In 2019, 'Joker' became the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion. This was a major milestone because R-rated films were traditionally seen as having a lower 'ceiling' for profit. Directed by Todd Phillips, the film focused on a gritty character study rather than typical superhero action. Its success was driven by Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning performance and its relevance to modern social themes. It proved that mature, artistic, and even controversial films based on popular IP could achieve the same commercial dominance as family-friendly blockbusters.