10 Movies That Accidentally Set Up Sequels

Joker is an especially interesting example, because when the film was first announced it was touted as an entirely standalone, one-off project with no links to any other DC franchise nor any intent for a sequel.

Writer-director Todd Phillips maintained this line right up to the movie's release, stating that there were no plans for a Joker 2, and even calling all the rumours about a sequel "annoying."

But what difference a couple of weeks and a $1 billion box office gross makes, right?

Even though Joker ends with Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) escaping from Arkham State Hospital to continue his violent reign of anarchy, upon release it truly seemed like Phillips was telling the audience to make up the rest of Fleck's story - becoming a supervillain, fighting Batman - in their heads.

But after the film grossed $1.074 billion worldwide against a mere $70 million budget and received 11 Oscar nominations - including wins for Phoenix and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir - Phillips evidently changed his tune.

And so, Joker: Folie à Deux is currently in pre-production with an October 4, 2024 release planned, where Fleck will share the spotlight with Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) in - wait for it - a musical sequel.

When Phillips came up with the ending for Joker, he didn't have a sequel in mind, but once the film overperformed in every way that a movie can, he decided to rethink it - and probably thanked himself for baking in such an easy setup for Joker 2.