It’s only been three weeks since Todd Phillips’ Joker released, but the amount of discourse around the film makes it seem like it’s been around for much longer. The film, on its way to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, has turned Joaquin Phoenix into a household name. And now, it has even immortalised the stair-case where Phoenix’s character undergoes the transformation from Arthur Fleck to Joker. The location has now become popular thanks to people sharing pictures, with a pose similar to Phoenix, on the stairs.
The stairs apparently situated at the West 167th Street in Bronx, NY, appears on more than one occasion in the film. The stairs are used as a metaphor in the film, as Arthur is going through his ups and downs. As Arthur Fleck finally makes way for Joker, he dances down the stairs as if to showcase his downward spiral.
Here are some of the most interesting ways the Instagrammers have reinterpreted the iconic visual:
Produced on a tight budget of $55 million, Joker has already been declared a worldwide blockbuster for its earnings of an estimated $741 million. In spite of all the criticism against the film, Phoenix has expressed his interest in ‘further exploring the character’ hinting at him returning in the role.
With Robert Pattinson’s Batman being on the floors, there is a legitimate possibility of Phoenix facing off with Pattinson in a future Batman sequel. It would be one hell of a showdown!
