Having Broken A Billion Dollars, "Joker" Becomes One of the Most Profitable R-Rated Movies of All Time

Scene from Joker (2019)

Considering that it took Avengers: Endgame less than a weekend to earn a billion dollars, it seems like every film with a comic book source has a guaranteed success margin. However, there was one film that has been running rampant in the culture that seemed less of a surefire deal. Director Todd Haynes' Joker entered the Fall season as the wildcard Oscar favorite, including the belief that it would start mass shootings and drive incel audiences to revolt. Well, that hasn't happened (that we know of), but what has happened in the process is one of the few pop culture phenomenons of the year, drawing criticism, parodies, and even visits to the stairs where it was filmed. With all of that in mind, Joker making a billion dollars doesn't seem that wild of an idea. However, it being the first R-Rated movie of its kind to do so is a distinctive achievement. 

There is a reason that 99% of mainstream comic book movies have a PG-13 rating or lower. The easiest reason is that a studio bases its success on an ability to appear to as wide of a demographic as possible. This means that most objectionable content has to either be toned down or removed entirely. In the history of cinema, R-Rating for a film expecting to reach this audience has been a death knell. Not only does it cut down on the audience due to the inability of younger audiences to see the film without parental guidance, but objectionable content can exist here. In the case of Joker, it was considered to be a disturbing portrayal of mental illness, full of violence and delusional behavior that can't be condoned. It was a risk that other R-Rated juggernauts like Deadpool wouldn't think of achieving. In fact, Deadpool topped out at just shy of $800 million at the international box office. It seemed like crossing a billion was nigh impossible.

That is partially what makes the recent success of Joker so remarkable. On top of it taking two months to reach that goal (a rare slow build in this go-go economy), it is the one film that hasn't left the conversation. While the Oscar race has had a few success stories (Hustlers, Parasite), none can compare to Joker. With many suggesting that Joaquin Phoenix is due for an Oscar, there's plenty to suggest that this success story will be enough to finally convince audiences that yes, this is going to be the moment long predicted. Joker is going to be an Oscar contender after all.

Had it been five years ago, there's an off-chance that this would've been a longshot. However, the recent trend of culture has proven a mix of arts and populous entertainment. Who could forget Black Panther not only getting a Best Picture nomination but tying with Dick Tracy for the most Oscar wins by a comic book movie? While that film feels more culturally refreshing given its perspective of black artists making art for the masses, Joker suddenly seems legit even if it's wearing Martin Scorsese and Sidney Lumet pastiches as clothing. The fact that it hasn't left the conversation, that it has created a cultural permanence should be enough to make it at least culturally relevant enough for the category.

This isn't an endorsement of Joker getting that Best Picture nomination, though it's now more difficult to not see it happening. With the year a little over a month from completion, there hasn't been any film with as much acclaim and box office fueling this Oscar season. It's the film that hasn't gone away, and it's the one film that Martin Scorsese hasn't talked poorly about (in fact, he's suggested that he didn't know how to make it - which gives Todd Haynes an upper hand). Love it or hate it, it's one of those stories that can fuel an Oscar narrative. Given that its budget was $67 million, it also stands to be one of the most profitable comic book movies in existence: an honor that no Marvel movie can really attest to. 

Does Joker breaking a billion dollars really hold any cache in the Oscar conversation, or would it have done as well if it grossed a fifth of that? The film remains divisive and it's likely to keep the film from being a runaway during awards season. However, it's still one that provokes, presenting a new side of comic book movies that haven't been done a million times before. If anything, it shows how many other ways these types of films can be made. The only question now is whether the payoff will reflect this. It's a hit with audiences, but will it be a hit with Academy voters? Some say yes, though there are still a few more weeks for things to take on its final shape.