Joker lands 11 Oscar nominations, the most for a comic book movie ever. Premiering at the 2019 Venice Film Festival last August, Joker quickly emerged as the year’s most polarizing awards contender. Critics and viewers were divided on its merits, with some believing it was a work of art that transcended its genre, while others felt it was a dangerous film that could incite real-world violence. All of the controversy surrounding Joker did not deter audiences from flocking to the theater to see it, as the gritty origin story became the first R-rated film to earn $1 billion worldwide.

Joker was a notable snub on the National Board of Review’s top 10 list, but solidified its place in the Oscar race by racking up numerous accolades throughout the season. Among the many honors Joker’s received include a mention on the American Film Institute’s own top 10 list, multiple Golden Globe nominations, and 11 BAFTA nods. And now, it’s made history at the Oscars with the number of nominations it earned.

Today, Joker led the pack by scoring a whopping 11 Oscar nominations, the most of any comic book film. This includes the trifecta of Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. See a full list of nominations in the space below:

  • Best Picture Best Director (Todd Phillips) Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix) Best Adapted Screenplay Best Cinematography Best Costume Design Best Makeup & Hairstyling Best Original Score Best Film Editing Best Sound Mixing Best Sound Editing

This is the second year in a row a comic book adaptation is up for Best Picture (after Black Panther in 2019), indicating that perhaps the Academy and their new membership is more receptive to the genre than they were in years past. That being said, there’s still a long way to go to prove that. In all likelihood, one of the reasons why Joker had so much traction on the awards circuit is because it’s an antithesis of the typical “comic book movie.” It’s a Martin Scorsese-inspired character drama, featuring a disturbing portrait of insanity at its center. Joker has more in common with Taxi Driver than The Avengers, making it an appealing option for voters. Case in point: Avengers: Endgame was only nominated in Best Visual Effects, and the trio of Shazam, Captain Marvel, and Spider-Man: Far From Home were snubbed entirely (despite their positive reviews). Genre bias is still an issue within the Academy, even with these minor strides.

Joker won two Golden Globes last week, for Best Original Score and Best Actor - Drama. Those categories look to be its best chances at Oscar wins, especially with Phoenix currently the betting favorite in Best Actor. As for Picture, Joker and its fans will probably have to be content with the nomination. Right now, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917 are the frontrunners there (by virtue of their big wins at the Golden Globes), so Joker has some ground to make up. Additionally, the Oscars vote for Best Picture on a preferential ballot, a system that doesn’t favor a divisive film like Joker. Still, for a movie WB was very hesitant to make, this is quite an accomplishment for Joker.

More: Arthur’s Final Joke In Joker Explained

Source: The Academy

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