Joker

Gotham, 1981. Arthur Fleck works as a clown, dreams of doing stand-up and has a condition that makes him laugh uncontrollably. He lives with his mother, Penny. After a beating on the street he gets a revolver and, on the subway, kills three Wayne Investments employees who attack him. The killings spark clown-mask protests. Arthur comes to believe he's Thomas Wayne's son, until he learns his mother lied and let him be abused as a child. He kills Penny. Talk show host Murray Franklin mocks a clip of him and invites him on. Live on air, Arthur asks to be introduced as Joker and kills Murray. In the riots that follow, a rioter kills Thomas and Martha Wayne in front of young Bruce. At the end, Arthur is in Arkham.

1. ReferenceDe Niro and The King of Comedy

   Todd Phillips drew on Scorsese's Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy, both starring Robert De Niro. Here De Niro plays host Murray Franklin, the flip side of his obsessed 1982 comic.

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2. Behind the scenesThe stairs became a landmark

   The dance staircase is in the Bronx, between Anderson Avenue and Shakespeare Avenue. After the film it became known as the "Joker Stairs" and drew tourists.

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3. ReferenceChaplin at Wayne Hall

   When Arthur sneaks into Wayne Hall, Gotham's elite are watching Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times. The Tramp was one of the models for Arthur's movements.

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4. Behind the scenesA Golden Lion and two Oscars

   The film won the Golden Lion in Venice. At the Oscars, Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor and Hildur Guðnadóttir won Best Original Score.

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