Comic book movies are usually prime material for Easter eggs, with thousands of comic books overflowing with lore to reference. Yet, 2019’s Joker holds hardly any Easter eggs, or at least any that are obvious enough for fans to find. Of course, this hasn’t stopped people from combing through the film over and over again, leaving some to believe they’ve found a sneakily-hidden Batman in the opening scene.
Not only has locating Easter eggs in Joker proved a difficult task, but the movie’s director, Todd Phillips, has even admitted that fans won’t find much. During an interview with Collider, Phillips commented on the idea of Easter eggs, firmly saying, “I don’t do Easter eggs. Any Easter eggs anybody finds is a mistake.” This likely goes with the idea of everything in the shot having to serve the scene and nothing more. But this hasn’t stopped fans from trying, as it’s still possible that other production members sneaked in something for fans.
Joker opens with Arthur putting on his clown makeup in front of a mirror, all while he holds back tears. The scene sets the tone for the movie, with the room being a dark and dingy mess. This includes the large mirror sitting in front of Arthur, where fans believe the reference hides. In a wide shot of the room and mirror, fans believe the reflection resembles the outline of the Dark Knight himself, including two white spots for eyes.
While it may seem like a stretch at first, comparing the mirror to Batman’s comic book design shows it’s not too far off. Arthur sits right where the mouth of his mask would be, and his pale clothing even resembles the color of skin when contrasted against the rest of the black mirror. Once the image of Batman is made out, he appears to be looming over Arthur, possibly foreshadowing what’s to come for the character.
Despite the director’s disdain for Easter eggs, there’s nothing to stop the art department or cinematographer from placing in the subtle hint, as it’s easily missed by most. And if that is the case, then it’s quite possibly the only Easter egg in the entire movie. At the same time, that’s not to say Joker isn’t chock-full of references, as long-time fans can likely spot a huge number of call-backs to classic Batman shows and comics.
Some references are more obvious, such as Alfred briefly appearing when Arthur meets young Bruce Wayne. However, some are much more niche, like the movie Zorro, the Gay Blade playing at the theater where Martha and Thomas Wayne are murdered. This is a call-back to the original comics, which also had a Zorro movie playing. So at the very least, Phillips was all-in with embracing the world of Batman.
Intentional or not, there’s no denying the likeness of Batman in the mirror. And having him reflected at the very start fits perfectly for the movie, as the ending sees the Joker riots being the cause of the Waynes’ deaths, making Batman and Joker all the more connected.
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