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| Joker: How it became the most profitable comic book film ever | Joker: How it became the most profitable comic book film ever |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Joker has become the most profitable comic book movie of all time, having made more than $950 million (£738m) at the worldwide box office. | Joker has become the most profitable comic book movie of all time, having made more than $950 million (£738m) at the worldwide box office. |
| It tells the story of how Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) becomes the Joker, Batman's nemesis and one of the most infamous comic book villains ever. | It tells the story of how Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) becomes the Joker, Batman's nemesis and one of the most infamous comic book villains ever. |
| Joker has now made more than 15 times what it cost to make, reports Forbes. | Joker has now made more than 15 times what it cost to make, reports Forbes. |
| Director Todd Phillips made the movie on a budget of $62.5m (£49m), a fraction of the budget of many comic book adaptations. | Director Todd Phillips made the movie on a budget of $62.5m (£49m), a fraction of the budget of many comic book adaptations. |
| Avengers: Endgame, the highest grossing movie of all time, has earned close to $2.8 billion (£2.2bn) but had a budget of $356 million (£276m). | |
| Endgame has made more at the box office overall, but Joker has made more in relation to what was spent to make it. | |
| 'The intellectual comic book movie'? | 'The intellectual comic book movie'? |
| Joker has even been tipped for nominations at 2020's Oscars. | Joker has even been tipped for nominations at 2020's Oscars. |
| "I think it's presented itself as the intellectual comic book movie - and people have bought that," film journalist Helen O'Hara tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. | "I think it's presented itself as the intellectual comic book movie - and people have bought that," film journalist Helen O'Hara tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. |
| "Comic book fans are going to see it because it's a comic book movie, but it's also marketed as a comic book movie for people here too cool for comic book movies." | "Comic book fans are going to see it because it's a comic book movie, but it's also marketed as a comic book movie for people here too cool for comic book movies." |
| Joker's box office success means it's more profitable than Tom Hardy's Venom movie, which made $854m (£663m) on a $90m (£70m) budget - and Ryan Reynold's Deadpool which returned $783m (£608m) on a $58m (£45m) budget. | Joker's box office success means it's more profitable than Tom Hardy's Venom movie, which made $854m (£663m) on a $90m (£70m) budget - and Ryan Reynold's Deadpool which returned $783m (£608m) on a $58m (£45m) budget. |
| It has also out-performed older movies such as Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Mask - which was previously the most profitable comic book movie. | It has also out-performed older movies such as Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Mask - which was previously the most profitable comic book movie. |
| And Joker has achieved this success this without being released in China, which has the largest population in the world and can add huge numbers onto a movie's box-office total. | And Joker has achieved this success this without being released in China, which has the largest population in the world and can add huge numbers onto a movie's box-office total. |
| Movie censors in China are tight and overseas releases with too much sex or violence can be blocked. | Movie censors in China are tight and overseas releases with too much sex or violence can be blocked. |
| "They are quite strict and that does present some problems for makers of traditional box blockbusters," says Helen. | "They are quite strict and that does present some problems for makers of traditional box blockbusters," says Helen. |
| "If you're making an R-rated movie, I think you know it's less likely to be released in China, which is one of the reasons the film had such a small budget." | "If you're making an R-rated movie, I think you know it's less likely to be released in China, which is one of the reasons the film had such a small budget." |
| She estimates success in China could add up to half a billion to a movie's box office profits. | She estimates success in China could add up to half a billion to a movie's box office profits. |
| But Joker has also been criticised for its portrayal of people mental health issues and the violence it shows. | But Joker has also been criticised for its portrayal of people mental health issues and the violence it shows. |
| And Todd Phillips has previously said one of the reasons he wanted to make Joker was because "woke culture" was stopping him making more films like The Hangover, and that a comic book adaptation felt like his only chance to make another "irreverent" film. | And Todd Phillips has previously said one of the reasons he wanted to make Joker was because "woke culture" was stopping him making more films like The Hangover, and that a comic book adaptation felt like his only chance to make another "irreverent" film. |
| Helen doesn't rate Joker herself (describing it as a "very white man film") but says it does show "the power" of characters who have been around for decades - even if that means a lack of new stories and opportunities for diverse casting. | Helen doesn't rate Joker herself (describing it as a "very white man film") but says it does show "the power" of characters who have been around for decades - even if that means a lack of new stories and opportunities for diverse casting. |
| "You're going to have the fanboys scream at you if you cast - for example - a black man as The Joker," Helen says. | "You're going to have the fanboys scream at you if you cast - for example - a black man as The Joker," Helen says. |
| "You're also going to have people screaming at you if you only cast white people. So you get into this ridiculous situation where, because you're using old stories, you're caught between a rock and a hard place. | "You're also going to have people screaming at you if you only cast white people. So you get into this ridiculous situation where, because you're using old stories, you're caught between a rock and a hard place. |
| "The answer, of course, is to make new stories - but that's obviously riskier, or is felt to be riskier." | "The answer, of course, is to make new stories - but that's obviously riskier, or is felt to be riskier." |
| The film has been well received by critics and fans - it currently has a 69% critic rating and 89% audience score on Rottentomatoes.com. | The film has been well received by critics and fans - it currently has a 69% critic rating and 89% audience score on Rottentomatoes.com. |
| And there could even be a sequel - with Joaquin saying that despite signing up for a "one-off", after starting filming Joker, felt there was "too much to explore" in just one movie. | And there could even be a sequel - with Joaquin saying that despite signing up for a "one-off", after starting filming Joker, felt there was "too much to explore" in just one movie. |
| Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |