Joker: Folie à Deux Easter eggs: All the DC nods, cameos, and pop culture references

EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesDC MoviesJoker: Folie à DeuxJoker: Folie à Deux Easter eggs: All the DC nods, cameos, and pop culture referencesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. EntertainmentMoviesAction MoviesDC MoviesJoker: Folie à DeuxJoker: Folie à Deux Easter eggs: All the DC nods, cameos, and pop culture referencesWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Warner Bros.) Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Joker: Folie à Deux. Put on a happy face, Joker: Folie à Deux is finally out in theaters. The long-awaited sequel starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga as Joker and Harley Quinn is finally here, and boy does it pack a punch. Picking up after Arthur Fleck’s very public assassination of Murray Franklin,Joker 2finds him in Arkham State Hospital awaiting trial. There, he meets an enigmatic inmate called Lee who brings him out of his shell and encourages him to embrace the Joker moniker. The sequel ends up as something between a drama and a musical with break-out dance sequences and songs from its leads. Packed in here are loads of Hollywood references, as well as plenty of wider comic book and pop culture nods too. We’ve compiled a complete guide of these below, rounding up all of the Joker: Folie à Deux Easter eggs we could find. Check out the references below. While you’re at it, take a look at ourJoker: Folie à Deux ending explainedand our guide to if aJoker 3is on the cards too. Cartoons (Image credit: Warner Bros.) Classic Hollywood (Image credit: Getty Images) Several of the dance and singing sequences feel pulled straight out of Old Hollywood movies, and Joker: Folie à Deux has plenty of references throughout. In the short animation at the beginning, some classics are seen on posters including My Pal Joey, Sweet Charity, and a Charlie Chaplin film. Later on in the movie, Arthur, Lee and the Arkham inmates watch The Band Wagon in the prison screening room. Lee sings ‘That’s Entertainment!’ from the musical, as well in a pivotal scene on the Joker steps. Umbrellas (Image credit: Warner Bros.) One of the clearest moments of Arthur’s delusion comes when he’s walking through Arkham State Hospital to meet with his lawyer. From one shot face-on, it’s clear all of the umbrellas are black, but when he looks up, they’re multi-colored. This shot is a reference to the 1964 French musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox Umbrellas$8.99at Amazon$24.99at Best Buy$47.98at Walmart Umbrellas $8.99at Amazon$24.99at Best Buy$47.98at Walmart $8.99at Amazon $24.99at Best Buy $47.98at Walmart Wayne Towers (Image credit: Warner Bros) When Arthur is being driven to the Gotham Courthouse, the Wayne building can be seen on the Gotham skyline. Thomas Wayne appeared in the first Joker film with Arthur’s mother Penny Fleck working for him for many years as a housekeeper. For a while Arthur believed Thomas was his father, even approaching Wayne Manor and speaking to a young Bruce Wayne before he realized his mother was lying to him. Richard Nixon (Image credit: Getty Images) When he’s in court for the first time, Arthur does the classic Richard Nixon peace sign, holding up two hands to his supporters. It’s something the former president did when he resigned after Watergate. The title (Image credit: Warner Bros.) Folie à Deux translates to “madness of two” and is a psychiatric disorder about shared delusion. Throughout the movie, this is what Harley and Joker engage in, drifting into shared, fantastical musical sequences. Sophie Dumond (Image credit: Warner Bros. / Sky) Zazie Beetz returns for a cameo in the court scene of Joker: Folie à Deux, giving testimony on Arthur being her neighbor. During her questioning, she says that Arthur was having a “bad day” when she found him in her apartment. This is a quote from The Killing Joke comic, where the Joker says it just takes one bad day to turn into someone like him. Harley Quinn (Image credit: Warner Bros.) Joker’s version of infamous Batman villain Harley Quinn is pretty different from her comic book origins as she’s an inmate at Arkham State Hospital in this one. However, there are a few nods to her comic background as it’s revealed that she studied psychiatry at college. Usually, she appears as Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel who works at Arkham where she first meets Joker as a patient. Gene Ufland (Image credit: Warner Bros.) Arkham Bridge (Image credit: Warner Bros.) In Joker: Folie à Deux, there’s a clear bridge connecting Arkham Island to Gotham mainland. This is a staple of many Batman adaptations, including Arkham Origins. Gary Puddles (Image credit: Warner Bros.) Gotham City Yellow Pages (Image credit: Warner Bros.) In the courtroom, Gary is sitting on the Gotham City Yellow Pages. This seems like a nod to Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, which featuredthese as a prop too. Pogo’s (Image credit: Warner Bros.) This is the comedy club where Arthur performs in the first movie, and it appears again in one of his fantasy sequences with Harley. The name is lit up in the backdrop of their scene. Music (Image credit: Warner Bros.) Music is a huge part of the sequel, with Joker and Harley covering many classic songs. Among those they sing are ‘That’s Life’, ‘Get Happy’, ‘For Once in My Life’, and ‘What the World Needs Now Is Love’. Music$0.99at Amazon$9.99at GOG.COM INT$23.99at Best Buy Music $0.99at Amazon$9.99at GOG.COM INT$23.99at Best Buy $0.99at Amazon $9.99at GOG.COM INT $23.99at Best Buy A Bucket of Blood (Image credit: Warner Bros.) The film A Bucket of Blood is playing at the Roxie movie theater when Arthur is running through Gotham at the end. It’s a comedy horror about someone who wants to make human sculptures out of dead bodies. Arthur’s death (Image credit: Warner Bros.) The person who stabs him tells him that it’s “what you fucking deserve” echoing the words Arthur said to Murray when he killed him. Just before he shoots him, Arthur goes on a rant about how society treats people who are different before he shouts, “You get what you fucking deserve”. The cycle continues. Fittingly, the first song we hear in the movie from the class on Ward B is the hymn ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken?’ New Joker (Image credit: Warner Bros.) The inmate who stabs Arthur becomes a more classic Joker as we know him from the comics. While it’s blurred in the background, we see him carving his face up with the knife he used to stab Arthur before he lets out a deep laugh. For more on the movie, check out ourJoker: Folie à Deux reviewfor our verdict, or settle in for a marathon with our guide on watching theDC movies in order. Then dive into our explainer on theJoker 2 endingand whether there’s aJoker 2 post-credits scene. More about dc moviesThe 33 greatest post-credits scenesCreature Commandos gets a season 2 as James Gunn bestows us all with a monstrous holiday giftLatest"Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history": Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yetSee more latest► More about dc moviesThe 33 greatest post-credits scenesCreature Commandos gets a season 2 as James Gunn bestows us all with a monstrous holiday giftLatest"Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history": Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yetSee more latest► More about dc moviesThe 33 greatest post-credits scenesCreature Commandos gets a season 2 as James Gunn bestows us all with a monstrous holiday gift More about dc movies The 33 greatest post-credits scenesCreature Commandos gets a season 2 as James Gunn bestows us all with a monstrous holiday gift The 33 greatest post-credits scenes The 33 greatest post-credits scenes Creature Commandos gets a season 2 as James Gunn bestows us all with a monstrous holiday gift Creature Commandos gets a season 2 as James Gunn bestows us all with a monstrous holiday gift Latest"Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history": Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yetSee more latest► Latest “Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history”: Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yet “Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history”: Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yet “Issues encountered during the initial launch are a genuine part of the game’s history”: Wuthering Waves producer on the road to 2.0 and the open-world action RPG’s biggest update yet See more latest► Most PopularI’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatSilent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024"This is incredibly rare": How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far Most PopularI’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatSilent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024"This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far Most PopularI’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at thatSilent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024"This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hitI’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games?This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chancePatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s pastWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding"Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over ChristmasSpy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far Most Popular I’m fed up of pretending The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge isn’t a Christmas game, and a hauntingly good one at that Silent Hill 2 Remake’s reinvention of its most underrated character means so much more in 2024 “This is incredibly rare”: How Mouthwashing quietly became 2024’s breakout horror hit I’m no Grinch, but will someone please direct me to the good Christmas games? This canceled Netflix fantasy series was one of the best shows of 2024 – and deserves a second chance Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics” Team Asobi’s gigantic 2024 proves it’s time to free Astro Bot from PlayStation’s past Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was the favorite shooter of the year, and it also made me fall even harder for my fiancé 17 years on, Sam Barlow reflects on Silent Hill: Origins: “To pull it out of the bag with a seven-out-of-ten game was incredibly rewarding” Here’s our Black Ops 6 multiplayer playlist to keep you and your pals connected over Christmas Spy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”