ComicConnoisseur

Most likely won't, as Deadpool didn't open there. The Joker seems even more controversial than Deadpool. A shame because if Joker opened in China we are easily looking at Joker doing 1 billion box office.

Yep, those two films and that one scene from Casino occurred to me as well as being far worse than anything in Joker.  Plus you could just keep picking films--any Saw movie, any Leatherface movie, etc, all far more gratuitously violent explorations of deviant behavior than Joker.

I didn’t consider it a masterpiece or trash. I think people calling it a masterpiece are just caught up in Phoenix’s amazing performance. He alone carries the movie. I didn’t find anything offensive but then again I don’t get offended easily. The violence was not over the top as I read in some reviews. I was expecting The Devils Rejects level violence when I went in the theater. None of the Jokers kills will stick with me like the aluminum bats near the end of Casino. Overall, I enjoyed the movie and hope they continue making quality stand alone one-shots.

I get it. It is not "entertaining" per se. There isn't much "action." I get it. It is a tense psychological movie. 

Not sure why you thought the movie was trash. Want to see how someone who has been krapped on since birth devolves into complete madness? This is it. Want to see how urban society gets close to unraveling... I was a kid during the nyc blackout and riots and looting and arson and we just sat there that night praying it didn't come to us, a mile or two away ... This is it. Want to see some corny joker from the 60s tv show? Not so much. This is a Scorsese movie from the 70s. It is taxi driver in clown makeup. And frankly, it wasn't dated. F-ing super rats. My childhood terror.

No way that movie is ever playing in china

It was an intense movie for sure. Not sure how this joker can become a criminal mastermind, but maybe Dr. Quinn can get him straightened out. Love how Thomas Wayne is An absolute POS.

And I kept on telling my son... That is the frigging NYC I grew up in. Yes, a gang of kids would steal a going out of business sign from a street clown just to lure him into an alley to kick the crapp out of him for fun.

‘Joker’s Smile Widens To $351M Overseas, $544M Global – International Box Office
will be taking R rated BO crown from Deadpool, stunning success

Correct! Incredible.

Someone was inspired.

Wow - what a departure from the Marvel movies.   The Oscar talk for Phoenix is wholly deserved.

had serious doubts, wrongly, how this would play internationally but if it holds up even remotely like US, $700MM+ WW is quite plausible.

Holy! And analysts were thinking it may break $40M in the second weekend?

5.6X production budget

@Jaydogrules
@Gatsby77
I think the studio is still trying to find an audience for this one. Hang tight. They'll have more information soon.

So its doing all of this, without pumped up China-cash? Its still not opening there?

Exactly. A perfect example is Dracula. There have been lots of movies about Dracula.

IGN makes some good points how it could go either way.
Joker: Did Arthur Fleck Kill His Neighbor?
For me, I think with the child in the house and the violence he experienced as a child leading to his situation, I'd like to think he left them alone. But I guess it is how you viewed his development in becoming villain known to comic book fans.

I remembered those panels as well when Ledger's Joker kept making up different stories about his scars -- the nature of the truth, and of memory, is suspect with the Joker.  I feel like this movie tries to emphasize the same point about how he makes meaning and interprets the world around him.

That dance scene in the stairs maybe one of my favorite scenes across all movies 

1. If you are expecting another "comic" movie, you will be disappointed. The film is a study of insanity. You will definitely get crazy, but I'm not sure if you'll be pleased with his "purpose". 
2. By far this is the best DC related film since the Dark Knight. The acting is spectacular. 

Saw it today. Brilliant performance by Phoenix.