Quick Links

• 8MM (1999)

• Ladder 49 (2004)

• Parenthood (1989)

• Walk The Line (2005)

• Napoleon (2023)

• Brother Bear (2003)

• The Village (2004)

• Signs (2002)

• Gladiator (2000)

• Joker (2019)

Highlights

• Joaquin Phoenix's role in Joker led to an Oscar win, with the film grossing over $1 billion worldwide.
• Phoenix's ability to transform into characters like Johnny Cash and Napoleon led to major box office hits.
• From Gladiator to Signs, Phoenix consistently delivers compelling performances in critical and commercial successes.

Joaquin Phoenix always brings intensity, transformation, and a commitment to inhabiting complex and often unsettling characters to his films.

His decades-long career has traversed the worlds of independent cinema and massive blockbusters, earning him critical acclaim and audience adoration in equal measure.

Known for his discerning approach to selecting roles, Phoenix has delivered standout performances in a wide range of genres, from gritty dramas to psychological thrillers.

Rising to fame as a child actor in the 1980s, Phoenix has starred in at least 40 films, all of which have collectively grossed over $3.55 billion at the global box office.

Joaquin Phoenix has built an accomplished career in both film and music, leading to an estimated net worth of $50 million.

For his performance as the titular character in Joker, Phoenix won an Academy Award for "Best Actor."

Phoenix will reprise his role as the Joker in director Todd Phillips' sequel Joker: Folie à Deux; the film is set to premiere in October 2024.

These are the highest-grossing Joaquin Phoenix movies, ranked by box office receipts.

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10 8MM (1999)

Global Box Office, 8MM - $96,618,699

In 1999, director Joel Schumacher brought audiences into the dark and twisted world of 8MM, a gripping American crime thriller that stepped into the disturbing realm of snuff films.

The film stars Nicolas Cage as a private investigator tasked with uncovering the truth behind a mysterious and gruesome videotape, with Joaquin Phoenix, James Gandolfini, Peter Stormare, and Anthony Heald delivering powerful supporting performances.

8MM tackled challenging and sensitive subject matter, but that did not stop it from making a decent return at the box office.

In its opening weekend in North America, the film soared to the top of the box office charts, raking in $14 million.

8MM made $36.6 million domestically and $60 million internationally for a total of $96.6 million, more than double its $40 million production budget.

9 Ladder 49 (2004)

Global Box Office, Ladder 49 - $100,572,044

In 2004, director Jay Russell helmed Ladder 49, an American disaster thriller that centers on the harrowing experiences of Baltimore firefighter Jack Morrison, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix.

The film follows Morrison as he finds himself trapped inside a warehouse fire, reflecting on the events that led him to that perilous moment.

Alongside Phoenix, the cast features John Travolta in a pivotal role. Ladder 49 was not a runaway favorite with critics.

However, it struck an emotional chord with audiences, becoming a sleeper hit at the box office, earning a total of $100.6 million in global box office revenue.

Adjusted for inflation, this equates to approximately $154.5 million in today's dollars.

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8 Parenthood (1989)

Global Box Office, Parenthood - $126,297,830

Parenthood, a comedy-drama about the joys, chaos, and complexities of family life, was one of Phoenix's earliest films.

He was credited as Leaf Phoenix at the time, playing the role of Garry, a withdrawn teenager navigating his parents' separation.

Parenthood proved a hit with audiences, who related to its relatable and often hilarious portrayal of multi-generational family dynamics.

Parenthood debuted at the top of the box office charts on its opening weekend, earning $10 million in North America.

Over the course of its theatrical run, the film went on to gross $126.3 million worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, this figure equals approximately $264.8 million in today's dollars.

7 Walk The Line (2005)

Global Box Office, Walk The Line - $186,797,986

Joaquin Phoenix walked the line between legend and man in this acclaimed 2005 biopic, delivering a transformative performance as Johnny Cash, the Man in Black himself.

The film chronicles Cash's journey from his cotton-picking roots to musical stardom, capturing his struggles with addiction and his passionate romance with June Carter Cash, played by the equally phenomenal Reese Witherspoon.

Phoenix even went the extra mile, contributing vocals to the film's soundtrack, bringing Cash's iconic music to life for a new generation.

Walk The Line is one of the finest movies ever made about musicians, earning critical acclaim and commercial success upon its release. Walk The Line opened at the second spot, grossing $22.3 million on its debut weekend.

It went on to earn $119.5 million in North America and $67.3 million in other regions for a total of $186.4 million, well above its $28 million budget, making it a box office success.

It was the all-time highest-grossing music biopic until it was surpassed by Straight Outta Compton in 2015.

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6 Napoleon (2023)

Global Box Office, Napoleon - $221,033,011

In Ridley Scott's ambitious 2023 epic Napoleon, Joaquin Phoenix takes on the titular role, manifesting Napoleon Bonaparte with depth and intensity.

Bringing his signature intensity, Phoenix charts Napoleon's complex rise to power and explores his volatile relationship with Joséphine (played by Vanessa Kirby).

Napoleon received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the battle sequences and performances. However, it also faced criticism for historical inaccuracies, a common theme in Ridley Scott's works.

Napoleon grossed $61.5 million in the United States and Canada and $159.5 million in other territories for a total of $221 million worldwide.

Deadline Hollywood reported that Napoleon lost Apple around $16 million during its theatrical run, costs later recouped through home rentals.

5 Brother Bear (2003)

Global Box Office, Brother Bear - $250,397,798

For this Disney animated musical fantasy comedy-drama Brother Bear, Phoenix entered the sound booth for the first time in his career, voicing a bear named Kenai.

Brother Bear follows Kenai, a young Inuit hunter who gets a taste of his own medicine when the Spirits transform him into the very creature against whom he seeks revenge.

Through his hilarious and heartwarming journey alongside a mischievous cub named Koda, Kenai learns valuable lessons about respect for nature and the importance of brotherhood.

Critics were divisive in their reviews of the film; it would go on to earn a nomination for "Best Animated Feature" at the 76th Academy Awards.

Brother Bear grossed $85.3 million in the United States and Canada and $165.1 million in international territories, bringing its worldwide total to $250.4 million.

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4 The Village (2004)

Global Box Office, The Village - $256,697,520

Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the 2004 thriller The Village transports audiences to a secluded commune in rural Pennsylvania.

Joaquin Phoenix portrays Lucius Hunt, a villager caught in a web of mystery and deception.

The community lives in fear of the mysterious creatures lurking in the surrounding woods, leading to strict rules forbidding anyone from venturing outside.

The film's infamous twist ending sparked divided reactions among critics; however, this did not hinder its success at the box office. The Village opened strong, grossing $50.7 million during its opening weekend in the United States.

Over its theatrical run, The Village went on to earn $114 million domestically and an additional $142 million in international markets, bringing its total global box office revenue to $256 million.

3 Signs (2002)

Global Box Office, Signs - $408,247,917

Joaquin Phoenix teamed up with M. Night Shyamalan again in this 2002 sci-fi thriller, playing Merrill Hess, a former minor league baseball star turned quiet introvert.

When mysterious crop circles appear on the farm of his brother Graham (Mel Gibson), an atmosphere of creeping dread descends on the family.

Phoenix masterfully captures Merrill's inner turmoil and unwavering loyalty as they try to piece together the chilling mystery. Signs blends intimate family drama with otherworldly suspense, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

The film grossed $60 million domestically in its opening weekend, setting the stage for its continued success.

Over its theatrical run, Signs earned $228 million in North America and $180 million from international markets, resulting in a total global box office gross of $408 million.

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2 Gladiator (2000)

Global Box Office, Gladiator - $465,387,186

Ridley Scott's historical epic Gladiator remains a cornerstone of the genre.

Phoenix takes on the role of Commodus, a power-hungry Roman emperor who throws the life of his former friend, Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), into chaos.

Stripped of his title and forced into gladiatorial combat, Maximus seeks vengeance against the arrogant and entitled Commodus.

Phoenix delivered a riveting performance that embodied entitlement and cruelty, making him a villain audiences loved to hate. Critics lauded the film's visuals, score, and powerful performances.

Gladiator grossed $34.8 million during its opening weekend, securing the top spot at the box office.

In North America, the film accumulated a total gross of $187.7 million; internationally, it earned $278 million, giving the film a cumulative gross of $460.6 million worldwide.

Adjusted for inflation, that amount rises to $709.5 million.

1 Joker (2019)

Global Box Office, Joker - $1,078,958,629

Todd Phillips's psychological thriller Joker stands as Phoenix's most remarkable film, both critically and commercially.

Joaquin Phoenix delivered an Oscar-winning performance as Arthur Fleck, a struggling comedian whose descent into madness becomes a disturbing reflection of societal ills.

Fueled by a lifetime of abuse and social isolation, Arthur transforms into the iconic DC villain, The Joker. Joker explores the dark recesses of human psychology, sparking conversations and dividing critics.

Phoenix's transformative performance, complete with an unnerving laugh and unsettling physicality, earned him a much-deserved Academy Award.

Joker exceeded all expectations, grossing $335.5 million domestically and $743.5 million in international markets, totaling $1.079 billion worldwide.

It became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, as well as the first R-rated film to surpass the billion-dollar mark at the box office.

Deadline Hollywood estimated that Joker secured a net profit of $437 million, accounting for all expenses and revenues, making it the highest-grossing Joaquin Phoenix movie to date.

A sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, is set to be released in October 2024.