Contrary to popular belief, Joker is not just for people who read comic books or watch the DCEU. If you have no prior knowledge about any of the Batman comics, you can still fully understand and enjoy Joker.

In 2008, Heath Ledger gave comic book fans an unforgettable performance of the one-of-a kind villain, which will forever be a staple for many Joker fans, in The Dark Knight Rises. To lesser acclaim in 2016, viewers got a new-age, emo sociopath referred to as The Joker, played by Jared Leto in Suicide Squad. And now, we have Joaquin Phoenix, who portrays Arthur Fleck and his transformation into Batman’s arch-enemy.

Joker, directed by Todd Phillips, premiered in theaters on October 3rd, bringing much controversy along with it. Like most popular sequel movies, Joker has a vast range of viewers who hold high expectations for the film. Many of these viewers are comic book fans who have been watching comics transfer to the screen since 1966 with the original Batman movie. These Batman fanatics will most likely favor their era’s version of the Joker over the new Joker of 2019 due to the generational gap. But why judge Joker purely on the fact that it is contemporary and not on the virtues of the actual film.

Unlike Batman, viewers have no idea why the Joker is the way he is – we just know that he is. And because of this, writers Todd Phillips and Scott Silver took on the quest of creating a villain in the latest Warner Bros. comic book installment. The viewers get an inside look at the person behind the Joker, and why he took on the persona of the Joker.

Joker is not your stereotypical comic book movie, as it deals with pressing topics like mental health and societal pressures. Especially in a society sensitive to mental themes, these topics are more important than ever. The main reason Arthur Fleck embraces the persona of the Joker is that he feels alienated. He believes no one completely understands him, which is something most viewers can sympathize with or at least empathize with. This is why you do not need any prior knowledge about Batman Comics to understand and enjoy Joker — everything you need to know is given to you.

Many viewers may be asking, “Do we need another Joker movie?”  The answer is yes.  As long as society keeps changing, there will always be new interpretations of movies we have seen before. The notion of cinema changing along with society is inevitable, and Joker is a perfect example of the film industry taking a classic movie and adapting it to match current societal issues.