How Much Did Joaquin Phoenix Get Paid for ‘Joker’?
Joker is now the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. The dark superhero film has raked in nearly $850 million worldwide after three weeks in theaters. Now, people are wondering if the controversial movie directed by Todd Phillips will hit $1 billion at the box office.
The movie is making plenty of money for Warner Bros. But what about its star Joaquin Phoenix?
Joaquin Phoenix earned $4.5 million for ‘Joker’
Phoenix, who plays failed comedian Arthur Fleck, has earned both critical praise and a substantial payday for his role in Joker. He was paid $4.5 million for the movie, according to a report in Variety. However, he earned less than his fellow DC movie stars Gal Gadot and Margot Robbie, who will each earn around $10 million for their roles in the forthcoming movies Wonder Woman 1984 and Birds of Prey, respectively.
Joker cost relatively little to make, at least by comic book movie standards. It’s budget was $64 million, which is likely one reason Phoenix’s payday isn’t as large Gadot or Robbie’s. But the movie has quickly become his most successful to date, and some think it might earn him an Oscar nomination.
Phoenix has a net worth of $35 million
The 45-year-old Phoenix’s Joker payday adds to his sizable bank account. The actor has an estimated net worth of $35 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
His earnings for past movies have ranged from $375,000 for a supporting role in the Marquis de Sade biopic Quills to $5 million for The Village, according to IMDb. He reportedly earned $1 million for Signs and $3.5 million for Walk the Line.
Will there be a ‘Joker’ sequel?
While some in the film industry were skeptical that Joker would succeed at the box office, the gritty origin story has clearly connected with audiences. That has many wondering if the film will get a sequel, with Phoenix reprising his role as Fleck/Joker.
As of now, the Joker character isn’t set to appear in any upcoming DC Extended Universe films. Jared Leto’s version of the character, who was introduced in Suicide Squad, is absent from Birds of Prey, which focuses on Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn character. And in the Robert Pattinson movie The Batman, the villains are Riddler, Catwoman, and Penguin. Since Joker was meant to be a standalone film unconnected to other movies with DC characters, it seems unlikely that he’ll pop up in the future.
However, it’s possible that Joker could get a sequel, given its massive success at the box office. Though the movie wasn’t envisioned as the first in a larger series, Phillips and Phoenix have reportedly discussed ideas for a follow-up film. However, there are no concrete plans to revisit the character.
“We have no plans for a sequel. The quote was, ‘I will do anything Joaquin wants to do.’ And I would. But the movie’s not set up to [have] a sequel. We always pitched it as one movie, and that’s it,” Phillips has said.
“We made this movie, I pitched it to Warner Bros. as one movie. It exists in its own world,” he added. “That’s it.”
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