Joker director Todd Phillips was unknowingly inspired by the very actor and film that inspired the comic book Joker’s look — Conrad Veidt in The Man Who Laughs — for his new box office smash.
In a recent interview with IGN, Phillips revealed the five movies Joker fans need to watch to understand the influences for his interpretation of Joker. These are the films that Phillips and his co-screenwriter Scott Silver drew from the most for their gritty, more realistic interpretation of the iconic DC Comics supervillain. And there’s not a Batman movie among them.
In my review of Joker, which I gave a 10 out of 10, I said: “Clearly drawing its spirit and style from classic ‘70s and ‘80s films like Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy, A Clockwork Orange, and Dog Day Afternoon, director Todd Phillips’ Joker presents a Gotham City that is unmistakably a stand-in for the hellish New York City of the era.” As it turns out, three of those films are among those that Phillips, during our interview with him, listed as the films Joker fans need to see to fully appreciate the movie.
Source: IGN.com Joker: Conrad Veidt and 4 Other Movies That Inspired the DC Film