The 'Joker Reads a Joke' meme is derived from the 2019 psychological thriller Joker, featuring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck. The template typically showcases Arthur looking intently at his joke journal or preparing for his stand-up routine, often used to highlight the absurdity of a situation or the cringe-worthiness of one's own thoughts. It became a viral sensation as a meta-commentary on social media posts, bad takes, and the dark irony of modern life. Users often place text over the notebook to represent a 'joke' that isn't actually funny, or a reality that is so bleak it becomes comical, perfectly capturing the film's descent into madness and dark comedy.