- Blockbuster "Joker", the top-grossing R-rated film of all time with a global take of more than $788M to date, has investors giddy over the financial windfall, all except producer Warner Bros.
- The company, lacking confidence that it would be as big a winner as its DC comic-book lineup, sold a substantial share of the film to outsiders during development, an expected prudent decision since it considered it a stand-alone project rather than a launchpad for sequels and spinoffs.
- Star Joaquin Phoenix and Director Todd Phillips are, no doubt, happy, having secured generous profit participation deals, increasingly uncommon with expected blockbusters.
- "Joker" has not broken all records just yet. Its domestic take of ~$259M is second to Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ," which grossed almost $371M, tops for an R-rated movie.