Director Todd Phillips explicitly envisioned the 2019 Joker origin story as a psychological study set in a version of Gotham that mirrored the "urban decay" of New York City during the 1970s and 80s.
Known colloquially as the Joker Stairs , they became a viral sensation after the scene where Joaquin Phoenix dances down them to the tune of "Rock and Roll Part 2". To this day, fans visit the site to recreate the iconic dance for social media. Local Businesses and Curiosities ny joker
The "proper features" frequently cited by users and reviewers include: Director Todd Phillips explicitly envisioned the 2019 Joker
He wasn’t silent. He was quoting Heath Ledger’s Joker verbatim: “Why so serious?” But then he deviated from the script. He began shouting about the MTA’s fare hikes and the taste of hot dog water. The video exploded on TikTok. The video exploded on TikTok
make eye contact. Do not offer him a therapy hotline number. Do film it and post it to Reddit for karma.
As of 2025, the original subway performer has been released from psychiatric care and has reportedly moved to Florida, where he now works as a real estate agent specializing in timeshares. The graffiti tagger has not been caught, though a recent mural in the LES featuring Mayor Adams with a Joker smile suggests he is still active.