Never in a billion years (pun intended) did I ever believe that Todd Phillips' JOKER would cross the billion dollar mark at the global box office. Yet here we are. Despite the controversy surrounding the film, fans flocked in droves again…and again…and again to watch Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime. It's certainly a film that will find its way onto many a film aficionado's best of 2019 lists. Late Friday, Warner Bros.'s dark examination of a man's descent into madness finally crossed the billion dollar threshold, becoming the seventh movie this year to do so and only the fourth film in WB's history to accomplish the feat. Not one to ignore the importance of such an event, director Todd Phillips took to Instagram to thank the people responsible for the film's success – the fans:
Although Todd Phillips' comment carries a degree of brevity even the Dark Knight could appreciate, sometimes simple words say it all. It takes hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people to make a film but at the end of the day, it's the audience that determines the movie's success financially. And audiences spoke often and loudly with their wallets.
In addition, I think Phillips let the video – which was chock full of positive criticism and ended with a Joker title card thank you to the fans – speak for itself. It also feels like a little "f*ck you" to the people who bad mouthed the film or called it "dangerous." Petty? Perhaps a little. But after all the crap Phillips has taken about this movie I think he's entitled to a victory lap.
JOKER is currently still yucking it up at the box office and releases on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K December 17. Ah just in time for Christmas! A perfect stocking stuffer!