Most people unanimously agreed that Joker was a phenomenal film and that Joaquin Phoenix absolutely deserved to win the “Best Actor” award at this year’s Oscars ceremony for his portrayal of the titular character. Although Todd Phillips didn’t take home the “Best Director” trophy — Bong Joon-ho won for his equally-praised macabre thriller Parasite — he still was a good sport about it all, and even shared some dope behind the scenes imagery recently from their last day of shooting to celebrate Phoenix’s epic win.

 
Jeff Kravitz / Getty

“All of these were taken on our last day of shooting,” Phillips wrote as a caption to go with the photos he posted on Instagram a few days ago, following up by adding, “It was bittersweet for sure— while it felt great to be done, we also had such an intense and unique experience— and then suddenly it just ends. What a ride this film has been and it all culminated with watching Joaquin walk up on that stage this weekend.” He ended his note by thanking the many fans that helped make it become the first R-rated film to gross over $1 billion, in addition to the 32nd-highest-grossing film of all time.

Enjoy the rare flicks from the set of Joker below, and let’s pray that we get a proper sequel so we can do this all over again very soon:

Joaquin Phoenix has been at the top of his activist game throughout award season so far. During his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, he mentioned the "link between animal agriculture and climate change." However, Phoenix is not merely posturing across the world's television screens. He's been putting his body behind his words by attending protests in connection to this cause. He ditched a SAG Awards after-party to stand at a vigil for pigs being taken to a slaughterhouse. His latest act of protest involved going to Jane Fonda's Fire Drill Fridays in Los Angeles.

Rachel Luna/Getty Images

Since October 2019, Fonda has been hosting these rallies weekly in Washington, DC to demand that politicians properly address climate change. She has just moved this initiative to Los Angeles, where they will surely continue to attract celebrity participation. This past Friday (Feb. 7) marked Phoenix's second time attending Fire Drill Fridays. The rally he went to last month in the nation's capital resulted in him being arrested along with Martin Sheen. He attended this Friday's rally with his fiancee, Rooney Mara, where he went onstage to introduce environmental justice activist, Nalleli Cobo. 

Adam Sandler may have been snubbed by the Oscars for his performance in the Safdie Brothers’ Uncut Gems, but the Movies For Grownups Awards paid him great respect. If you’re not familiar with the Movies For Grownups Awards, i’ll forgive you. It’s not the biggest award show in the entertainment industry, but it’s important nonetheless. The AARP-hosted ceremony recognizes the work of actors and filmmakers ages 50 and over and how this work communicates with elderly audiences. Furthermore, the proceeds from the event benefit the AARP Foundation, which is committed to building and sustaining communities among seniors across America. 

The 19th annual Movies For Grownups Awards took place on January 11th and Adam Sandler was honored as Best Actor for his role in Uncut Gems. Conan O’Brien presented this award and, as you could guess, hilarity ensued. Not longer after O’Brien started introducing the award, Sandler rose and started making his way to the stage. The television host was baffled by Sandler’s premature move and he didn’t hesitate to roast him on the spot for it. 

Michael Kovac/Getty Images

“You don’t come up yet, what’s wrong with you?” O’Brien exlaimed. “How long have you been in show business? That was sad!” Sandler shouted that he got up because O’Brien paused, but this explanation didn’t save him from his public shaming. “I hesitated to take a pause! In comedy you take pauses! You were like a chimp that saw a banana. You came running. What the hell was that?! We get to you!”

O’Brien then goes on to joke that Sandler’s role of “a charismatic gambling addicted jeweler” in Uncut Gems could be considered as a portrayal of Sandler’s true self. Watch it all unfold below. 

It’s about that time. With the big night set to take place on Sunday, February 9th, the 2020 Academy Award Nominations have arrived in full. For anybody keeping track, you’ll likely find little in the way of surprise, with many similarities often seen between the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards. Still, there’s always excitement in the speculation process, even if the surprises are few and far between. 

Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

While genre fans might be sent away licking their wounds (especially fans of MIDSOMMAR and THE LIGHTHOUSE), the list is stacked with strong contenders all the same. Scarlett Johannessen laid down a massive power move with two Best Actress nominations, while favorite Joaquin Phoenix seems destined to lock horns with A Marriage Story’s Adam Driver. The race for Best Picture seems a little more wide open, though a gambler might be wise to lay a few dollars on Sam Mendes’ 1917. 

As assembled on CNN, here are but a few of the notable categories; you can check out the full list below. Did your favorite get some love? 

BEST PICTURE

Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite

BEST DIRECTOR

Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
Todd Phillips (Joker)
Sam Mendes (1917)
Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)

BEST ACTOR

Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Adam Driver (Marriage Story)
Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes)

BEST ACTRESS

Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet)
Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story)
Saoirse Ronan (Little Women)
Charlize Theron (Bombshell)
Renee Zellweger (Judy)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)
Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes)
Al Pacino (The Irishman)
Joe Pesci (The Irishman)
Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Kathy Bates, (Richard Jewell)
Laura Dern (Marriage Story)
Scarlett Johansson (Jojo Rabbit)
Florence Pugh (Little Women)
Margot Robbie (Bombshell)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Rian Johnson (Knives Out)
Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story)
Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917)
Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)
Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won (Parasite)

Beyoncé arrived fashionably late to the 2020 Golden Globes last night, alongside her husband, Jay-Z. They skipped out on the red carpet and walked in once the ceremony had already begun. Their bodyguard escorted them to their seats as he held two bottles of Ace of Spades champagne so they wouldn't have to drink the Moët & Chandon being poured at the event. They were seen mingling with the other celebs at their table, but many people on Twitter believe that Bey was indifferent toward the whole ordeal. She was there to pick up her gold statue if The Lion King's "Spirit" happened to win for Best Original Song (it didn't), and that was all. 

The fact that she didn't stand up when Joaquin Phoenix won his award fueled this suspicion. When Phoenix won for Best Actor In a Drama Motion Picture for his role in Joker, the whole room rose, but Bey was seen comfortably seated. Some got a laugh from her head peaking out behind Phoenix when the camera showed him going to accept his trophy, but many others called her out for being disrespectful. One Twitter user claimed that her refusal to stand was "thoroughly distasteful." On the other hand, many came to Bey's defense and suggested that her dress may have made standing a difficult task for her. She wore a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown with enormous metallic gold puffy sleeves that some argued could have been distracting or obstructive if she stood. 

Read both sides of the debate below.