The filming of the movie took place primarily in New York, where work was in full swing to recreate the fictional city of Gotham, but some scenes were shot in Los Angeles. In addition to colorful panoramas, many famous Big Apple locations appeared in the frame: for example, the New York Supreme Court building, where mass scenes of Arthur Fleck's trial were filmed. The filmmakers again used the "Joker Stairs" in the Bronx, which became one of the key locations of the film.
To recreate the Arkham psychiatric hospital, an abandoned hospital in Belleville, New Jersey, known for its gloomy atmosphere, was chosen.

Filming Locations:

Courthouse

In the Movie

The scene where Arthur Fleck arrives at the courthouse. Arthur will be tried for his crimes, including the murder of a TV host live on air and mass riots. He faces the death penalty. Before the trial begins, a crowd gathers outside the courthouse. They demand the release of the Joker, seeing him as a symbol of resistance to the system, for them he embodies protest against arbitrariness. However, there are also those who condemn the Joker and his actions. The tension between supporters and opponents grows with each passing minute.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the New York Supreme Court building. It stands out for its monumental character, both outside and inside. The facade is decorated with a colonnade of ten Corinthian columns, as well as an engraved quote attributed to George Washington: "The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government." Three statues are installed on the roof, symbolizing Law, Truth, and Justice. The filmmakers chose this building for its architectural expressiveness: its monumentality emphasizes the importance of the Joker's trial. In addition, the choice of this building is related to its real function, which adds an extra level of realism and authenticity to the events taking place on screen.

Arkham Psychiatric Hospital

In the Movie

The scene where Arthur Fleck returns to the psychiatric hospital and is subjected to violence. During his court appearance, which was broadcast on television, Arthur insulted the Arkham guards, which angered them and provoked revenge. When Arthur returns to the hospital, the guards grab him, drag him to a dark place, and rape him. This scene highlights the inhumanity of the system and how it treats people with mental illness, once again demonstrating the cruelty of the power structures Arthur was trying to fight.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the abandoned Soho Hospital in Belleville, New Jersey. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Essex County Isolation Hospital was located here, where infectious diseases were treated, and later it was repurposed into the Overbrook psychiatric hospital. Over time, due to new approaches to treating mental illness, the need for the hospital disappeared: from keeping large groups of patients in large hospitals, they switched to outpatient care, the emergence of new drugs and treatment methods allowed many patients to control symptoms outside the hospital walls. As a result, in 2011, all Overbrook departments were closed, and since then the hospital complex has been abandoned. The abandoned appearance and historical context made Soho Hospital an ideal place to create the atmosphere of Arkham Asylum: a gloomy building with a history associated with psychological illnesses and suffering. The Art Deco architecture gives the building a special visual charm, and its condition adds a sense of hopelessness to the scenes.

Joker Stairs

In the Movie

The scene where Arthur Fleck returns home, hoping to meet Harley there, and sees her on the stairs. After the explosion in the courtroom, Arthur Fleck manages to escape with the help of two fanatics, but soon he runs away from them as well, because he sees that they are consumed by the mania of violence. He strives to return home and reunite with Harley. He sees her on the stairs and hurries to her, but upon climbing up, he realizes that it is all over between them. Harley Quinn becomes disillusioned with Arthur after his rejection of the Joker persona: now in her eyes he looks pathetic and weak. She leaves him, abandoning him alone, which indicates that she was attracted to the madness and chaos that the Joker embodied, not Arthur himself.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on the stairs on West 167th Street, which received the unofficial name "Joker Stairs." This is a stairway connecting Shakespeare Avenue and Anderson Avenue on West 167th Street in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx. The place gained fame after the release of the film "Joker" in 2019 and became a popular tourist destination. Many visitors try to recreate the dance scene from the film, sometimes even dressing up in Joker costumes. The stairs also inspired internet memes and appeared on the promotional poster for the film. The stairs consist of 132 steps, so recreating the Joker's dance on them is no easy task.