Todd Phillips’ Joker has become the most profitable comic book movie ever

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

A little over a month ago, I made a crack about JOKER eventually laughing itself all the way to the bank, and now it would appear as if my not-so-astonishing prediction has come true. According to a new report from Forbes, Todd Phillips' JOKER has earned roughly $953 million worldwide, making it the most profitable comic book movie of all time. To lend this story a bit of perspective, let us remind ourselves that JOKER was made using a budget of $62.5 million. When you take that number and compare it to the amount of money that the film has earned so far, well, I suppose the joke is on those who said that it could never be done.

Of course, JOKER isn't the first comic book movie to make a silly amount of money over its production budget. For example, Sony's VENOM starring Tom Hardy was made under a $90 million dollar budget, and then went on to make an astounding $854 million worldwide. Furthermore, Tim Miller's DEADPOOL starring Ryan Reynolds was filmed using a reported $58 million, which then earned a staggering $783 million across the globe. Lastly, Tim Burton's BATMAN only cost $35 million for all of the Caped Crusader's wonderful toys, and would then go on to Bat-grapple $411 million in worldwide box office returns. So, what's the moral of this story, folks? There's a lot of money to be made in comic book-related cinema, and I'll be damned if Hollywood isn't going to ride the genre's wild bologna pony until the bitter end.

In addition to becoming the most profitable comic book movie of all time, JOKER is also the highest-grossing R-rated movie worldwide. Moreover, if things keep coming up Milhouse for old Mistah J, Todd Phillips' divisive drama featuring the Clown Prince of Crime could go on to become the first R-rated film to earn $1 billion. Regardless of how you feel about the film, you have to admit that JOKER's box office performance is mighty impressive.

In Todd Phillips' JOKER, Joaquin Phoenix stars as Arthur Fleck, a struggling stand-up comedian who is driven insane and becomes the psychopathic criminal mastermind known as the Joker. Joining Phoenix for the criminal-led cautionary tale are Robert De Niro, Marc Maron, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brian Tyree Henry, Brett Cullen, Bill Camp, and Josh Pals, among others.

You do realize what this all means, don't you? It's time to put on your best clown suit, paint your face to look like a harlequin from Hell, and bust out your jauntiest dance moves atop the now-iconic Highbridge neighborhood staircase. I'm just kidding. Don't actually go and do that. The residents of Highbridge aren't too jazzed about JOKER fans using their staircase for selfies and authentic Cosplay opportunities. Instead, why not go to the theater to see JOKER once again, help get it to the $1 billion mark. I'm sure that kind of support would put a smile on the face of even the world's saddest clown.

JOKER is still playing theaters right now.