Appearance
Joker
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker (2019) is a gritty, character-driven origin story of DC Comics' most infamous villain. Joaquin Phoenix delivers an Academy Award-winning performance as Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and aspiring stand-up comedian struggling with mental health issues and societal neglect in a decaying Gotham City. As Arthur spirals into madness and nihilism, he inadvertently sparks a violent populist revolution against the city's wealthy elite.
The film is heavily inspired by 1970s New York cinema, particularly the works of Martin Scorsese, and is noted for its oppressive atmosphere, haunting score by Hildur Guðnadóttir, and its grounded, realistic take on the comic book genre.
Locations
To create the dilapidated, 1980s-era Gotham City, the production filmed extensively across New York City and New Jersey, utilizing locations that still retained a sense of urban grit.
The "Joker Stairs", Highbridge, The Bronx
Perhaps the most iconic location in the film, the long flight of stairs where Arthur dances as he fully embraces his Joker persona is located at West 167th Street between Anderson and Shakespeare Avenues in the Highbridge section of the Bronx. Since the film's release, the steps have become a major tourist landmark. Map Location
Arthur’s Apartment, Highbridge, The Bronx
The exterior of the crumbling apartment building where Arthur lives with his mother, Penny, is located at 1150 Anderson Avenue in the Bronx. The surrounding neighborhood's steep hills and concrete architecture provided the claustrophobic feel of Arthur’s domestic life. Map Location
Arkham State Hospital, Brooklyn
The exterior of the Arkham State Hospital was filmed at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park. The massive, imposing industrial architecture of the Annex Building served perfectly as the grim psychiatric facility where Arthur seeks his mother's records. Map Location
Wayne Hall, Newark, New Jersey
The exterior of Wayne Hall, where Arthur confronts Thomas Wayne at a gala, was filmed at the Symphony Hall in Newark. The grand, neoclassical building provided the necessary contrast between the opulence of the Wayne family and the squalor of the rest of Gotham. Map Location
Bedford Park Blvd Subway Station, The Bronx
The intense sequence where Arthur escapes from two detectives on a crowded train was filmed at the Bedford Park Blvd Station and on the vintage subway cars of the MTA. The production used older rolling stock to maintain the film’s 1981 period setting. Map Location
Loews Jersey Theatre, Jersey City
The exterior of the movie theater where a riot breaks out and the Wayne family meets their fate in an alleyway was filmed at the Loews Jersey Theatre in Jersey City. The historic venue's marquee and the nearby alleyways captured the classic "Crime Alley" aesthetic. Map Location
Director
Todd Phillips
Cast
Joaquin Phoenix
Robert De Niro
Zazie Beetz
Frances Conroy
Brett Cullen
IMDB
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