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(CNN) - Are the "Joker" stairs the new "Rocky" stairs? Perhaps.
Fans of the "Joker", who hit theaters earlier this month, are taking pictures in front of those stairs.
LOOK: Joker uses a controversial song by convict pedophile Gary Glitter
In the movie Joker, the protagonist, played by Joaquin Phoenix, dances down the stairs while Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part 2" plays in the background. The scene was done so well that it has even become a widely used GIF.
I've watched the Joker stair dance scene on YouTube A LOT A LOT A LOT.
What a moment 🤡 pic.twitter.com/4EomUpZ1vs
- Tyler Lowe (@ TLowe8122) October 17, 2019
And it seems that those stairs, which connect Shakespeare and Anderson avenues on West 167th Street, are becoming a popular tourist attraction, potentially to the disgust of real Bronx residents.
The comedian Desus Nice, co-host of “Desus & Mero” from Showtime, tweeted about the flow of people visiting the stairs. "Legally, as a resident of the Bronx, you are allowed and encouraged to collect taxes on people who are visiting the Joker's stairs":
legally as a bronx resident you're allowed and encouraged to tax anyone visiting the joker stairs
- Desus Nice (@desusnice) October 17, 2019
But it is no secret that the Bronx has had a bad reputation, one that has struggled to eliminate. Although its associations with arson and crime may have diminished in recent years, it is not yet an area that many tourists explore, despite being home to the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden and Yankee Stadium.
MIRA: “Joker Challenge”, the new viral challenge inspired by the film
Now, that could be changing, and Instagram photos are proof. Here is a group of fans making their best impressions of the Joker dance in the place.
View this post on Instagram
Happy to have been on those steps #Joker #Joaquinphoenix #toddphillips #jokermovie #Dc #jokerstairs
A post shared by Ignacio 🍉 (@nacho_montagna) on Oct 15, 2019 at 9:10 pm PDT
Nacho Montagna did his best to imitate the dance routine.
"Why so serious?" Wrote Jenna Polignone, in the legend of her photo.
View this post on Instagram
Why so serious? 🙃
A post shared by jennapolignone (@jennapolignone) on Oct 19, 2019 at 12:09 pm PDT
Erin Sauer's photo has some spectators in the background, but the effect remains strong.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Erin Sauer (@ sauer. 8) on Oct 19, 2019 at 11:47 am PDT
“Always put on a happy face…”, wrote Arnaldo Silva in the legend of his dance impression “Joker”.
View this post on Instagram
Always put a happy face… Joker Stairs #nyc #newyork #city #travel #bronx #nomad #nomad #travelling #travellers #jokerstairs
A post shared by Arnaldo Silva (@imbibing_nomad) on Oct 16, 2019 at 8:19 am PDT
Not everyone tried to imitate the Joker. Look at James May, who went for the basic tourist photo standing in front of the stairs.
View this post on Instagram
#jokerstairs
A post shared by James May (@jamesmayname) on Oct 16, 2019 at 7:30 pm PDT
"Joker", meanwhile, has broken box office records, opening with $ 96 million, the highest grossing October debut in history. The buzz has not faded, bringing $ 55 million in its second weekend in North America alone. Until last weekend, the film had raised $ 543 million worldwide.
The film won first prize at the Venice Film Festival before its public debut, which has also caused rumors of an Oscar.
