Predicting How 2019's Biggest Movies Will End

9. The Joker Dies - Joker

This might seem like a bold prediction, but remember that Todd Phillips' Joker movie is a standalone DC project with no rooting in any existing cinematic continuity.

Between this and star Joaquin Phoenix's noted ambivalence about committing to a franchise role, the pair have an enormous amount of freedom to go to some dark places with the character that might be otherwise off-limits.

And what would be more stirring than to give this version of the Joker, named Arthur Fleck, a grim, R-rated ending where he's either killed by others or commits suicide?

It'd be nothing if not a welcome change from the typical loop of him being captured and escaping, and would also prevent studios from hassling Phoenix about reprising the role.

It's quite possible a post-credits scene could hint at Phoenix's Joker maybe surviving his injuries, leaving the door open just a creak in case Phoenix in fact decides he'd like to reprise his role.

For all intents and purposes, though, he's dying here, leaving Jared Leto the floor to reprise his divisive DCEU Joker role afterwards.