Gotham 1981. The city stinks of garbage and reeks of poverty and crime. Not much different from many US cities today. Toubled Arthur Fleck is trying to get by as a party clown while attempting a career as stand up comic while caring for his mentally unstable mother. Beaten literally and figuratively by society, Arthur descends into murder and mayhem before rising as a leader of a violent revolution. A revolution that is no laughing matter for Gotham.
I've been suffering from superhero movie fatigue since 2007, so when Joker was announced, I did a dramatic eyeroll. But once I found out it was more of a character study than a McDonald's Happy Meal toy kind of movie, I was intrigued. Then when I saw the trailer, I was excited. Then when I saw the film, I was quite entertained. Joaquin Phoenix steps out of his comfort zone to play weird and whacky to perfection and rightfully received kudos this past Sunday at The Golden Globes. Some questioned whether we needed this movie and worried about the violence it may inspire. But they were clearly in the minority as the film has grossed over a billion dollars worldwide, plastering a big smile across Warner Brothers' face :-)
Joker was filmed in Newark and Jersey City, NJ and The Bronx, Brooklyn, Glen Cove and New York, NY
Location: Ha Ha Talent Booking
Address: 12th Avenue & 133rd Street, New York, NY
We don't actually see the exterior of Arthur's place of employment in the theatrical release, but there is a deleted scene where Arthur exits the building after being fired and has words with Randall in front of the Amusement Mile mural...
Location: Kenny's Music Shop
Address: 195 Market Street, Newark, NJ
Several tall buildings were added via CGI for Gotham Street scenes...
A little location fail on my part (I should've slept in New Year's morning). I thought the alley where Arthur gets beat down was the same alley where Bruce Wayne's parents are shot in Jersey City but it's not. It is located at 60-2 Nutria Street in Newark. By the time I realized that, I wasn't able to go back unfortunately.
Location: The Stairs
Address: Between 1140 & 1172 Anderson Avenue, Bronx, NY
Upon arrival, there were at least two dozen people ascending, descending, dancing and posing. I imagine from here on out, a lot of people will be getting their steps in at this location...
Location: Arthur Fleck's Apartment Building
Address: 1140 Anderson Avenue, Bronx, NY
I waited around for a while hoping a resident would exit the building, but unfortunately no one did. But I was able to get a pretty good shot of the mailboxes from the door...
Location: Gotham Savings Bank
Address: 20 Exchange Place, New York, NY
Location: The Tunnel
Address: 199 Cherry Street, New York, NY
Location: Twin Donut Shop
Address: 3396 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY
Location: Wayne Manor
Address: 298 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove, NY Webb Institute of Naval Architecture
I instantly recognized this as Wayne Manor in Batman Forever (1995), which I visited in December 2018, so these are not exact matching shots.
Location: Wayne Hall
Address: 583 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ
Location: Arkham State Hospital
Address: 80 58th Street, Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Army Terminal
Location: Arthur's Chased By Detectives
Address: Plaza Drive & Macombs Road, Bronx, NY
The action on the platform was filmed at the 18th Avenue Station in Brooklyn.
Location: The Theater
Address: 54 Journal Square, Jersey City, NJ Loew's Jersey
Interiors of Wayne Hall were shot here...
The alley Bruce Wayne's parents are shot in is right next door...
Location: The Crash & Street Riot
Address: Market Street & Halsey Street, Newark, NJ
Locations Visited: December 2018, January 2020
Still Need To Locate:
Helm's Pharmacy
GiGi's School
Penny's Hospital
Murray Franklin's Studio