It's hard to believe a DC Comics parody is even able to exist in the current superhero-dominated movie climate. But alas, The People's Joker is somewhat of a miracle. One of Mashable's top movies of 2024, the long-awaited, low-budget, supervillain narrative slash trans coming-of-age story is finally available to stream online.
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Vera Drew's The People's Joker at home.
In a DIY, campy version of Batman's Gotham City, Joker the Harlequin (Drew) hopes to make it in the comedy scene, which is corruptly ruled by a cartoony version of Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels of the United Clown Bureau (UCB). Opposed to the rigidly gendered UCB ways and grappling with her own gender identity, Joker forms a new anti-comedy troupe alongside a friend and ends up battling a devious caped crusader controlling the city. The story is laced with Batman references throughout, but ultimately uses the comic theme to relay Drew's own real-life story. It's both an autobiographically-inspired coming-of-age story and a superhero parody wrapped up into one "intriguing artifact of modern media," as Mashable's reviewer Siddhant Adlakha puts it.
"With her biting sense of humor and raw emotional revelations, Drew has constructed a supervillain tale that is as jarring as it is compelling, as peculiar as it is profound," Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko writes. Breaking the top 20 on our list of the best movies of 2024, The People's Joker has certainly made an impression on us. It's almost intentionally a cult film and not for everyone, but its 95 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes shows its originality is a force to be reckoned with.
For those seeking a superhero movie that's not just another cog in the MCU or DC machine, The People's Joker is definitely worth a watch. "There's a deep love of all things DC, but without the suffocating reverence that has brought on superhero fatigue," Puchko adds.
Check out our full review of The People's Joker.
The People's Joker made its digital retail debut on July 30, meaning it's available for purchase at video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV+ for as low as $12.99. The film is also available to rent at those same retailers for as low as $3.99. This is the most affordable way to watch the film aside from a free trial (more on that below). Just keep in mind that rentals give you 30 days to start watching, but just 48 hours to finish once you begin.
Here are some quick links to purchase the film on digital:
Prime Video — starting at $3.99 to rent, starting at $12.99 to buy
Apple TV+ — $4.99 to rent, $14.99 to buy
Google Play — starting at $3.99 to rent, starting at $12.99 to buy
Fandango at Home (Vudu) — starting at $3.99 to rent, starting at $12.99 to buy
YouTube — starting at $3.99 to rent, starting at $12.99 to buy
The sleeper hit of the summer finally made its streaming debut on Dec. 6 on Mubi. It's no surprise the low-budget indie isn't hitting the major streamers; Mubi, the streamer built for cinephiles, is actually the perfect home for The People's Joker. The Mubi library is brimming with the best of international cinema, showcasing an array of films from America and abroad, mainstream and independent, classics, new releases, award-winners, and Mubi's own originals — like recent hit The Substance. Subscriptions to Mubi start at $14.99 per month, but we've rounded up a couple of different ways to save money on the streamer below.
If you've never signed up for Mubi before, you can take advantage of a free trial for a week. As long as you remember to cancel after watching the movie, you could theoretically watch The People's Joker and more for free this way. The free trial is available on Mubi directly or through Prime Video as an add-on.
If you're looking to expand your movie education and want to stick around to enjoy more than just The People's Joker, you can save 33% by paying for an entire year of Mubi. An annual Mubi subscription costs $119.88 per year, which breaks down to just $9.99 per month instead of the usual $14.99 per month. You'll still get a seven-day free trial to kick off your subscription as well if you're a newbie.
Students really get the winning deal here. If you can prove your student status, you can sign up for Mubi for free for 30 days, then get a discounted subscription for just $9.99 per month. That's $5 cheaper per month than regular monthly subscriptions. Plus, with 30 free days, you'll have plenty of time to watch The People's Joker and lots of other films before even paying a cent.
