Best Movies like Joker (2019)

Exploring the descent of a failed stand-up comedian into Gotham’s criminal underworld, Joker stands out for its gritty mix of crime, thriller, and drama set against an unforgiving 1980s city backdrop. If you’re drawn to stories that follow troubled outsiders, blurred moral lines, and the chaotic impact of society on individuals, the films below offer a similar edge. Dive into these gripping picks for more intense character studies and urban tension.

Taxi Driver

On every street in every city in this country, there's a nobody who dreams of being somebody. He's a lonely forgotten man desperate to prove that he's alive.
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Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 54m
Release date: 9th February 1976
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.1/10)

Taxi Driver follows a troubled protagonist whose alienation and mental decline on the streets of a city mirrors Joker's descent into violence. Both films center on isolated antiheroes struggling within urban environments, depicting psychological unraveling and a shift toward criminal acts amidst societal neglect.

Suffering from insomnia, disturbed loner Travis Bickle takes a job as a New York City cabbie, haunting the streets nightly, growing increasingly detached from reality as he dreams of cleaning up the filthy city. Taxi Driver is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 1976 with an average rating of 8.1 by 13,607 people. The movie made an estimated total of $28,579,636 in the box office.

The King of Comedy

It's no laughing matter.
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 49m
Release date: 18th December 1982
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

The King of Comedy centers on a failed comedian whose desperation for recognition leads him down a disturbing path, echoing the premise of Joker. Both works explore the blurred lines between fame and notoriety, focusing on protagonists increasingly driven to extreme actions by their lack of success.

Aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy. The King of Comedy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 7.8 by 2,611 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,536,000 in the box office.

American Psycho

Killer looks.
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Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 13th April 2000
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.4/10)

American Psycho explores the psyche of a criminally disturbed protagonist whose violent tendencies surface in a society driven by appearances. Like Joker, it examines themes of insanity, moral decay, and the impulse toward chaos, focusing on a character whose inner turmoil feeds outward destruction.

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies. American Psycho is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 7.4 by 12,485 people. The movie made an estimated total of $34,269,748 in the box office.

Fight Club

Mischief. Mayhem. Soap.
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Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 19m
Release date: 15th October 1999
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.4/10)

Fight Club dissects the psychological unraveling of its narrator and his journey into chaos. Paralleling Joker, it features a disaffected protagonist who rebels against societal norms, culminating in a subversive and criminal transformation, and questions society's role in shaping individual identity.

A ticking-time-bomb insomniac and a slippery soap salesman channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground "fight clubs" forming in every town, until an eccentric gets in the way and ignites an out-of-control spiral toward oblivion. Fight Club is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 19m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 8.4 by 32,496 people. The movie made an estimated total of $100,853,753 in the box office.

Nightcrawler

The city shines brightest at night.
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Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 58m
Release date: 23rd October 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.7/10)

Nightcrawler follows an ambitious loner whose obsessive pursuit of success in a morally ambiguous city landscape involves a turn to criminal actions. Both films dissect the allure and consequences of infamy, charting a protagonist's transformation amid a society that rewards disturbing behavior.

When Lou Bloom, desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran. Nightcrawler is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.7 by 11,877 people. The movie made an estimated total of $47,425,835 in the box office.

You Were Never Really Here

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Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 29m
Release date: 8th November 2017
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

You Were Never Really Here portrays an emotionally scarred man whose violent methods in a corrupt city echo Joker's explore of trauma and isolation leading to extreme actions. Both dramas place a complex character's psychological struggle at the heart of a grim narrative.

A traumatized veteran, unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe's nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered—leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening. You Were Never Really Here is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 29m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.5 by 3,084 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,400,000 in the box office.

Falling Down

The adventures of an ordinary man at war with the everyday world.
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Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 53m
Release date: 26th February 1993
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.4/10)

Falling Down features a struggling, disillusioned man whose personal frustrations escalate into public violence. Its focus on societal breakdown and the journey of a marginalized individual into crime complements Joker's themes of personal suffering erupting into acts of chaos in an urban environment.

An ordinary man frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them. Falling Down is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 7.4 by 4,162 people. The movie made an estimated total of $40,903,593 in the box office.

Black Swan

"I just want to be perfect."
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Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 48m
Release date: 3rd December 2010
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.7/10)

Black Swan delves into a character's gradual descent into psychological disturbance brought on by external pressures and internal fractures. While different in setting, both films meticulously chart the protagonist’s mental breakdown, using intense character studies to explore the costs of obsession and alienation.

A committed dancer struggles to maintain her sanity after winning the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." Black Swan is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.7 by 15,698 people. The movie made an estimated total of $329,398,046 in the box office.

A Clockwork Orange

Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven.
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Genre: Science Fiction, Crime
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 17m
Release date: 28th October 1971
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.2/10)

A Clockwork Orange centers on a protagonist immersed in urban violence and examines the intersection of crime and psychological disturbance. Its thematic exploration of moral ambiguity and the consequences of unchecked impulses reflects Joker's portrayal of societal failure and personal degeneration.

In a near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his pals get their kicks beating and raping anyone they please. When not destroying the lives of others, Alex swoons to the music of Beethoven. The state, eager to crack down on juvenile crime, gives an incarcerated Alex the option to undergo an invasive procedure that'll rob him of all personal agency. In a time when conscience is a commodity, can Alex change his tune? A Clockwork Orange is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 17m runtime, released in 1971 with an average rating of 8.2 by 13,964 people. The movie made an estimated total of $27,033,812 in the box office.

Dog Day Afternoon

Anything can happen during the dog days of summer. On August 22nd, 1972, everything did.
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Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 5m
Release date: 21st September 1975
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.9/10)

Dog Day Afternoon tells the story of a man whose personal grievances push him into a criminal act that spirals out of control. Like Joker, it features a central figure whose choices expose systemic and individual vulnerabilities, focusing on the chaos and pathos of public spectacle.

Based on the true story of would-be Brooklyn bank robbers John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile. Sonny and Sal attempt a bank heist which quickly turns sour and escalates into a hostage situation and stand-off with the police. As Sonny's motives for the robbery are slowly revealed and things become more complicated, the heist turns into a media circus. Dog Day Afternoon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 1975 with an average rating of 7.9 by 3,431 people. The movie made an estimated total of $56,665,856 in the box office.

There Will Be Blood

There will be greed. There will be vengeance.
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Genre: Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 38m
Release date: 26th December 2007
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.1/10)

There Will Be Blood presents the rise of an ambitious, deeply flawed protagonist who resorts to morally questionable actions. While its setting differs, it shares with Joker a close examination of individual ambition driving a tragic transformation, highlighting obsession and isolation.

Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local preacher Eli Sunday suspects Plainview's motives and intentions, starting a slow-burning feud that threatens both their lives. There Will Be Blood is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 38m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 8.1 by 7,578 people. The movie made an estimated total of $77,208,711 in the box office.

Network

Television will never be the same.
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Genre: Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 2m
Release date: 27th November 1976
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

Network showcases the psychological unraveling of a media figure overwhelmed by societal pressures, paralleling Joker’s depiction of a protagonist overtaken by instability. Both films critique the intersection of personal breakdown and societal response, exploring the spectacle created when individuals act out their distress on a public stage.

When veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast. Network executives rethink their decision when his fanatical tirade results in a spike in ratings. Network is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 1976 with an average rating of 7.8 by 2,063 people. The movie made an estimated total of $23,700,000 in the box office.

The Machinist

How do you wake up from a nightmare if you’re not asleep?
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Genre: Thriller, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 24th September 2004
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.5/10)

The Machinist centers on an isolated protagonist whose psychological unrest manifests in extreme behaviors. Similar to Joker, it traces the impact of alienation and mental decline, presenting an intense character study where inner turmoil leads to escalating disturbances in the outside world.

Trevor, an insomniac lathe operator, experiences unusual occurrences at work and home. A strange man follows him everywhere, but no one else seems to notice him. The Machinist is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 7.5 by 6,246 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,203,235 in the box office.

Requiem for a Dream

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Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 6th October 2000
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.0/10)

Requiem for a Dream explores how loneliness and despair push characters toward destructive actions, resulting in personal ruin. Its unflinching focus on psychological collapse aligns with Joker's examination of mental health struggles set against a backdrop of societal indifference.

The drug-induced utopias of four Coney Island residents are shattered when their addictions run deep. Requiem for a Dream is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 8.0 by 11,137 people. The movie made an estimated total of $7,390,108 in the box office.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

He's not Freddy, he's not Jason...he's real.
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Genre: Crime, Horror, Thriller, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 23m
Release date: 24th September 1986
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer presents a case study of a disturbed protagonist navigating urban decay. Its unsparing attention to the mind of a violent outcast complements Joker through their shared focus on psychological disturbance and the making of a criminal identity.

Arriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 23m runtime, released in 1986 with an average rating of 6.7 by 790 people. The movie made an estimated total of $609,939 in the box office.

Shame

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Genre: Drama
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 42m
Release date: 2nd October 2011
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Shame examines a troubled individual in crisis, drawing attention to psychological suffering and self-destructive behavior. It shares with Joker a relentless focus on the inner world of a protagonist whose battle with personal demons shapes every aspect of his life.

Brandon, a thirty-something man living in New York, eludes intimacy with women but feeds his deepest desires with a compulsive addiction to sex. When his younger sister temporarily moves into his apartment, stirring up bitter memories of their shared painful past, Brandon's life, like his fragile mind, gets out of control. Shame is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.9 by 3,451 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,909,002 in the box office.

Oldboy

15 years of imprisonment, five days of vengeance.
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Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean
Runtime: 2h 0m
Release date: 21st November 2003
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.2/10)

Oldboy follows a man whose experiences of injustice and isolation drive him toward increasingly violent acts. Like Joker, it uses an intense character transformation to explore the impact of trauma, vengeance, and alienation within a hostile environment.

With no clue how he came to be imprisoned, drugged and tortured for 15 years, a desperate man seeks revenge on his captors. Oldboy is a movie from South Korea in Korean, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 8.2 by 10,023 people. The movie made an estimated total of $17,500,000 in the box office.

The House That Jack Built

If you feel like screaming... you definitely should.
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Genre: Drama, Horror, Crime, Thriller
Country: Denmark
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 32m
Release date: 4th October 2018
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.1/10)

The House That Jack Built traces the evolution of a criminal mind within a cold, unforgiving setting. Exploring themes of psychopathy and the intersection between violence and personal philosophy, it complements Joker’s focus on the making and motives of a notorious figure.

Failed architect, engineer and vicious murderer Jack narrates the details of some of his most elaborately orchestrated crimes, each of them a towering piece of art that defines his life's work as a serial killer for twelve years. The House That Jack Built is a movie from Denmark in English, with a total 2h 32m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.1 by 3,105 people. The movie made an estimated total of $5,566,776 in the box office.

Monster

Based on a true story.
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Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 49m
Release date: 24th December 2003
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Monster recounts the circumstances leading a marginalized individual into criminal infamy, mirroring Joker's exploration of social alienation and downward spiral. Both films center on protagonists whose psychological struggles and rejection by society culminate in notorious acts.

In 1989, prostitute Aileen Wuornos befriends and enters a relationship with a young woman named Selby. Determined to straighten out her life, Aileen's limited education lands her back on the corner. She's raped by a trick, who she kills. A string of murder and robbery follows that ultimately leads Aileen to becoming America's first female serial killer. Monster is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,583 people. The movie made an estimated total of $58,469,210 in the box office.

Maniac

I Warned You Not to Go Out Tonight.
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Genre: Horror, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 29m
Release date: 26th December 2012
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.0/10)

Maniac delivers an unnerving perspective on psychological instability as experienced by a violent outcast. Echoing Joker, it centers on a protagonist's deteriorating mental state and the resulting detachment from social norms, making the viewer witness to escalating acts of violence.

As he helps a young artist with her upcoming exhibition, the owner of a mannequin shop's deadly, suppressed desires come to the surface. Maniac is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 29m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.0 by 1,038 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,631,275 in the box office.

Burst City

Attention!!
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Genre: Action, Music, Science Fiction
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1h 55m
Release date: 9th April 1982
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.3/10)

Burst City, though set in a different subculture, features rebellion and anti-establishment themes within a chaotic urban setting. Its portrayal of marginalized figures challenging social order aligns with the spirit of Joker's journey into crime and disorder born out of alienation.

Set in a barren, futuristic Tokyo of highways and wastelands, a rowdy group of punk bands and their fans gather to protest slow, boring, Japanese living. Burst City is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 6.3 by 32 people.

No Country for Old Men

There are no clean getaways.
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Genre: Crime, Thriller, Western
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 2m
Release date: 9th November 2007
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.9/10)

No Country for Old Men introduces a remorseless force disrupting a social order, exploring fate, violence, and the nature of evil. While differing in character background, it connects with Joker through the ways criminal acts reveal cracks in society and expose moral ambiguity.

Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide. No Country for Old Men is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.9 by 13,548 people. The movie made an estimated total of $171,627,166 in the box office.

Michael Clayton

The truth can be adjusted.
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Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 0m
Release date: 28th September 2007
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.8/10)

Michael Clayton follows a protagonist whose moral conflict and encounters with corruption within a city environment recall Joker's exploration of ethical ambiguity. Both films use their central figures to interrogate justice, personal ethics, and the complexities of acting under pressure.

A law firm brings in its "fixer" to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit. Michael Clayton is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 6.8 by 2,018 people. The movie made an estimated total of $92,991,835 in the box office.

Collateral

It started like any other night.
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Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 0m
Release date: 4th August 2004
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.2/10)

Collateral involves a central character drawn into urban crime across a single night, reflecting Joker’s urban setting and themes of moral compromise amid a city's nighttime chaos. Both stories are propelled by individuals confronting criminal acts in tense, transformative circumstances.

Cab driver Max picks up a man who offers him $600 to drive him around. But the promise of easy money sours when Max realizes his fare is an assassin. Collateral is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 7.2 by 6,377 people. The movie made an estimated total of $220,239,925 in the box office.

Death to Smoochy

Get ready for an unexpected hit.
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Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 49m
Release date: 29th March 2002
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.9/10)

Death to Smoochy revolves around the dark side of the entertainment world, touching on the fallout from professional failure and the pressure for recognition—a fitting parallel to Joker’s protagonist, who is pushed to the edge by rejection and societal scorn within a similar milieu.

Tells the story of Rainbow Randolph, the corrupt, costumed star of a popular children's TV show, who is fired over a bribery scandal and replaced by squeaky-clean Smoochy, a puffy fuchsia rhinoceros. As Smoochy catapults to fame - scoring hit ratings and the affections of a network executive - Randolph makes the unsuspecting rhino the target of his numerous outrageous attempts to exact revenge and reclaim his status as America's sweetheart. Death to Smoochy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 5.9 by 447 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,400,000 in the box office.

Clean, Shaven

Partition on a strange madness!
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Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 19m
Release date: 14th April 1995
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.5/10)

Clean, Shaven presents a deeply subjective view of a mentally ill protagonist’s struggle with reality and societal alienation. Its commitment to expressing psychological turmoil and the experience of being ostracized draws a strong line to the internal journey depicted in Joker.

Peter Winter is a young schizophrenic who is desperately trying to get his daughter back from her adoptive family. He attempts to function in a world that, for him, is filled with strange voices, electrical noise, disconcerting images, and jarringly sudden emotional shifts. During his quest, he runs afoul of the law and an ongoing murder investigation. Clean, Shaven is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 19m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 6.5 by 104 people. The movie made an estimated total of $26,351 in the box office.

Cape Fear

Sam Bowden has always provided for his family's future. But the past is coming back to haunt them.
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Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 8m
Release date: 13th November 1991
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

Cape Fear follows a vengeful, unhinged individual seeking retribution within a city, focusing on the disruption caused by a criminal outsider. Both films examine the confrontation between society and a single relentless figure shaped by personal distress and alienation.

Sam Bowden is a small-town corporate attorney. Max Cady is a tattooed, cigar-smoking, Bible-quoting, psychotic rapist. What do they have in common? 14 years ago, Sam was a public defender assigned to Max Cady's rape trial, and he made a serious error: he hid a document from his illiterate client that could have gotten him acquitted. Now, the cagey Cady has been released, and he intends to teach Sam Bowden and his family a thing or two about loss. Cape Fear is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 8m runtime, released in 1991 with an average rating of 7.3 by 3,950 people. The movie made an estimated total of $182,300,000 in the box office.

The Mosquito Coast

He never bargained for what he found.
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Genre: Drama, Adventure
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 59m
Release date: 26th November 1986
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6.3/10)

The Mosquito Coast examines the unraveling of a complex protagonist who rejects societal norms and pushes his family into instability. This narrative of collapse under pressure and the consequences of attempting to reshape the world echoes themes present in Joker’s character arc.

An inventor spurns his city life and moves his family into the jungles of Central America to make a utopia. The Mosquito Coast is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 1986 with an average rating of 6.3 by 538 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,302,779 in the box office.

Hardcore

“Oh my God, that's my daughter.”
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Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 48m
Release date: 9th February 1979
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

Hardcore tracks an individual’s journey through dangerous, disreputable elements of society in the search for a lost loved one, mirroring Joker's urban descent and confrontation with the city’s underbelly. Both stories probe personal desperation and the social forces shaping tragic paths.

A conservative Midwest businessman ventures into the sordid underworld of pornography in search of his runaway teenage daughter who’s making hardcore films in the pits of Los Angeles. Hardcore is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 1979 with an average rating of 6.7 by 325 people.

We Need to Talk About Kevin

This conversation is long overdue.
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Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 53m
Release date: 28th September 2011
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.5/10)

We Need to Talk About Kevin investigates familial breakdown and the origins of violent behavior, focusing on psychological disturbance from an early age. Like Joker, it scrutinizes how societal and interpersonal dynamics contribute to the making of a notorious figure.

After her son Kevin commits a horrific act, troubled mother Eva reflects on her complicated relationship with her disturbed son as he grew from a toddler into a teenager. We Need to Talk About Kevin is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.5 by 3,143 people. The movie made an estimated total of $10,800,000 in the box office.

In the Company of Men

Are all men bastards...or just misunderstood?
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Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: Canada
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 37m
Release date: 28th March 1997
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

In the Company of Men revolves around characters enacting cruelty in a calculated way, exploring emotional alienation and the destructive potential of unchecked behavior. This examination of interpersonal harm and psychological fallout complements Joker's focus on the consequences of societal neglect.

Two business executives--one an avowed misogynist, the other recently emotionally wounded by his love interest--set out to exact revenge on the female gender by seeking out the most innocent, uncorrupted girl they can find and ruining her life. In the Company of Men is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 1997 with an average rating of 6.7 by 168 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,804,473 in the box office.

Secretary

Assume the position.
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Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 51m
Release date: 20th September 2002
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.8/10)

Secretary involves a protagonist grappling with isolation and unconventional desires, exploring personal identity in the face of judgment. While more intimate in scope, its focus on psychological challenges and the struggle for agency resonates with the internal themes presented in Joker.

A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a sexual, sadomasochistic one. Secretary is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 6.8 by 1,967 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,300,000 in the box office.

Buffalo '66

Billy Brown just got out of jail. Now he’s going to serve some real time. He’s going home.
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Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 50m
Release date: 20th January 1998
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.1/10)

Buffalo '66 paints the portrait of another societal outcast recently released from prison, emphasizing the search for connection and acceptance. Both films trace solitary protagonists as they negotiate hostile environments, highlighting the impact of rejection and longing for belonging.

Billy is released after five years in prison. In the next moment, he kidnaps teenage student Layla and visits his parents with her, pretending she is his girlfriend and they will soon marry. Buffalo '66 is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,062 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,375,097 in the box office.

The Killer Inside Me

Nobody Sees It Coming
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Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Canada
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 49m
Release date: 19th February 2010
Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (5.8/10)

The Killer Inside Me examines the hidden life of a seemingly unremarkable man who spirals into violence, paralleling Joker's central focus on an unassuming protagonist’s turn toward criminality amid psychological breakdown and moral ambiguity.

Deputy Sheriff Lou Ford is a pillar of the community in his small west Texas town, patient and apparently thoughtful. Some people think he is a little slow and maybe boring, but that is the worst they say about him. But then nobody knows about what Lou calls his "sickness": He is a brilliant, but disturbed sociopathic sadist. The Killer Inside Me is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 5.8 by 639 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,052,191 in the box office.

God Bless America

Taking out the trash, one jerk at a time.
Streaming on:
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 44m
Release date: 11th May 2012
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

God Bless America portrays deeply disillusioned characters who respond to their frustration with society through acts of violence. Its satirical edge and critique of cultural decay mirror Joker's exploration of outrage and transgressive responses to a callous environment.

Fed up with the cruelty and stupidity of American culture, an unlikely duo goes on a killing spree, killing reality TV stars, bigots and others they find repugnant. God Bless America is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,077 people.

Natural Born Killers

The media made them superstars.
Streaming on:
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 59m
Release date: 26th August 1994
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.1/10)

Natural Born Killers chronicles the notoriety of violent outsiders and their complicated relationship with the media and society. Like Joker, it interrogates celebrity, crime, and the societal appetite for spectacle born from acts of destruction.

Two victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media. Natural Born Killers is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 7.1 by 3,854 people. The movie made an estimated total of $50,283,563 in the box office.

Happiness

You want. He wants. She wants. But nobody wants what I want.
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 20m
Release date: 11th October 1998
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.4/10)

Happiness dives into the emotional and psychological difficulties of individuals shunned or misunderstood by society. It shares with Joker an interest in the isolating effects of alienation and the internal battles waged by vulnerable, troubled people.

The lives of several individuals intertwine as they go about their lives in their own unique ways, engaging in acts which society as a whole might find disturbing in a desperate search for human connection. Happiness is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 20m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 7.4 by 956 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,800,000 in the box office.

Christine

The shocking true story that changed the face of television.
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Genre: Drama
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 3m
Release date: 14th October 2016
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.9/10)

Christine examines the psychological pressure on a public figure, capturing themes of internal distress, societal expectation, and breakdown. Like Joker, it focuses on an individual's unraveling in the face of overwhelming external and internal struggles.

In 1974, television reporter Christine Chubbuck struggles with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career. Christine is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 3m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 6.9 by 414 people. The movie made an estimated total of $313,465 in the box office.

Barton Fink

There's only one thing stranger than what's going on inside his head... What's going on outside.
Streaming on:
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 57m
Release date: 1st August 1991
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.5/10)

Barton Fink centers on a creative but alienated individual facing mounting psychological challenges within an urban, institutional setting. Its focus on the pressures of ambition and society’s indifference ties directly to the personal descent depicted in Joker.

A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood. Barton Fink is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 1991 with an average rating of 7.5 by 1,909 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,153,939 in the box office.

One Hour Photo

The things that we fear the most have already happened to us...
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Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 36m
Release date: 21st August 2002
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (6.7/10)

One Hour Photo profiles a socially isolated protagonist whose mental decline leads to disturbing actions. Both films study the evolution of lonely individuals whose yearning for connection results in boundary-crossing behavior, drawing attention to the destructive consequences of neglect.

Sy Parrish has lovingly developed photographs for the Yorkin family since their son was a baby. But as the Yorkins' lives become fuller, Sy's only seems lonelier, until he eventually convinces himself he's part of their family. When Sy's picture-perfect fantasy collides with an ugly dose of reality, a bizarre and thrilling confrontation ensues. One Hour Photo is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 6.7 by 1,950 people. The movie made an estimated total of $52,223,306 in the box office.

Blue Valentine

A Love Story.
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 52m
Release date: 26th December 2010
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.0/10)

Blue Valentine, while primarily a relationship story, details the collapse of a protagonist under emotional strain. Its intimate portrayal of unraveling and the complexity of individual suffering shares with Joker a sincere examination of personal turmoil and declining mental health.

Dean and Cindy live a quiet life in a modest neighborhood. They appear to have the world at their feet at the outset of the relationship. However, his lack of ambition and her retreat into self-absorption cause potentially irreversible cracks in their marriage. Blue Valentine is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.0 by 3,568 people. The movie made an estimated total of $15,440,333 in the box office.

Donnie Darko

28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, 12 seconds... that is when the world will end.
Streaming on:
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
Country: United States of America
Language: English
Runtime: 1h 54m
Release date: 19th January 2001
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (7.8/10)

Donnie Darko follows a troubled young man experiencing episodes that blur reality and delusion. Both narratives chart the paths of protagonists wrestling with mental health challenges and alienation, probing the boundaries between inner turmoil and outward disruption.

After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes. Donnie Darko is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 7.8 by 13,566 people. The movie made an estimated total of $7,500,000 in the box office.

Naked

When unbalance leads to submission
Streaming on:
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Runtime: 2h 11m
Release date: 6th August 1993
Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ (7.3/10)

Naked presents an intellectual yet profoundly isolated protagonist navigating urban alienation. The film’s raw engagement with existential despair, societal marginalization, and self-destructive behavior creates strong thematic links to the journey undertaken in Joker.

An unemployed Brit vents his rage on unsuspecting strangers as he embarks on a nocturnal London odyssey. Naked is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 7.3 by 680 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,769,305 in the box office.

Like Joker, these films explore the blurred lines between sanity and chaos, combining intense character studies with gritty urban settings. They offer compelling portraits of individuals pushed to the edge by society’s pressures.

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