It’s not a rumor anymore, the Todd Phillips/Joaquin Phoenix ‘Joker’ movie is officially rated R.
This unique DC adaptation, due in theaters this October, has indeed gotten an R rating from the MPAA. Phillips isn’t known for his superhero chops, in fact, he’s more famous as the guy that did “Old School” and “The Hangover.” Regardless, he pitched a gritty, 70s-set Joker movie in the vein of Taxi Driver and got his wish granted by the WB to make the movie.
R-rated Superhero movies are rare but they do, occasionally happen. Take for example, James Mangold’s “Logan” which was critically acclaimed and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Also, there’s the ‘Deadpool’ movies which have been huge successes for Fox. It can be done and the buzz for ‘Joker’ will, no doubt, make it a box-office success when it is released on October 4th. That I am confident of.