While sheer coincidence can arguably account for almost everything that ever happens, some occurrences do come about by way of intention. Still, what's absolute bullshit and what might actually make some sense among the bevy of fan theories circulating following Joker's release?
For one, the 11:11 theory—which mostly centers on the appearance of that time on clocks in the background of the film—has been calmly disputed by both director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Phoenix by way of a Cinema Blend interview earlier this week.
"It's a coincidence . . . No, I mean, I don't know," Phillips said. "I think it's a coincidence. That's two times. Is there another time? No, no. That's just interesting." Phoenix, meanwhile, brought up a classic Beatles nonsense-based theory about Paul McCartney to make a similar point.
"11:11 didn't mean anything to me personally," he said.
As IndieWirepoints out, another theory—the one that convincingly proposes that Arthur's actions in the film ultimately inspire the person who becomes the Joker who directly interacts with Batman—has received the opposite treatment from Phillips.
"I don't want to say what it is. But a lot of people I've shown it to have said, 'Oh, I get it—he's just made up a story. The whole movie is the joke. It's this thing this guy in Arkham Asylum concocted. He might not even be the Joker,'" Phillips told The Los Angeles Times, later getting more specific about the possibility of multiple Jokers.
"Maybe Joaquin's character inspired the Joker," Phillips said. "You don't really know. His last line in the movie is, 'You wouldn't get it.' There’s a lot going on in there that's interesting."
One thing we know for sure, however, is that no assholes were allowed on set.
