Summary
With theJoker: Folie à Deux’srelease, the movie is set to become a pop culture zeitgeist, particularly with the return of Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck and the Joker in a desolate and riled-up Gotham. InJoker 2, the incomparableLady Gaga joins the fold as Harley Quinn, playing Fleck’s muse inside Arkham Asylum Hospital.
In one of the most highly anticipated sequels in years, director Todd Phillips returns to helm his creation. The comedy-based director is trying to match the acclaim and popularity of its predecessor. Phillips' career has been varied. The director has dabbled in multiple genres over his career, establishing himself as a revered director in Hollywood through his vast catalog of movies.
$211.8 million
Cast
Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Jamie Foxx, Danny McBride
With Phillips’ comedic catalog stacking up, the director continued his run withDue Date, abuddy comedy featuring Robert Downey Jr.and Zach Galifianakis. The road trip movie centers around Downey’s character, Peter, needing to reach his child’s birth. However, Peter gets kicked off the plane, leading to the character embarking on an eventful road trip across America with the eccentric Ethan, played by Galifianakis.
In the movie, fun and hilarity ensue with the polar opposite characters as they travel together, with Phillips' classic comedic sensibilities showing up in the quintessential dark comedy.
$586.8 million
Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong
Riding the success ofThe Hangover, its sequel,The Hangover 2, saw the return of its main protagonists, Phil, Stu, and Alan, in another wild night that sees them retrace their steps the following day. Taking place in Thailand,The Hangover 2might not reach the heights of its predecessor, although the comedy film still manages to provide plenty of laughs. At the same time, the group deals with the ramifications of their drunken actions.
Featuring face tattoos and criminal endeavors, the movie is a respectable attempt at recreating the magic of the first movie in the trilogy,with Bradley Cooper and his co-starsflourishing in the comedy sequel.
$119.8 million
Seann William Scott, Breckin Meyer, Paulo Costanzo
Like many comedies in the 2000s, Seann William Scott often starred, with the actor having a sizable role inRoad Trip, a college comedy that became Phillips' first Hollywood movie. Following a group of eclectic college students, the protagonist, Josh, accidentally sends a sex tape to his long-distance girlfriend, with Josh and his buddies allheading on a road trip to Austinto recover the scandalous footage.
Like many 2000s comedies,Road Tripis filled with sleazy characters and dated comedy. However, when it was released, the movie proved captivating and entertaining for audiences, with theAmerican Pieboom reinvigorating the genre, opening the way for Phillip’sRoad Trip.
$87.1 million
Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Luke Wilson, Ellen Pompeo
Filled withsome of comedy’s biggest starsat the infancy of their career,Old Schoolis the natural successor toRoad Trip, with the story following the adventures of three men aiming to relive their college years as adults.
After breaking up with his girlfriend, Mitch moves near a college campus where he and his pals Frank and Beanie start their own fraternity, reliving their glory days as a way to escape the numbness of their adulthood. Brimming with the wildness of the college experience, the chemistry between its leads makes the movie function, showing Phillips' eye for comedic talent.
$86.2 million
Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Ana de Armas
As Phillips continued his ascent in Hollywood, the director took on the black comedyWar Dogs,starring notorious funnyman Jonah Hilland Miles Teller. In the crime comedy, both actors play Efraim and David, two gun dealers tasked by the US government to deliver millions of dollars worth of ammo to the Afghan army. While on their mission, the pair find themselves in sticky situations while on their journey to deliver the goods.
Despite being based loosely on actual events,War Dogscontinues Phillips' comedic roots while tackling a touchy subject such as war, with the director again excelling at finding seamless chemistry between his protagonists.
$469.3 million
Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Mike Tyson
In the summer of 2009,The Hangoverarrived, creating a significant buzz for a comedy movie, unlike any type of publicity the genre had received in years. In Phillips' comedic magnum opus, the characters of Stu, Phil, and Alan throw a bachelor party for their friend Doug.
With the group having the scenery of Las Vegas to accompany them, their drunken night becomes much of a blur, leading to the characters becoming engulfed in the chaos that sees them lose the groom, have Stu get married, and obtain a tiger belonging to Mike Tyson. In the movie that sees the quirky group memorize their steps,The Hangoverbecame a unique andunrivaled comedy of its time, furthering its stars and director’s status.
$1.079 billion
Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz
In all of Phillips' filmography,Jokerstands out as his most impressive work to date, raising the perception of the director from being a comedy veteran to an auteur in Hollywood. Featuring Phoenix as Fleck,Jokerfollows the character as he becomes enraged at society, leading to the introduction ofthe iconic DC villain, the Joker.
Taking inspiration from Martin Scorsese classics such asTaxi DriverandThe King of Comedy, Phillips' dark and grounded depiction of one of cinema’s most beloved characters proved to be a huge success, with the famed clown furthering his legend as one of the great superhero characters.
