Todd Phillips’ newest DC film Joker has finally made its debut, and people are surely talking about it. Phillips is now becoming one of Hollywood’s most talk about directors, generating discussion wherever he goes.
Todd Phillips Net worth as of 2019: $80 million
Early Career
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Todd Phillips began his career directing a documentary tilted Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies, which centered on the life and death of punk rocker GG Allin. Phillips’ documentary went on to become the highest-grossing student film ever, even receiving a limited theatrical release. Phillips would then co-direct a second documentary film called Frat House with then-partner Andrew Gurland. The film premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and received the Grand Jury Prize for Best documentary.
2006-2009
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Phillips’ career who take a significant step forward in 2006 when his work on the satirical comedy Borat earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Phillips would use his newfound cache to create Green Hat Films, a film company responsible for producing the mega comedy hit The Hangover. With a reported budget of $35 million, the film went on to become the highest-grossing R-rated comedy in 2009, earning a worldwide gross of $480 million. The film also went on to win a Golden Globe for Best Picture.
2013-2019
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Phillips went on to direct and co-write a violent crime film titled War Dogs, which starred Jonah Hill and Miles Teller. Although the film received mix reviews and only grossed $86.2 million worldwide, it did earn Hill a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. Based on a Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson, the film revolved around two-arms dealers tasked to supply ammunition for the Afghan National Army.
Phillips’ time working with Warner Bros. made him the top candidate to direct the standalone Joker movie. Comic book fans Warner Bros. for producing an origin story of a character who’s origin remained a mystery for so long. However, there was still some hope that a talent such Phillips would deliver on telling a violent, R-rated superhero movie. At one point, legendary director Martin Scorsese attached himself to the project but unfortunately backed out due to his commitments with finishing up the Netflix film The Irishman.
Co-written by Scott Silver, Joker would star Joaquin Phoenix in the title role. Debuting at the 76th Venice International Film Festival, the film would go on to receive the high honors, while also receiving mix reviews from top critics. While responding to criticisms about the film’s violent content, Phillips referred to the Keanu Reeves action film John Wick to explain his stance on the subject matter.
“The one that bugs me more is the toxic white male thing when you go, ‘Oh, I just saw “John Wick 3,” Phillips told the Associated Press. “He’s a white male who kills 300 people, and everybody’s laughing and hooting and hollering. Why does this movie get held to different standards? It honestly doesn’t make sense to me.”
Future Projects
Phillips is set to direct the Hulk Hogan biographical film starring Chris Hemsworth in the lead role.