Todd Phillips Explains the 'Joker' Bathroom Dance Scene | Presented by Vudu

Director Todd Phillips dove into the meaning behind the pivotal bathroom scene in “Joker” during the Variety Screening Series presented by Vudu. Played by Joaquin Phoenix, failed stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck slowly transforms into the murderous villain in Phillips’ movie, which picked up 11 Oscar nods, the most of any film this year.

[isheunopakutekwatekwa]

When you already know the story, but you click anyway.

[anthonycampos]

The bathroom scene was the equivalent of a butterfly coming out of its cocoon. This was the Joker emerging.

[thewatcher]

I think it's a great Joker origin story and a great message on empathy.

[AA-qbni]

Todd deserves ALL the recognition he's getting. This film was a masterpiece, so well directed and written. And of courseee Joaquin was perfect👏💚

[Kashif]

Its hard to believe the guy who made Hangover made this masterpiece. Hats off Tod.

[sayedelsherif]

the score of the bathroom dance scene is legendary.

[Chicago-edns]

If this wasn't a Joker story but simply a man slowly subcoming to his madness, it would still be a legendary movie. Joaquin Phoenix did that. I dont think anyone else could have.

[siddharthamukherjee]

BATHROOM DANCE is nothing without the sheer brilliance of Hildur Guðnadóttir. PERIOD.
Very rarely does a score work so seamlessly and organically with the visuals as it does in the film. And the bathroom dance scene is iconic. Its perfect integration of image and music will become a milestone in cinema history. ❤️

[themadtitan]

The build-up, Joaquin's dancing/performance, and Hildur's breathtaking score and Philips' directing (which unfournately isn't often talked about enough) brought one of the most beautiful and emotionally gripping scenes of 2019.

[marissasmith]

Came out last year and it's already a classic

[jacob_filmmaker]

1:02 Me: Why is Todd looking up?
1:10 Also Me: Oh...

[dd]

Joker and uncut gems were the two best American movies of 2019. Parasite is up there too.

[sercastamere]

My take was that it's Arthur's way of centreing/calming himself when he gets freaked out and stressed. Going to his "happy place"

[Gavin]

Oh no it's Todd Phillips the guy Film Twitter is telling me to Hate.

[ignaciocorto]

4:06 four minutes after, the scene is explained

[trijaka]

The Bathroom scene was definitely amazing. Now the new Joker have some Iconic dances, just like Pennywise.

[christianurena]

why the f*** was the interviewer sitting so high?

[daviddastoli]

The dance shows him not knowing how to feel about killing the two guys in the train, so he breaks out into dance. He’s shaky near the beginning of the dance unsure how to move but after he makes the hand gesture where he kinda makes an L, he accepts what he did and embraces it, you’ll see him become more confident in his movements and that symbolizes him officially losing control. At least that’s how I see it.

[kingleo]

He felt confident after standing up for himself that’s why he started dancing

[DJVARAO]

This scene is so iconic that one of the posters was made after it.