Why Todd Phillips’ Joker Was Such a Hit

When Joker hit the screens in 2019, the public reaction was astronomically positive.

Following the 2016 release of Suicide Squad, which had a frosty reception from veiwers and critics alike, a new take on the Joker was exactly what audiences needed. Directed by Todd Philips, Joaquin Phoenix was cast in the principal role as Arthur Fleck, a troubled man who would later take on the identity of the Joker in an emotionally complex, amoral origin story. Phoenix subsequently won the 2020 Oscar for best actor in his portrayal of the Joker, an award on which it is widely agreed was very well deserved.

So what exactly got audiences so hyped about this particular incarnation of the Joker? It is, after all, one in a long line of many.

It’s due to a combination of many factors; too many to discuss in one brief article but I'll try and list a few.

One of the important aspects of Joker’s success was the accessibility of the movie. A massive reason larger comic book studios such as DC and Marvel struggle to bring in new audiences is the intimidation factor that comes from the extensive and highly detailed lore. There is so much pre-established canon that for many newcomers, catching up on it all seems like a daunting and nigh impossible task. However, Todd Philips created a story that could be watched and fully understood by viewers who knew little to nothing about the pre-existing canon within the Joker storyline. However, he did so without rejecting the long-term fans. Joker is littered with references and borrowed plotlines from classic DC comics such as Dark Knight and The Killing Joke. This and the movie's extensive involvement of the Wayne family worked as the perfect tool for striking a chord with the loyal fan base, while also creating a comic-based story that could be easily enjoyed sans context for those who were going in blind.

With many comic book fans currently feeling that studios are abandoning them in favour of newcomers, this was an extremely clever move.

This leads me to the overall tone of the movie. After years worth of Superhero Hollywood Blockbusters, crammed with computer generated scenery and shots of the protagonist running away from fluffy explosions in slow motion, it was extremely refreshing for fans to finally see a comic book movie focused solely on characters and plot.

The fact that Philips opted for a more quiet, lowkey atmosphere allowed the audiences some much needed space to breathe. They could focus on who and what the movie was exploring, as opposed to it just being a simple cause-to-effect storyline.

Philips’ sparing use of violence also made for a far more shocking pay-off during the graphic scenes that did occur, the movie having refrained from desensitizing the audience at an early stage.

This took characterisation to a level that is seldom seen in the world of Hollywood comic movies. The quietness of the movie made room for a more extensive exploration into real world issues such as mental disability, abuse and poverty, and why issues such as these can be detrimental if ignored.

This allowed for a level of sympathy towards the anti-hero of the film, one that was particularly thought provoking as a result of its extreme, moral turmoil.

Philips’ execution of Joker was a “right place, right time” situation, offering a welcome change of pace from the typical Hollywood comic movie. He honoured the source material while also opening the door for new fans.

Ultimately though, it was clear to audiences that Joker was a labour of love. Working with a far lower budget than the average comic book movie, the creative team went out of their way to find complexity in simplicity.

Sometimes less is more and that was certainly true in this case.