10 Movies You Have To Watch TWICE To Understand

Last year’s Joker was, whichever way you slice it, a powerful and polarizing piece of cinema. Movie fans and critics were spellbound by Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the comic character (in a way they perhaps haven’t been since Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight), but the movie’s controversial presentation of matters of the mind drew much debate.

Joker is a psychological thriller through and through, and very frank about Arthur’s early life and many struggles. We’re never quite sure if we’re supposed to condemn him or sympathise with him, which is perhaps the point. In Joker’s complex world, there’s room for a bit of both at once, so the character and his actions are hard to process.

As with several other films on this list, Joker tackles a lot of complex issues, especially regarding mental health and the nature of what makes a villain. It’s very heavy-going and tough to watch in places. Perhaps after the emotional roller-coaster that is the first viewing, moviegoers can get a better handle on the plot (and that enigmatic ending in particular).