Editing Joaquin Phoenix (section)

===2011–2019: Established career and continued acclaim===
In 2011, it was announced that Phoenix would star in [[Paul Thomas Anderson]]'s drama film ''[[The Master (2012 film)|The Master]]'', which traces the relationship between Freddie Quell, a [[World War II]] navy veteran struggling to adjust to a post-war society and Lancaster Dodd ([[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]), a leader of a religious movement known as "The Cause". To create the character, Phoenix lost a significant amount of weight and went to a dentist to help force his jaw shut on one side; a trait his own father had.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/01/21/264524233/phoenix-to-self-why-am-i-talking-about-this-joaquin-shut-up|title=Phoenix To Self: 'Why Am I Talking About This? ... Joaquin, Shut Up'|work=[[NPR]]|date=January 21, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516115528/https://www.npr.org/2014/01/21/264524233/phoenix-to-self-why-am-i-talking-about-this-joaquin-shut-up|url-status=live}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[69th Venice International Film Festival]] where he won the [[Volpi Cup for Best Actor]].<ref>{{cite journal| last=Waxman| first=Sharon| url=https://www.thewrap.com/awards/article/pieta-master-win-top-venice-prizes-55486| title='Pieta,' 'The Master' Win Top Venice Prizes&nbsp;– Jury Shifts Votes| journal=[[TheWrap]]| date=September 8, 2012| access-date=September 9, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910232809/http://www.thewrap.com/awards/article/pieta-master-win-top-venice-prizes-55486| archive-date=September 10, 2012| url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Art film|arthouse film]] only grossed {{USD|28 million|long=no}}<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=themaster.htm| title=The Master| website=Box Office Mojo| access-date=March 22, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326091101/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=themaster.htm| archive-date=March 26, 2015| url-status=live}}</ref> but was received with critical acclaim, with Phoenix's performance receiving high praise.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_master_2011 |title=The Master |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=September 14, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328011854/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_master_2011/ |archive-date=March 28, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Peter Travers called it the performance of his career writing "Acting doesn't get better or go deeper[...]Phoenix wears the role like a second skin. You can't take your eyes off him." His performance as Freddie was described as "career-defining" by [[Todd McCarthy]] of ''The Hollywood Reporter'', who was impressed that Anderson and Phoenix collaboratively were able to build such complex work around such a derelict figure.<ref name="McCarthy">{{cite web |author=McCarthy, Todd |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/master-philip-seymour-hoffman-joaquin-phoenix-367129 |title='The Master': Venice Review |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 1, 2012 |access-date=September 20, 2012 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025162012/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/master-philip-seymour-hoffman-joaquin-phoenix-367129 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-master-20120910| title=The Master| magazine=Rolling Stone| last=Travers| first=Peter| date=September 10, 2012| access-date=May 2, 2015| archive-date=October 16, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016175819/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-master-20120910| url-status=dead}}</ref> Fellow actor [[Daniel Day-Lewis]] publicly lauded the "remarkable" Phoenix while accepting the Screen Actors Guild Award, apologizing for the fact that Phoenix hadn't been nominated for the same award.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-xpm-2013-jan-28-la-et-mn-sag-awards-2013-jennifer-lawrence-joaquin-phoenix-tommy-lee-jones-tina-fey-20130127-story.html| title=SAG Awards 2013: The big moments, from Fey quips to Lawrence rippage| last=Zeitchik| first=Steven| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=January 28, 2013| access-date=March 22, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402192656/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/28/entertainment/la-et-mn-sag-awards-2013-jennifer-lawrence-joaquin-phoenix-tommy-lee-jones-tina-fey-20130127| archive-date=April 2, 2015| url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a454175/daniel-day-lewis-credits-dicaprio-neeson-with-lincoln-encouragement/|title=Daniel Day-Lewis credits DiCaprio, Neeson with 'Lincoln' encouragement|work=[[Digital Spy]]|first=Kate|last=Goodacre|date=January 28, 2013|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516115529/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a454175/daniel-day-lewis-credits-dicaprio-neeson-with-lincoln-encouragement/|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite this, Phoenix received his third Academy, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for his leading role.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/01/10/oscar-nominations2013/|title=Oscar 2013: The nominations revealed...| magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| date=January 10, 2013| access-date=January 10, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112012704/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/01/10/oscar-nominations2013/| archive-date=January 12, 2013| url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jan/09/baftas-2013-nominations-list| title=Baftas 2013: full list of nominations| newspaper=The Guardian| location=London| date=January 9, 2013| access-date=March 22, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304220811/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jan/09/baftas-2013-nominations-list| archive-date=March 4, 2016| url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/dec/13/golden-globes-2013-nominations-list| title=Golden Globes 2013: full list of nominations| newspaper=The Guardian| location=London| date=December 13, 2012| access-date=March 22, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425065837/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/dec/13/golden-globes-2013-nominations-list| archive-date=April 25, 2019| url-status=live}}</ref>

Phoenix and Gray's fourth collaboration came with ''[[The Immigrant (2013 film)|The Immigrant]]'' (2013), a drama film where he played the supporting role of Bruno Weiss, a [[pimp]] who prostitutes [[Polish people|Polish]] immigrant Ewa ([[Marion Cotillard]]) and ends up falling for her. ''The Immigrant'' and his performance premiered to highly positive reviews at the [[2013 Cannes Film Festival|66th Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-immigrant|title=The Immigrant Reviews|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=May 15, 2014|archive-date=May 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516173400/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-immigrant|url-status=live}}</ref> In his review, [[Ignatiy Vishnevetsky]] of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' thought the film featured one of his best performances and commended Phoenix's and Gray's developing work, writing of that "the two are so perfectly in sync, that it's hard to tell where Phoenix's performance ends and Gray's visual style[...]—begins", further lauding their development of Bruno into "a fully fledged tragic character, even though he is neither the protagonist of ''The Immigrant'' nor the main driving force behind its plot".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/review/james-grays-immigrant-american-masterpiece-204576|title=James Gray's The Immigrant is an American masterpiece|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|first=Ignatiy|last=Vishnevetsky|date=May 15, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815184359/http://www.avclub.com/review/james-grays-immigrant-american-masterpiece-204576|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Her Premiere NYFF 2013.jpg|thumb|left|Phoenix (far left) with director [[Spike Jonze]] and the cast of ''[[Her (2013 film)|Her]]'' at the [[2013 New York Film Festival|51st New York Film Festival]] in 2013]]

His next feature film of that year was the [[Spike Jonze]]-directed romantic science-fiction drama ''[[Her (2013 film)|Her]]''. He played Theodore Twombly, a man who develops a relationship with Samantha ([[Scarlett Johansson|Scarlett Ingrid Johansson]]), an intelligent computer operating system personified through a female voice. Released to critical acclaim, critic A.A. Dowd of ''The A.V. Club'' labeled Phoenix as "one of the most emotionally honest actors in Hollywood", impressed at how he effortlessly unleashes waves of vulnerability in the film's many tight, invasive close-up images, calling it a "tremendous performance, one that rescues this character—a mess of insecurities, regrets, and desires—from the walking pity party he could have been".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/joaquin-phoenix-courts-his-computer-in-the-beguiling-he-1798179030|title=Joaquin Phoenix courts his computer in the beguiling Her|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|first=A.A.|last=Dowd|date=December 18, 2013|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321195343/https://film.avclub.com/joaquin-phoenix-courts-his-computer-in-the-beguiling-he-1798179030|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Her'' earned more than double of its production budget,<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |title=Her (2013) |url= https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=her2013.htm |work= [[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher= [[Internet Movie Database]] |access-date= June 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140530232053/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=her2013.htm |archive-date= May 30, 2014 |url-status= live }}</ref> and Phoenix received his fourth nomination at the Golden Globes.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/joaquin-phoenix| title=Joaquin Phoenix Biography| website=The Golden Globes| access-date=May 3, 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226233313/http://www.goldenglobes.com/joaquin-phoenix| archive-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> Several journalists expressed disappointment over his failure to receive an Oscar nomination for it,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/oscar-snubs-nominations-2014|title=Oscar Snubs We May Never Get Over|work=[[GQ]]|date=January 16, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516141415/https://www.gq.com/story/oscar-snubs-nominations-2014|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/oscar-snubs-nominations-2014|title=Oscar Snubs We May Never Get Over|work=[[GQ]]|date=January 16, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516141415/https://www.gq.com/story/oscar-snubs-nominations-2014|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/2014-oscar-snubs-tom-hanks-671492/8-joaquin-phoenix-her/|title=Joaquin Phoenix, 'Her'|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=January 16, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516141414/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/2014-oscar-snubs-tom-hanks-671492/8-joaquin-phoenix-her/|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Peter Knegt]] of ''IndieWire'' naming it of one of ten worst Oscar acting [[snub]]s of the last decade in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/01/the-10-worst-oscar-acting-snubs-of-the-last-10-years-66251/|title=The 10 Worst Oscar Acting Snubs of the Last 10 Years|work=[[IndieWire]]|first=Peter|last=Knegt|date=January 15, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516141414/https://www.indiewire.com/2015/01/the-10-worst-oscar-acting-snubs-of-the-last-10-years-66251/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014, Phoenix took on the role of Larry "Doc" Sportello, a [[private investigator]] and [[hippie]]/[[Drug addict|dope head]] trying to help his ex-girlfriend solve a crime in the crime comedy-drama ''[[Inherent Vice (film)|Inherent Vice]]'', based on [[Thomas Pynchon]]'s detective [[Inherent Vice|novel of the same name]]. Reviews toward the film were positive; critics praised Phoenix's performance and Paul Thomas Anderson's direction, while some were frustrated by its complicated plot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inherent_vice/ |title=Inherent Vice (2015) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=January 9, 2015 |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=June 7, 2020 |archive-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115080707/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inherent_vice/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/inherent-vice |title=Inherent Vice Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=February 13, 2015 |archive-date=February 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217061339/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/inherent-vice |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Robbie Collin]] of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' termed Phoenix as Anderson's "perfect leading man" and his work as "the kind of quietly dazzling performance that rarely wins awards but will be adoringly dissected and quoted for decades".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/inherent-vice/review/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/inherent-vice/review/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Inherent Vice: 'stupendous'|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|first=Robbie|last=Collin|date=February 19, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Phoenix earned his fifth Golden Globe nomination for the film.<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners & Nominees 2015 |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2015?page=1 |publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association |access-date=June 21, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160826152602/http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2015?page=1 |archive-date = August 26, 2016 |url-status = live}}</ref>

After narrating the sequel to ''Earthlings'', the 2015 [[animal rights]]' documentary ''[[Unity (film)|Unity]]'',<ref name="McNary">{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/documentary-unity-set-for-aug-12-release-with-100-star-narrators-1201477200/| title=Documentary 'Unity' Set for Aug. 12 Release with 100 Star Narrators| last=McNary| first=Dave| date=April 22, 2015| newspaper=Variety| access-date=May 12, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901112039/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/documentary-unity-set-for-aug-12-release-with-100-star-narrators-1201477200/| archive-date=September 1, 2015| url-status=live}}</ref> Phoenix teamed with director [[Woody Allen]] and [[Emma Stone]] in the crime mystery film ''[[Irrational Man (film)|Irrational Man]]''. He played Abraham Lucas, a philosophy professor experiencing an [[existential crisis]]. The film was released to mixed reviews at the [[2015 Cannes Film Festival|68th Cannes Film Festival]]; ''The Hollywood Reporter'' felt that the film was too similar to Allen's previous films, but praised Phoenix's chemistry with Stone and Phoenix for playing the character "with a wonderful baggy, lived-in quality that makes us want to climb inside the character's whiskey-sozzled head".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/joaquin-phoenix-emma-stone-woody-795347/|title='Irrational Man': Cannes Review|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=David|last=Rooney|date=May 15, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516155257/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/joaquin-phoenix-emma-stone-woody-795347/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Joaquin Phoenix Cannes 2017.jpg|thumb|upright|Phoenix attending the premiere of ''[[You Were Never Really Here]]'' at the [[2017 Cannes Film Festival|70th Cannes Film Festival]] in 2017]]

The thriller ''[[You Were Never Really Here]]'', written and directed by [[Lynne Ramsay]] and based on the novella of the same name by [[Jonathan Ames]], ranks among the most acclaimed films of Phoenix's career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/you_were_never_really_here|title=You Were Never Really Here (2018)|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=April 6, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523144852/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/you_were_never_really_here/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film is about Joseph "Joe" Test (played by Phoenix), a traumatized former [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI agent]] and [[Gulf War]] veteran who tracks down missing girls for a living. To prepare for the film, Phoenix was advised by a former bodyguard who goes on international missions to rescue children suffering sexual exploitation and abuse by human traffickers; he gained a significant amount of weight and muscle for the part.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/05/joaquin-phoenix-lynne-ramsay-you-were-never-really-here-cannes|title=Here's How Much Joaquin Phoenix Trusted Lynne Ramsay|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|first=Julie|last=Miller|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224074849/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/05/joaquin-phoenix-lynne-ramsay-you-were-never-really-here-cannes|url-status=live}}</ref> Phoenix was Ramsay's first and only choice to play the veteran, with Ramsay calling him "my soulmate in making movies".<ref name="Esquire">{{cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/film/a16799753/joaquin-phoenix-interview/|title=Joaquin Phoenix: A Man Apart|work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|first=Sanjiv|last=Bhattacharya|date=February 12, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144422/https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/film/a16799753/joaquin-phoenix-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[2017 Cannes Film Festival|70th Cannes Film Festival]], where earned Phoenix the [[Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/you-were-never-really-here |title= You Were Never Really Here Reviews |publisher= [[CBS Interactive]] |work= [[Metacritic]] |access-date= December 29, 2018 |archive-date= August 18, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180818145315/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/you-were-never-really-here |url-status= live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/cannes-film-festival-2017-award-winners-palme-d-or-1202446856/ |title=2017 Cannes Film Festival Award Winners Announced |first=Peter |last=Debruge |date=May 28, 2017 |access-date=May 28, 2017 |work=Variety |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528204621/http://variety.com/2017/film/festivals/cannes-film-festival-2017-award-winners-palme-d-or-1202446856/ |archive-date=May 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40077490 |title=Cannes Film Festival: The Square wins Palme d'Or |date=May 28, 2017 |access-date=May 28, 2017 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528182002/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40077490 |archive-date=May 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Justin Chang]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described Phoenix's performance as "the most rivetingly contained" work of his career<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-you-were-never-really-here-review-20180405-story.html| title=Joaquin Phoenix descends into a hellish New York underworld in the haunting 'You Were Never Really Here'| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| first=Justin| last=Chang| date=April 5, 2018| access-date=April 7, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407095859/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-you-were-never-really-here-review-20180405-story.html| archive-date=April 7, 2018| url-status=live}}</ref> and Dominick Suzanne-Mayer of ''[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]'' noted that his evocative manners in the film, led to him giving career-high work and "the kind of haunting turn that only comes around a few times every decade or so".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2018/04/film-review-you-were-never-really-here-is-brutal-hypnotic-and-absolutely-must-see/|title=Film Review: You Were Never Really Here is Brutal, Hypnotic, and Absolutely Must-See|work=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]|first=Dominick|last=Suzanne-Mayer|date=April 7, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516165003/https://consequence.net/2018/04/film-review-you-were-never-really-here-is-brutal-hypnotic-and-absolutely-must-see/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Phoenix played [[Jesus]] alongside his future wife [[Rooney Mara]] in the biblical drama ''[[Mary Magdalene (2018 film)|Mary Magdalene]]'', written by [[Helen Edmundson]] and directed by [[Garth Davis]]. The film, and his performance, received mixed reviews; a reviewer for ''Entertainment Weekly'' thought that Phoenix lacked the quiet compassion and grace that was required for the role, while Nick Allen of Roger Ebert's website described his performance as "a human being who is visibly tormented by the power and wisdom that works through him", deeming it one of the best portrayals of Jesus ever.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movie-reviews/2019/04/12/mary-magdalene/|title=Rooney Mara gives the gospels a feminist spin in Mary Magdalene: EW review|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Chris|last=Nashawaty|date=April 12, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516175432/https://ew.com/movie-reviews/2019/04/12/mary-magdalene/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mary-magdalene-2019|title=Mary Magdalene|first=Nick|last=Allen|date=April 12, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516175432/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mary-magdalene-2019|url-status=live}}</ref> His next two features {{mdash}} the biopic ''[[Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot]]'' and the crime drama ''[[The Sisters Brothers (film)|The Sisters Brothers]]'' {{mdash}} were much better received. When it comes to ''He Won't Get Far on Foot'', Phoenix reunited with his ''To Die For'' director Gus Van Sant to portray [[quadriplegic]] cartoonist [[John Callahan (cartoonist)|Jonathan Michael Callahan]]. Barry Hertz of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' wrote that there's no better leading actor producing better work than Phoenix, stating "The actor—never a simple chameleon, but someone who disappears into a role entirely with a frightening conviction—continues to display new and tremendous range here" and David Hughes of ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' thought that in a more conventional film, Phoenix would be the favorite to win an Academy Award.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-review-joaquin-phoenix-rises-from-gus-van-sants-ambivalence-in-dont/|title=Review: Joaquin Phoenix rises from Gus Van Sant's ambivalence in Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|first=Barry|last=Hertz|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144423/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/reviews/article-review-joaquin-phoenix-rises-from-gus-van-sants-ambivalence-in-dont/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/worry-get-far-foot-review/|title=Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot Review|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|first=David|last=Hughes|date=October 22, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516175437/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/worry-get-far-foot-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The third film of 2018 was ''The Sisters Brothers'', directed by [[Jacques Audiard]], inspired from the [[The Sisters Brothers|Canadian novel of the same name]] by [[Patrick deWitt]]. The film starred [[John C. Reilly|Jonathan Christopher Reilly]] and Phoenix as the respective notorious assassin brothers Eli and Charlie Sisters and chronicles their chase after two men who have banded together to search for gold. Writing for Roger Ebert's website, Tomris Laffly commented on Phoenix's and Reilly's "tremendous chemistry" and Lindsey Behr of the ''[[Associated Press]]'' opined that the duo "excellently manage all the various tones in the film" they also shared credit with [[Jake Gyllenhaal]] and [[Riz Ahmed]] .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/3fbe977f7d61451fb1d5957221a5ab89|title=Review: Phoenix and Reilly excel as 'The Sisters Brothers'|work=[[Associated Press]]|first=Lindsey|last=Behr|date=September 26, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516183217/https://apnews.com/article/3fbe977f7d61451fb1d5957221a5ab89|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-sisters-brothers-2018|title=The Sisters Brothers|work=[[RogerEbert.com]]|first=Tomris|last=Laffly|date=September 21, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516182651/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-sisters-brothers-2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Also in 2018, he collaborated with Rooney Mara and [[Sia]] to narrate Chris Delforce's documentary [[Dominion (documentary)|''Dominion'']].<ref>{{cite journal| url=https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/exclusive-joaquin-pheonix-and-rooney-mara-join-all-star-team-behind-vegan-documentary-dominion| title=BREAKING: New Vegan Documentary 'Dominion' To Feature Joaquin Phoenix And Rooney Mara| journal=Plant Based News| first=Emily| last=Court| date=March 22, 2018| access-date=April 24, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331095656/https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/exclusive-joaquin-pheonix-and-rooney-mara-join-all-star-team-behind-vegan-documentary-dominion| archive-date=March 31, 2018| url-status=live}}</ref> Animal rights activists have called it one of the most powerful documentaries ever made.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.plantbasednews.org/culture/james-aspey-documentary-dominion-most-powerful-ever-created|title=Vegan Activist James Aspey Says 'Documentary Dominion Is One Of The Most Powerful Ever Created'|last=Maria|first=Chiorando|date=March 26, 2018|website=Plant Based News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808123356/https://www.plantbasednews.org/culture/james-aspey-documentary-dominion-most-powerful-ever-created|archive-date=August 8, 2019|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref> For his contribution to the documentary, Phoenix was granted the 2018 Award of Excellence for Narration by Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://hiida.com/july-2018-winners.html| title=July 2018 Winners| website=Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards| access-date=August 3, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213041526/https://hiida.com/july-2018-winners.html| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=usurped}}</ref>

[[File:Joaquin Phoenix red carpet at 76. Venice Film Festival.jpg|thumb|left|Phoenix signing autographs at the premiere of ''[[Joker (2019 film)|Joker]]'' at the [[2019 Venice International Film Festival]]]]
In 2019, Phoenix starred as the [[DC Comics]] [[Joker (character)|villain character]] in [[Todd Phillips]]'s psychological thriller ''[[Joker (2019 film)|Joker]]''; an alternative [[origin story]] for the character. Taken place in 1981, the film follows Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and stand-up comedian whose descent into insanity and nihilism inspires a violent counter-cultural revolution against the wealthy in a decaying [[Gotham City]]. Phoenix lost {{convert|52|lbs}} in preparation,<ref name="LAT: Stakes">{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-08-27/joker-todd-phillips-joaquin-phoenix |url-access=limited|title=In 'Joker' the stakes are life and death, and comic book movies may never be the same |last=Rottenberg |first=Josh |date=August 28, 2019 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828143837/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-08-27/joker-todd-phillips-joaquin-phoenix |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}<br />{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/joaquin-phoenix-sheds-weight-joker/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix Sheds Weight Ahead of Joker Movie Role |last=Stone |first=Sam |date=September 1, 2018 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918160703/https://www.cbr.com/joaquin-phoenix-sheds-weight-joker/ |archive-date=September 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and based his laugh on "videos of people suffering from [[Pseudobulbar affect|pathological laughter]]" they also shared credit with [[Italian Americans|Italian-American]] actor [[Robert De Niro]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/joaquin-phoenix-origin-joker-laugh/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix Reveals the Dark, Real World Origin of His Joker's Laugh |last=Stone |first=Sam |date=August 14, 2019 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=August 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814222213/https://www.cbr.com/joaquin-phoenix-origin-joker-laugh/ |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Released to critical acclaim at the [[76th Venice International Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite news| last1=Anderson| first1=Ariston| title=Venice: Todd Phillips' 'Joker' Wins Golden Lion, Roman Polanski Wins Silver Lion| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-awards-revealed-1237684| access-date=September 7, 2019| newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter| date=September 7, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907190057/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/venice-film-festival-awards-revealed-1237684| archive-date=September 7, 2019| url-status=live}}</ref> the film experienced a polarized critical reception after its theatrical release. While Phoenix's performance received rave reviews, the dark tone, portrayal of mental illness, and handling of violence divided opinions and generated concerns of inspiring real-life violence; the movie theater where the [[2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting|2012 Aurora, Colorado, mass shooting]] occurred during a screening of ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' refused to show it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/10/03/why-joker-became-one-most-divisive-movies-year/|url-access=limited|title=Why 'Joker' became one of the most divisive movies of the year|last=Cavna|first=Michael|date=October 3, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=October 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003213559/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/10/03/why-joker-became-one-most-divisive-movies-year/|archive-date=October 3, 2019}}</ref> Despite this, ''Joker'' became a box office success grossing over {{USD|1 billion|long=no}} (against its {{USD|55 million|long=no}} production budget), the first [[List of highest-grossing R-rated films|R-rated film]] to do so, becoming Phoenix's highest-grossing film.<ref>{{Cite Box Office Mojo |id=7286456 |title=Joker (2019) |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213033325/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7286456/ |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |url-status=live }}<br />{{Cite the numbers |id=Joker-(2019) |title=Joker (2019) |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109195928/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Joker-(2019) |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Pete Hammond of ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' wrote of Phoenix's "extraordinary" performance, describing it as "dazzling risky and original"<ref name="DL: Review">{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/video/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-robert-de-niro-dc-comics-venice-film-festival/ |title='Joker' Review: Joaquin Phoenix Kills It In Dark, Timely DC Origin Movie That Is No Laughing Matter&nbsp;– Venice Film Festival |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=August 31, 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901185321/https://deadline.com/video/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-robert-de-niro-dc-comics-venice-film-festival/ |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''The Hollywood Reporter'''s David Rooney called his performance the "must-see factor" of the film, writing "he inhabits [the character] with an insanity by turns pitiful and fearsome in an out-there performance that's no laughing matter[...]Phoenix is the prime force that makes Joker such a distinctively edgy entry in the Hollywood comics industrial complex."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/joker-review-1235309/|title='Joker': Film Review Venice 2019|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=David|last=Rooney|date=August 31, 2019|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518103732/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/joker-review-1235309/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film earned him numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a [[Screen Actors Guild Awards|SAG]] and a [[Critic's Choice Award]] for Best Actor.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/2020-golden-globes-nominations-list-nominees-1203426905/| title=Golden Globes 2020: The Complete Nominations List| work=Variety| date=December 9, 2019| access-date=December 9, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209155211/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/2020-golden-globes-nominations-list-nominees-1203426905/| archive-date=December 9, 2019}}<br />{{cite news| url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/05/entertainment/golden-globes-winners-2020/index.html| title=See the full list of Golden Globe winners| first=Sandra| last=Gonzalez| work=CNN| access-date=January 6, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106025029/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/05/entertainment/golden-globes-winners-2020/index.html| archive-date=January 6, 2020| url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bafta-awards-2020-nominations-unveiled-1267114| title='Joker' Leads BAFTA 2020 Nominations| newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter| access-date=January 7, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107092213/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bafta-awards-2020-nominations-unveiled-1267114| archive-date=January 7, 2020| url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/2020-oscar-nominations-list-academy-awards-nominees-1203461985/| title=Oscar Nominations 2020: The Complete List| newspaper=Variety| date=January 13, 2020| access-date=January 13, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113151810/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/2020-oscar-nominations-list-academy-awards-nominees-1203461985/| archive-date=January 13, 2020| url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-critics-choice-awards-winners-list-full-1267901| title=Critics' Choice Awards: 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Named Best Picture; Full Winners List| newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter| date=January 12, 2020| access-date=January 13, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113110226/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-critics-choice-awards-winners-list-full-1267901| archive-date=January 13, 2020| url-status=live}}<br />{{cite magazine| url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/01/sag-awards-2020-joaquin-phoenix-acceptance-speech| title=SAG Awards 2020: Joaquin Phoenix Pays Joker Tribute to "My Favorite Actor, Heath Ledger"| magazine=Vanity Fair| first=Yohana| last=Desta| date=January 20, 2020| access-date=January 20, 2020| archive-date=October 21, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021115000/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/01/sag-awards-2020-joaquin-phoenix-acceptance-speech| url-status=live}}</ref>