Joker (2019)
Kernel Score: 92% · 27,383 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Crime, Thriller, Drama
Released: 2019-10-01
Runtime: 122 minutes
Is Joker worth watching?
Worth watching. A bleak character study of a lonely man pushed over the edge, anchored by a hugely committed Joaquin Phoenix. It's powerful and uncomfortable, and it's far from a comic-book crowd-pleaser.
Watch it if you
- like dark, character-driven dramas
- want an intense lead performance
- can handle a bleak, violent mood
Skip it if you
- want a typical superhero film
- dislike disturbing violence and slow descent stories
Best for: Serious solo watch
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Joker
- Stream: tru TV, HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.
Joker parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that this R-rated character study contains graphic violence and follows a bleak, nihilistic descent into madness and chaos.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Graphic violence and murder punctuate a disturbed man's slide into anarchy and chaos in a grim, realistic Gotham.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Joker
If you liked Joker, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- American Psycho (2000) — 89%: Dark study of a disturbed man and a cold, violent city.
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) — 89%: Chilling psychological thriller built around two great performances.
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975) — 89%: Tense 1970s story of a desperate man cornered in New York.
- M (1931) — 90%: Early thriller that gives a killer a disturbing human face.
- Parasite (2019) — 91%: Dark story about inequality and desperation.
- The Usual Suspects (1995) — 91%: Twisty crime story about a slippery, unreliable narrator.
Director
Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck
- Robert De Niro as Murray Franklin
- Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond
- Frances Conroy as Penny Fleck
- Brett Cullen as Thomas Wayne
- Shea Whigham as Detective Burke
- Bill Camp as Detective Garrity
- Glenn Fleshler as Randall
- Leigh Gill as Gary
- Josh Pais as Hoyt Vaughn
Joker FAQ
Is Joker worth watching?
Worth watching. A bleak character study of a lonely man pushed over the edge, anchored by a hugely committed Joaquin Phoenix. It's powerful and uncomfortable, and it's far from a comic-book crowd-pleaser.
Where can I watch Joker?
In the US you can stream Joker on tru TV and HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Joker OK for kids?
Joker is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that this R-rated character study contains graphic violence and follows a bleak, nihilistic descent into madness and chaos.
What movies are like Joker?
If you liked Joker, try American Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, Dog Day Afternoon and M.