The 2019 Todd Phillips film “Joker,” starring Joaquin Phoenix, was filmed in New York and New Jersey. The most famous location from the film likewise emerged as one of the most popular filming locations of recent years, which is of course the stairs where Joker dances. The stairs, previously known as the Shakespeare Avenue Stairs, or alternatively as the Gauson Stairs, connect Shakespeare Ave and Anderson Ave at West 167th St. The stairs were also featured prominently on the film’s poster image and are now most commonly known as the Joker Stairs.

LOCATION: Between 1161 Shakespeare Ave and 1150 Anderson Ave, The Bronx, NY 10452 (GPS coordinates: 40°50’09.3″N, 73°55’26.2″W)

Here is the area where Joker dances. Originally director Todd Phillips was inspired by a flight of stairs seen in the Ridley Scott film “American Gangster,” but upon scouting realized that area had since changed and no longer matched the aesthetic they were looking for in this film. Instead, other stairs around The Bronx were scouted and ultimately the right look was found.

Here is another view of the section of stairs he dances on.

Here is a view from the top of the stairs. Normally the stairs are not only heavily used by local residents, but it is also a highly popular tourist destination. We found a few minutes when the stairs were totally empty, but soon after, the place was crowded full of tourists.

The stairs are seen multiple times in the film. This view is seen early on as Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) walks to the top of the steps on his way home. The large, modern building in the background was replaced via visual effects with a an older, urban backdrop for the film.

Arthur’s apartment can be found at the top of the stairs, but it’s not the entrance closest to the top, right beside the market. It is instead the next entrance down, which is very similar looking, leading many to mix the locations up. Perhaps the easiest method to identify the correct, screen used entrance is to look for the two large poles to the left.

LOCATION: 1140 Anderson Ave, The Bronx, NY 10452

Arthur has a face to face encounter with Bruce Wayne at the Wayne Manor, which was filmed at the Webb Institute Livingston Library.

LOCATION: 298 Crescent Beach Rd, Glen Cove, NY 11542 (GPS coordinates: 40°53’00.4″N, 73°38’35.5″W)

The Arkham State Hospital building was filmed in Brooklyn near the intersection of 1st Ave / 58th St. Some visual effects were once again employed to make the building to the left taller and add Arkham State Hospital signage above the arches.

LOCATION: 80 58th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220