Is Joker All A Hallucination?

Joker (Continuity) is a movie that pairs wild and fantastic scenes with a notoriously unreliable narrator. This causes viewers to question what is truly happening for most of the movie. Then, the ending goes even further and has caused many to wonder if the entire movie is a hallucination.

So, is this true? Is Joker a dream that Arthur had? Or is there more to the story? We’re exploring some of the theories in order to find out if an answer to this question really exists.

Hallucinations in Joker

Near the beginning of Joker, viewers have little reason to believe that anything is unusual. It is clear that Arthur has some problems but it doesn’t seem like these problems should impact the narrative.

Then, there is a dream sequence. In general, this scene isn’t unusual but it does show that fake scenes will be presented alongside real scenes. 

This becomes more of a factor later on, when we learn that Arthur has been routinely hallucinating. It is revealed that nearly all of Arthur’s interactions with his neighbor happened in his head and were not real.

This is the point where the viewer is directly told that they are unable to trust what they see. It says that we are seeing Arthur’s twisted view of reality, which doesn’t always line up with what is actually real. It also says that this departure from reality could have been happening in other places and could happen again. 

All of Joker is a Hallucination

The conclusion of Joker takes questions about what is real and what is a hallucination even further. In the finale, Arthur kills a talk show host and, in doing so, sparks a riot in the city. As he is taken in by police, the rioters break him out of the car and begin praising him as their hero. Then, in a sudden transition, the scene changes to Arkham Asylum, where Arthur is telling a psychiatrist everything that happened.

Elements of this finale have led many to question it. The outlandish nature of Arthur’s escape almost seems dreamlike. This makes the sharp transition into the bright lights of the asylum seem like waking from a dream and reentering reality. All of this, when combined with the knowledge that Arthur has had grandiose hallucinations in the past, has led to the theory that the entire movie was a hallucination.

This theory suggests that Arthur has been in the asylum the entire time. This would mean that the events of the entire reality were a delusion he dreamed up.

Portions of Joker are a Hallucination

While Arthur’s hallucinations make it hard to trust what is actually happening in the movie, it doesn’t necessarily mean the entire movie cannot be trusted. In fact, in having Arthur realize he has been hallucinating, the movie seems to state that his hallucinations are the exception to the rule, rather than the rule itself.

This leads to the theory that only pieces of the movie are a hallucination. The most straightforward reading of this is that the movie happened exactly as it was presented. This would mean that the dream sequence and his relationship with his neighbor were hallucinations but the rest of the movie is real.

A more elaborate interpretation of this theory suggests that the scenes which appear particularly outlandish or wild are also hallucinations. For example, many believe that Arthur’s rescue by the rioters was a dream or that the ease with which he was able to approach the richest man in Gotham seems too unbelievable to be true.

Ultimately, this theory is heavily dependent on the viewer’s interpretation. The viewer has to decide what they think is true and what they think is false. After all, the film’s director stated that “It’s up to you how you want to interpret it and experience it.” when speaking about fan theories regarding the film.

The Multiple Jokers Theory

Another possible answer as to what is real and what is fake in Joker relies on there being multiple Jokers. Though the movie, as it is presented, suggests that Arthur Fleck is the only Joker, it is possible that this isn’t true.

This theory is based in the fact that that the movie revolves around a Joker movement. Early on, the murders in the subway inspire a class struggle. Those at the bottom begin rebelling against the upper class by referring to themselves as “jokers” and “clowns” while also dressing in costumes.

This means that there are many people in the city who are feeling the same things that Arthur is feeling. It could be that many of the movie’s most dramatic moments were centered around these different people. One person killed the businessmen in the subway, another has been dealing with questions about Thomas Wayne, another killed a talk show host, and another was held up by rioters on top of a crashed car.

Then, a single “Joker” heard all of these stories. In hearing these stories and identifying with the struggle, he then starts to believe that everything he heard happened to him. This Joker was taken in during the riots and, in the final scenes of the movie, is seen being interviewed at Arkham.

This explains how the Joker’s story could be so outlandish. This series of crazy events didn’t happen to a single person, they happened to multiple people.

From a thematic standpoint, this theory supports some of the movie’s central premises. By consolidating the stories of all of the Jokers, it consolidates the class struggle. The entire story of Gotham City’s downtrodden is embodied by a single person.

This theory also has a bit of a comic book basis. The Three Jokers story centered around the idea that the comic book version of Joker isn’t a single character but is thee different characters who have interacted with Batman at various points in his career.

Which Joker Theory is Correct?

Joker (Continuity) is a movie that plays with reality and forces readers to question what is real and what is false. However, the movie never gives viewers a firm answer regarding these truths and falsehoods. Instead, it leaves almost everything up to interpretation.

So, which interpretation do you think is real? Is the movie a complete fabrication, a partial fabrication, a fragmented storyline grouped together by delusion, or something else entirely? Let us know in the comments or on social media.

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