Joaquin Phoenix is one of the best actors in Hollywood, if not the best. It’s in the Phoenix genes it seems. Even his late brother River Phoenix was a great actor. Although all of the Phoenix siblings had embarked on a journey to build a career in the entertainment industry, only River Phoenix and Joaquin Phoenix made it big. However, the former passed away at a young age, unfortunately.
Joaquin Phoenix is best known for his role as the DC Comics character Joker in Todd Philips’ eponymous psychological thriller, released in 2019. All actors have a way of dealing with things because their exposure to public opinion is much more than any other person. Phoenix has a rule for his friends watching his movies. It sounds as cynical as something Joker would do.
Joaquin Phoenix Has This Rule For His Friends Watching His Movies
Joaquin Phoenix returned to acting because of his brother’s unfortunate demise. He has done justice to his name and legacy by starring in some of the best movies of all time. From his portrayal of Commodus in Gladiator, which garnered him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor to his performance in Joker, which won him an Academy Award for Best Actor, he has won the hearts of millions of people again and again.
Even so, he does not like his friends to watch his movies. He revealed the reason for this during The A24 podcast alongside Beau is Afraid writer-director Ari Aster. He said that one of his friends told him they “had a blast” watching his movie, but the actor did not know what he meant by that.
The Master actor then went on to reveal why he prefers not having anyone he knows watch his movies, saying:
“My preference is for people I know not to see anything I’m in just because I don’t want to have to go through that process. That’s the worst thing about going to a screening. Afterwards, people come up, and they have to say something. It’s always uncomfortable.”
To each their own. If Phoenix prefers it this way, then it’s his personal choice. However, this might be a bummer for those people who love to watch their friend Joaquin Phoenix’s movies and then let him know that they love it.
Joaquin Phoenix Believes It is A Matter of Taste
People like sharing their achievements with people they know and love, but Joaquin Phoenix is not one of them. He prefers to keep his work out of his friends’ sight.
During the podcast, he went on to explain how it is a matter of taste, saying:
“If somebody says a compliment about something, my impulse is to say, ‘Name five other performances that you thought are really good, or movies,’” he said. “It’s probably best to not interact with your friends when they’ve seen a movie you’ve made. That’s my opinion.”
Phoenix then said that he did not invite anyone to the premiere of Beau is Afraid even though he had tickets. For him, that is another awkward conversation where he asks his friends to watch his movies.
