What Is the Metacritic Rating for Joker

The exact Metacritic ratings for Joker (2019) are available on Metacritic’s dedicated pages for the film, though the specific numerical scores out of 100 were not confirmed in recent search results.

What we do know is that Todd Phillips’ Joker received mixed reviews from film critics on the platform, with particular praise directed at Joaquin Phoenix’s “riveting, fully realized, and Oscar-worthy” performance.

To see the current critic score and audience score, you’ll need to visit Metacritic’s Joker review pages directly, as these numbers fluctuate slightly as new reviews are added to the aggregation.

This article explores the Metacritic reception of Joker, what the mixed reviews tell us about the film’s critical standing, how audiences responded compared to critics, and why this particular comic book adaptation sparked such divergent opinions among reviewers.

Understanding these ratings requires context about what the film was attempting to do and why it proved divisive in the industry.

Table of Contents

• What Do Metacritic Scores Tell Us About Joker’s Critical Reception?
• The Context Behind Mixed Critical Reviews
• Joaquin Phoenix’s Performance and Critical Consensus
• How Joker’s Metacritic Reception Compares to Other Comic Book Films
• The Audience vs. Critic Split on Metacritic
• Why Finding Exact Scores Matters
• The Lasting Impact of Joker’s Mixed Reception
• Conclusion

What Do Metacritic Scores Tell Us About Joker’s Critical Reception?

metacritic aggregates reviews from professional critics and assigns a weighted score out of 100, where 60-100 is considered “universal acclaim,” 50-59 is “mixed or average reviews,” and below 50 is “generally unfavorable.” The fact that Joker generated mixed reviews on the platform means critics were divided on its merits—some praised it as a bold reinvention of comic book cinema, while others questioned its tone and approach.

This split reflects a genuine creative disagreement rather than a consensus that the film was either great or poor. The film’s Metacritic pages separate critic reviews from user reviews, which often tell different stories.

Critics may focus on artistic ambition and originality, while general audiences rate based on entertainment value and emotional impact. With Joker, this divide was particularly pronounced because the film was deliberately dark, slow-burn, and psychologically unsettling rather than action-packed or traditionally entertaining.

A critic might respect the film’s vision while a viewer might find it depressing or difficult to enjoy.

The Context Behind Mixed Critical Reviews

Joker arrived in 2019 at a moment when comic book adaptations had become dominant in Hollywood, yet filmmakers were increasingly expected to inject artistic credibility into source material derived from comic books.

Todd Phillips’ choice to make a gritty, character-driven origin story with minimal action sequences and heavy psychological themes was precisely the kind of pivot that provokes divided opinion. Some critics celebrated this as elevation of the genre; others felt it abandoned what audiences enjoy about comic book films in pursuit of prestige.

However, if you’re interpreting these mixed reviews, keep in mind that “mixed” on Metacritic doesn’t mean the film was poorly made or failed—it means serious reviewers had legitimate, substantive disagreements about its merits.

A 50-59 range can contain thoughtful praise from critics who appreciated the ambition alongside skepticism from those who felt the story didn’t earn its bleakness. This is markedly different from a film with truly poor reviews, which would reflect widespread consensus that the execution itself was flawed.

Joaquin Phoenix’s Performance and Critical Consensus

One element where critics showed near-universal agreement was Joaquin Phoenix’s lead performance. Described as “riveting, fully realized, and Oscar-worthy,” Phoenix’s portrayal of Arthur Fleck was frequently cited as the film’s strongest asset even by reviewers who had reservations about the overall project.

This distinction is important: a mixed Metacritic score for a film can coexist with strong individual praise for specific elements like acting, cinematography, or direction.

Phoenix’s commitment to the role was evident in both his physical and emotional transformation. He lost significant weight, studied laugh disorders, and immersed himself in the character’s psychological deterioration. Critics acknowledged this intensity regardless of whether they ultimately endorsed the film’s narrative choices.

This is a useful reminder when reading aggregated scores—sometimes mixed ratings hide areas of genuine critical agreement within specific performances or craft elements.

How Joker’s Metacritic Reception Compares to Other Comic Book Films

Placing Joker in context with other major comic book adaptations reveals how its mixed reception reflected its unique positioning. Most blockbuster superhero films land in either the high 70s-80s (well-received) or low 40s-50s (poorly received).

Joker’s middle ground reflected its status as a film that deliberately rejected superhero film conventions, making direct comparison to traditional comic book movies difficult.

Some films with higher Metacritic scores might have been more commercially successful but less critically ambitious; some with lower scores might have been more conventional but less divisive. The comparison also illustrates a practical tradeoff: films that take larger creative risks often generate wider opinion variation because they’re not playing it safe.

A formulaic blockbuster is more likely to receive consistent (if middling) reviews across the board. Joker’s mixed score was partially a result of its willingness to be genuinely different, which appeals strongly to some critics while alienating others who prefer more traditional storytelling.

The Audience vs. Critic Split on Metacritic

Metacritic displays both a critic metascore and a user score, and for Joker, these often differed meaningfully.

General audiences frequently rated the film higher than professional critics, or occasionally rated it lower depending on whether they appreciated its psychological darkness.

This split reveals something important: Joker found an audience that was willing to engage with its ambitions, even if the critical establishment was divided.

One warning when interpreting user scores on Metacritic: they can be influenced by review bombing (where groups of people artificially inflate or deflate scores for reasons unrelated to the film’s quality). Joker received this treatment from various groups with political readings of the film, which may have skewed user scores up or down.

When checking the ratings, pay attention to the distribution of scores rather than just the average—if user reviews range from 10/10 to 1/10 with little middle ground, that suggests ideological voting rather than genuine quality assessment.

Why Finding Exact Scores Matters

Knowing the precise Metacritic numbers matters if you’re trying to assess whether a film achieved critical success or if you’re comparing it to specific benchmarks. A score of 55 carries different weight than 60, even though both fall in the “mixed reviews” range.

For Joker specifically, the exact number would indicate whether critics were slightly more negative or slightly more favorable, which affects how we interpret the film’s place in critical discourse.

To find these exact scores, visit Metacritic.com directly and search for “Joker.” The platform displays the critic metascore prominently at the top of the page, along with a tally of how many critics reviewed it and whether the consensus skewed positive or negative.

You’ll also see the user score displayed separately, which often provides insight into the critic-audience divide that made Joker particularly notable.

The Lasting Impact of Joker’s Mixed Reception

Joker’s Metacritic mixed reviews didn’t prevent the film from becoming a massive cultural phenomenon and financial success. This outcome demonstrated that critical consensus, while valued by the industry, doesn’t determine a film’s impact or longevity.

The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide and sparked enormous cultural conversation, suggesting that audience engagement with divisive art can be more valuable than unanimous critical approval.

Looking forward, Joker’s Metacritic reception serves as a useful case study for future ambitious comic book adaptations: films willing to take artistic risks and abandon genre conventions may generate divided critical opinion, but this division doesn’t indicate failure.

Instead, it signals that the film accomplished what it set out to do—provoke serious conversation and demonstrate that superhero source material can be the foundation for genuinely different cinematic experiences.

Conclusion

Joker’s Metacritic ratings represent a classic example of critical division on a film that deliberately rejected conventional approaches. While the exact numerical scores require a visit to Metacritic’s pages, what we know is that critics were mixed on the overall film even as they nearly universally praised Joaquin Phoenix’s performance.

This split wasn’t a judgment of the film’s technical quality but rather a reflection of genuine disagreement about whether Todd Phillips’ dark, psychologically intense approach was a successful reinvention or a misguided departure from what comic book films should be.

If you’re reading Joker’s Metacritic rating, interpret it as a sign of artistic ambition rather than failure. Mixed critical reviews often indicate that a film took risks and provoked thought, which is precisely what happened with this film.

Check both the critic and user scores to see where the divide lies, and read a few actual reviews to understand the specific criticisms and praises that shaped the aggregated numbers.

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