Movies often full of violence rarely get the same treatment that “Joke” has been getting lately. There were even reports that people felt so uncomfortable that they left early. It’s probably the result of the mass-shooting culture we currently live in. It was a previous depiction of the iconic Joker character, played by Health Ledger, that inspired the Aurora theater shootings. Can you blame anyone for thinking the same might happen here?
The violence in the film is seen as controversial and many people straight up warned others not to see it. Despite those warnings, “Joker” broke box-office records during its opening weekend. This movie was more of an origins-type set in a different world. Played by Joaquin Phoenix, known for his unsettling roles anyway, “Joker” appears to have set the bar high. It made $93.5 million in the U.S. alone. Worldwide it has grossed $234 million.
This is the highest grossing film in the history of October releases. It beat out last year’s “Venom,” released by Sony. Fans have been waiting a long time to see this particular rendition. Fans have loved the iconic character for a long time, even before Jack Nicholson donned the makeup. Still, the Health Ledger version is extra special.
Not only was it a one-of-a-kind performance, his death after filming made it more important for fans. Jared Leto was the next Joker in a very forgettable “Suicide Squad” film that gave us very little of the character we hoped it would. When Warner Bros. and DC announced this film would be made, it excited the fan base. The problem was the crazy violence in the film that has put many on edge.
“Joker” Warnings Reached the Federal Level
How bad is the violence in the movie? It depends on who you ask. Certainly, there have been very violent films that never had federal government agencies warn about its content. Yes, that happened with “Joker.” Both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI put out a warning to law enforcement before the opening on Thursday.
They didn’t warn local officials indiscriminately, though. There were a number of threats that were found outline, many even saying they will shoot up theater if the movie releases. Warner Bros. put out a statement as a result of the threat and warning by law enforcement:
“Warner Bros. believes that one of the functions of storytelling is to provoke difficult conversations around complex issues,” a statement from the studio said last month. “It is not the intention of the film, the filmmakers or the studio to hold this character up as a hero.” Still, as is our way, the warning only drove up the intensity of fans eager to see the film, even to the point of breaking a record.
“I think the controversy helped it this weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “It became a cultural phenomenon. All the talk around the film made it a must-see event.”
