Let's be crystal clear: Joker is not a family film, not a teen film, not even a 'mature 16-year-old' film for most families. It's a dark, violent, psychologically disturbing character study that happens to use DC Comics IP.

That said, for adults, it's genuinely compelling cinema. Phoenix's performance is mesmerizing, the cinematography is gorgeous, and it asks uncomfortable questions about mental health, inequality, and social responsibility. The critical split (68% critics vs 89% audience) reflects real debate about whether it's profound or pretentious.

The problem: it's also deeply nihilistic and potentially dangerous in the wrong hands. The film walks a razor-thin line between examining violence and aestheticizing it, and reasonable people disagree about which side it lands on.

If you're an adult who enjoys dark, challenging cinema and can handle graphic violence, Joker is worth watching. If you're a parent wondering if your teen can handle it because they loved The Dark Knight—hard no. This is a completely different animal, and Common Sense Media's age 16 recommendation is the absolute floor, not a suggestion.