Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) stands as the first R-rated movie within the DCEU, but it is not the first mature movie based on a popular character from DC comics. That distinction belongs to Joker, which came out in October, 2019. The two films are vastly different in tone and ambition, but deserve recognition for trying to break the mold.
One is a serious character study, while the other is a no holds barred black comedy where life is cheap and laughs are abundant. They also have their respective pros and cons, many of which will be laid out below as we detail five ways Birds of Prey is better than Joker, and five ways it is worse. At the end of the day, they are both great viewing experiences and the world is a better place for both of their existences.
Better: Entertaining
If one is looking for a fun time, Birds of Prey is a better bet than Joker. It has swifter pacing and is more jolly. One could argue on Joker’s behalf saying the movie is not meant to entertain because it is a dark, gritty film about a disturbed character pushed by society into committing atrocious acts.
Adversely, just as many could say the movies that inspired it like Taxi Driver and King of Comedy are wildly entertaining while following similarly anomalous characters.
Worse: Box Office
Birds of Prey is not an outright flop, but it is not doing what the studio would like, either. off an eighty-million dollar budget, its domestic gross is so far less than fifty million dollars, with an opening of about thirty-three million.
Worldwide numbers have picked up some of the slack, but it is nothing compared to Joker’s monstrous run in theaters where it became the first R-rated movie to rack up over a billion bucks.
Better: Action
Chad Stahelski came in for reshoots as a second unit director to spice up some of the action scenes. The director of the John Wick series is known for his visceral fight sequences and choreography, and his reputation proceeds him in Birds of Prey.
Compare this to Joker, where nothing exciting happens until the end where all the tension finally explodes. Granted, it is not an action movie and was never advertised as one, so one cannot be too hard on Todd Phillips’ film for not including any set pieces.
Worse: Look Of Gotham
Joaquin Phoenix’s character lives in a Gotham city resembling a late ’70s New York. The movie was filmed in the five boroughs and prominently features several landmarks from the city in addition to making frequent use of the metropolis’s distinct subways. New York is a favorite shooting location for its picturesque nature.
Birds of Prey was filmed in Los Angeles, making for a different looking Gotham. Los Angeles is fine and all, but nothing beats out the legendary east coast city where dreams are made.
Better: Supporting Roles
Joker is Joaquin Phoenix’s show all the way. Even though prominent performers like Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz round out the cast, they are all in service of the central character. Birds of Prey stars Harley Quinn, but everybody else has their own unique story audiences see before they all come together.
Not a single member of the main crew feels left out, and the main villain gets plenty of time to shine in the spotlight as well. As far as balancing a cast goes, Birds of Prey gets the win.
Worse: Doesn’t Have As Significant A Message
Birds of Prey is a more positive movie-going experience, despite its bizarre dark comedic tone. It doesn’t lack substance, but those looking for a deeper meaning in a film may walk away dissatisfied.
Joker, on the other hand, is meant to deeply analyze the psyche of a social outcast and explore why someone would do something so heinous like Arthur Fleck does by the end of the movie. It is also set behind the backdrop of rising class tensions between Gotham’s workers and the rich. Like Travis Bickle, one feels like the understand the motivations by the end, even if they still heavily disagree and are disgusted by his actions throughout.
Better: No Bad Plot Twists
Harley Quinn’s story is a straightforward romp. She breaks up with Joker and spends the next one hundred minutes trying to remove the target on her back.
This turns out as a plus when compared to Joker, which features one plot twist many found silly. This is of course referring to his dates with Sophie Dumond turning out to be fantasies in his head. Some saw it coming from a mile away, and others felt it a lazy way to spice up the plot.
Worse: Doesn’t Stand Alone As Well
Arthur Fleck’s story is most likely a one and done deal. Nothing came before it, and as of now no plans exist to continue the saga, though a billion dollars at the box office will be hard to leave alone.
Birds of Prey is a part of the DCEU and Margot Robbie’s second outing as Harley Quinn. Because of this, some may feel a little lost if they go in blind. To the movie’s credit, it is pretty easy to follow if one is unaware of Suicide Squad, though one can appreciate Joker even if they never heard of the comic book character.
Better: Humor
Birds of Prey is not a lighthearted movie, but moments of levity are spread throughout. Even then, the comedy is often morbid. Joker, on the other hand, drowns the audience in oppressive tone right from the start.
Some appreciate this, while others would have liked some contrast. If every moment is a downer, then nothing stands out. The newer film still has some brutal and unrelenting scenes, which feel heavier when one was just laughing at an inane joke five minutes ago.
Worse: No Joaquin Phoenix
Even those who bemoan Joker have to praise Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as the titular character. Watching his descent is seeing a master working at his craft to full capacity.
Seeing the dedication he put into the role is inspiring, making it unsurprising when he took home the Oscar. Birds of Prey is filled with great roles as well, but it is unlikely any of them will stand out the way Phoenix’s did.
Next: 5 Characters That Need To Be In A Birds Of Prey Sequel (And 5 That Don’t Need To Be)
