Joaquin Phoenix stars as the DC Comics supervillain in this crime drama directed by Todd Phillips. Set in 1981, the film follows Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), a mentally ill professional clown who aspires to be a stand-up comedian and lives with his elderly mother (Frances Conroy) in Gotham City. When he is fired from his job, Arthur begins a violent descent into madness that culminates in his rebirth as Gotham's clown prince of crime. The cast also includes Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz and Brett Cullen.