by to make sure Arthur never said anything to the police. Arthur erupts in violence, brutally stabbing the bigger man to death with a scissors.

He shows a glimmer of humanity and allows the other to live, telling him he was "the only one who was ever nice."

Joker

Arthur arrives for his Murray Franklin appearance, asking the host to introduce him as Joker. He begins by telling a few off color jokes before admitting that he killed the men on the subway. Franklin soon realizes he's not joking, but continues to antagonize his clearly unstable guest.

Although it initially seemed as if Arthur intended to kill himself live on air, he decides to tell one final joke ("What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a society that abandons him and treats him like trash? I'll tell you what you get. You get what you [frick]ing deserve!") and shoots Murray instead.

Put On A Happy Face

Inspired by Fleck's actions and Wayne referring to Gotham's underprivileged as "clowns," a large number of Gotham citizens stage violent riots across the city. As Arthur is being taken to prison, an ambulance crashes into the side of the car and a pair of mask-wearing rioters free him from the back.

Arthur dances on the bonnet of the car while the city erupts in chaos around him. As he paints a smile on his face using his own blood, we see Thomas and Martha Wayne being gunned down in an alley in front of their son, Bruce.

"You Wouldn't Get It"

There's no post-credits scene, but we do get an epilogue of sorts which finds Joker at a therapy session in Arkham.

As he begins to laugh we briefly cut to Bruce Wayne standing in shock as his parents lay dead at his feet.

The therapist asks Fleck what he find so funny, and he tells her he thought of a joke, but she wouldn't get it. We then see Arthur leaving the room in slow-motion, leaving bloody footprints. This clearly implies that he murdered his therapist, fully giving himself over to the the monstrous Joker persona.

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128 Comments

1 2 3 4

regularmovieguy - 10/3/2019, 9:36 AM

spoiler articles before the release

RageDriver2401 - 10/3/2019, 9:39 AM

@regularmovieguy - actually, it released in my country yesterday.

regularmovieguy - 10/3/2019, 9:46 AM

@RageDriver2401

When you seeing it?

RageDriver2401 - 10/3/2019, 9:48 AM

@regularmovieguy - watched it yesterday. Phoenix was amazing.

regularmovieguy - 10/3/2019, 10:31 AM

@RageDriver2401

Jealous, man. Can’t see it until tomorrow night.

SpideyQuad - 10/3/2019, 10:37 AM

@regularmovieguy - when it's free on TV

regularmovieguy - 10/3/2019, 10:42 AM

@SpideyQuad

Lmao...your $10 will be missed

SpideyQuad - 10/4/2019, 6:47 AM

@regularmovieguy - I know I'm showing them!

regularmovieguy - 10/4/2019, 8:08 AM

@SpideyQuad

👍🏻🤜🏻

Kumkani - 10/3/2019, 9:38 AM

A lot of this must come down to the execution, but I'm wondering why Arthur views his [frick]ed up life as a comedy but then also has a legitimate mental illness that makes him laugh uncontrollably. I feel like that defeats the purpose?

WakandanQueen - 10/3/2019, 9:39 AM

It's spoilers time already? Bye everyone.

RageDriver2401 - 10/3/2019, 9:43 AM

Does anyone who has watched this think..

******SPOOOIILLLEERRRSSSSS******

That the entire movie happened in Arthur's head? I mean, we get a glimpse of him in an asylum at the beginning of the movie and we're never told why he was there. Then at the end it very conveniently cuts to him at the Asylum and the doctor asks him "What's so funny?" and it's like he thought up the entire movie's events in his head and he finds them funny.

MarkCassidy - 10/3/2019, 9:49 AM

@RageDriver2401 - That's one theory. I don't buy it, but there's certainly some evidence to back it up.

NinnesMBC - 10/3/2019, 9:49 AM

@RageDriver2401 - Yeah I have already seen some interpretations that suggest all of that. It’s possible.

tmp3 - 10/3/2019, 9:45 AM

Joaquin Phoenix was incredible. Also there’s such a [frick]ing cool cameo in this that any fan of The Leftovers will be incredibly happy to see

regularmovieguy - 10/3/2019, 9:46 AM

@tmp3

You saw it?? Dude. What did you think?

tmp3 - 10/3/2019, 9:52 AM

@regularmovieguy - It’s got a really nice texture to it, great cinematograph, production design and music. Almost feels like you’re there. Phoenix is [frick]ing fantastic and Phillips directs tension pretty well

1 2 3 4

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JOKER Spoilers: A Detailed Plot Breakdown Of Todd Philips' Controversial Origin Story

Todd Philips' Joker hits theaters this weekend amid a mixture of critical acclaim and backlash, and if you want a detailed breakdown of everything that happens in the standalone DC movie, right this way...

Meet Arthur Fleck

The Neighbor Who Wasn't There

One Bad Day...

The First Kills

Thomas Wayne

"You Think This Is Funny?"

Disturbing Revelations

Scissors

Joker

Put On A Happy Face

"You Wouldn't Get It"

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

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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

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