Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Joker’ will officially open in theatres on October 4 but the hype and the early reviews by film critics and fans have tipped Phoenix’s performance on the level of Heath Ledger. The movie has also been mentioned as a possible Academy Award winner.

Critics have been praising Phoenix performance and comparing it with one of the best performance by late Heath Ledger, who won an Oscar for playing Joker in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 blockbuster ‘The Dark Knight’.

The premiere of ‘Joker’ at Venice Film Festival on Saturday has also received an eight-minute standing ovation. Audiences were captivated by Phoenix's performance and IGN ranked Joker 10/10, while The Guardian gave it 5 stars.

Forbes critic Mark Hughes said it is easily one of the best films of the year and termed Joker ‘an awesome accomplishment sure to please fans of the character and of the superhero genre, as well as average viewers just looking for a terrific film for adult audiences’.

Oscar buzz is already brewing for Phoenix before the film’s debut and is sure to grow after its launch in October.

Heath Ledger previously won a ‘best supporting actor’ Oscar for his portrayal of The Joker but critics have hinted he will be followed by Phoenix.