Joker: Every Easter Egg & Reference We Spotted
9. The Dark Knight
More than any other Batman movie, Joker tips its hat to Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight numerous times, both by parrotting some of its most familiar dialogue and by invoking similar visual motifs.
In terms of dialogue, Arthur's boss (Josh Pais) mentions that people think he's a freak, ala Heath Ledger's Joker telling Batman (Christian Bale), "To them you're just a freak...like me."
Elsewhere, before Arthur's climactic appearance on Franklin's show, he scrawls "Put on a happy face," on his mirror, akin to Ledger's, "Let's put a smile on that face."
Among the many porno theater billboards visible throughout the movie, one is called Ace in the Hole, which could be said to be referring to Ledger's Joker calling Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) his "ace in the hole."
And finally, one of Joker's funniest moments sees Arthur performing at a children's hospital in white doctor garb, which for Dark Knight fans will likely immediately conjure up the visual of Ledger's Joker kitted out as a nurse, as well as having his goons dress up as doctors in the film's climax.
Say what you will about The Dark Knight's Joker, but he never almost discharged his gun in the presence of a room full of sick and possibly-dying children. Yikes, Arthur.