Every Live-Action Version of the Joker, Ranked From Worst to Best

The iconic villain The Joker It has been adapted many times for live-action films and TV, but some versions are clearly better than others. When it comes to terrifying Batman movie villains, few figures rank as high as the Joker. The Dark Knight’s iconic nemesis is almost as well-known as the hero himself, and Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime is regularly cited as one of the greatest comic book villains ever created.

Just as many actors have played Batman in live-action, many actors have taken on the role of the Joker. The character’s cinematic legacy goes back decades, with various artists putting their own spin on the chaotic clown. While some have received widespread acclaim and lasting popularity, others have been poorly received. With that in mind, here are every live-action version of the Joker, ranked from worst to best.

10

Nathan Dashwood’s Joker is a ridiculous portrayal

First appearance: Batwoman, season 3, episode 12, “We’re All Mad Here”

The Arrowverse Bat woman ran for three seasons, chronicling the titular hero’s rise in Gotham City following Batman’s disappearance. Although the show failed to find a significant audience, it proved to be an interesting and innovative take on the Batman mythos. Set after Batman’s years as a hero, the Joker appears only in flashbacks and, even then, in a non-speaking role.

Bat womanThe film’s Joker is played by Nathan Dashwood and is not fully shown during the flashback sequence. His appearance appears largely comical, with green hair and a purple suit. However, the lack of focus given to the character combined with the obscured vision and non-speaking element combine to make Bat womanJoker is incredibly disappointing. As far as live-action Jokers go, he’s the worst, as Details about his personality and appearance are impossible to distinguish.

9

Roger Stoneburner’s Joker is memorable for just one reason

First appearance: Birds of Prey, season 1, episode 1, “Premiere”

2002 saw the release of the short-lived TV series Birds of Preywhich, despite good initial ratings, was canceled after just 13 episodes. The show followed the superhero team of the same name, with iterations of Huntress, Oracle, and Black Canary serving as main characters. The first episode of the program also features a special appearance by the Joker, physically played by Roger Stoneburner and voiced by Mark Hamill.

The appearance of the Joker in Birds of Prey leaves a lot to the imagination, but ensuring Mark Hamill voices the character was at least a respectable touch. Having Hamill reprise his DCAU role to voice the villain helped make Birds of PreyThe live-action Joker is memorable, if unremarkable. Although his role in the short-lived show was only momentary Hamill’s inimitable voice helps Birds of PreyThe Joker stands out a bit.

8

Curtis Armstrong’s Joker Was Better Than It Should Have Been

First appearance: Batman OnStar commercial, “Joker Face”

Strangely, one of the most interesting versions of the Joker didn’t come in a movie or TV show, but as part of an OnStar vehicle safety commercial. Airing from 2000 to 2002, the series of six commercials featured different Batman characters, including one in which Batman was involved in a high-speed chase with the Joker. In the commercial, the Joker was played by Curtis Armstrong.

The live-action Joker featured in the OnStar commercial was surprisingly comic-accurate and made a good case for Armstrong being a strong contender for the role. Although the point of the commercial was to advertise a product, the use of Batman characters was an interesting gimmick, especially since Armstrong’s Joker looked a lot better than he had any right to be. Although he didn’t play the role in a legitimate Batman story, Curtis Armstrong’s Joker still had bizarre potential.

7

Jared Leto’s DCEU Joker Was Controversial

First appearance: Suicide Squad (2016)

Appearing as the Joker in the DCEU films, Jared Leto’s take on the villain proved to be one of the most controversial in the character’s history. In many ways, Leto’s Joker has suffered comparisons to Heath Ledger’s iteration of the villain, and deviations from an accurate comic depiction of the character have been cited as weaknesses. The DCEU’s Joker hasn’t proven particularly popular, although many of the villain’s problems stem from behind-the-scenes issues.

In fact, Leto’s Joker fits the overall tone of the DCEU very well. He was a dark, gritty take on the character, and while these attempts to innovate the Joker’s story didn’t pan out, they’re not entirely without merit. Unfortunately, the combination of the risks taken with the DCEU characterization of the Joker and the franchise’s lack of focus on the villain resulted in Jared Leto’s version of the character falling flat.

6

Barry Keoghan’s Joker appeared with an innovative design

First appearance: The Batman (2022)

An unexpected addition to the cast of Batman It was Barry Keoghan, who revealed he would play the Joker in Matt Reeves’ version of Gotham City. In the theatrical version of the film, the Joker appears only as a disembodied voice speaking to an incarcerated Riddler, although a deleted scene shows Keoghan’s Joker a little better. Shrouding the character in mystery only served to make him even more fascinating, despite Batman not giving his Joker much of a role to play.

It was revealed that Keoghan’s Joker had significant facial disfigurement, resulting in his rictus smile, and Batman confirmed that he had a previous encounter with the Dark Knight. However, as Keoghan’s first appearance made his Joker something of an enigmahe conjured more excitement around the character. It would seem that BatmanThe film’s Joker fits perfectly into the film’s world and takes an innovative approach to the villain.

5

Cameron Monaghan’s joker twins add an interesting twist to the character

First appearance: Gotham, season 1, episode 16, “The Blind Fortune Teller”

GothamThe novel approach of adapting the early years of the Batman mythos, establishing the origins of many of the hero’s villains and supporting characters, gained the show considerable attention. Although aspects Gotham proved to be controversial, the show’s interesting take on the Joker’s story was commendable. Cameron Monaghan was cast as Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska, with each of the two embodying a different aspect of the Joker’s personality.

While Jerome, the first twin introduced, embraces the villain’s chaotic and spontaneous violence, Jeremiah embodies the Joker’s most fearful aspects. Dividing different aspects of the Joker into distinct personalities brought something new to GothamThe film’s Joker brothers allowed for a more imaginative approach to the villain’s story. What it lacked in comedic precision, it made up for in creativitywith Monaghan’s double performance being particularly commendable.

4

Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker Was Deep, But Wasn’t a True Villain

First appearance: Joker (2019)

Todd Phillips’ Clown The films featured several Batman characters, but the most prominent of all was the titular villain. Phillips’ two-film arc followed Arthur Fleck, a comedian living with mental illness who eventually creates and embodies the Joker’s alter ego. The franchise’s grounded approach to the character’s origins and character was fascinating, and Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as Fleck ended up being as captivating as it was disturbing.

The poor reception of the second film damaged Arthur Fleck’s vision Clown legacy in a way, but the character’s main downfall was that he was never truly Batman’s archenemy. The more grounded exploration of a man living with considerable mental illness proved excellent on many levels, but in terms of adapting the character from the comics, it left something to be desired. Phoenix’s performance somehow made the Joker seem likablewhich – while incredible – was never really the villain’s goal.

3

Cesar Romero remains the classic wildcard for many

First appearance: Batman, season 1, episode 5, “The Joker Is Wild”

Although hardly considered the best Batman film, 1966 Batman and the TV show in which he was cast helped keep the character at the forefront of pop culture for decades. The family-friendly adaptation of the hero’s golden years saw many of its villains adapted for the screen, including Cesar Romero’s Joker among them. Romero’s Joker ranks highly among his peers, in part due to the fact that he brought the character to life without any models to work from.

Every Joker since Romero has had a strong cinematic past to lean on, while Batman in the 1960s he had to rely on pure imagination. As the TV show and film established a version of the Joker that still exists todayIt’s fair to say that Cesar Romero’s take on the character is solid. In terms of longevity and vision, Romero’s 1960s Joker remains one of the best to appear in live-action.

2

Jack Nicholson’s Joker Is a Perfect Live-Action Adaptation

First appearance: Batman (1989)

1989 saw Tim Burton take the reins of a Batman blockbuster, and he cast Jack Nicholson as the Joker alongside Michael Keaton’s Batman. Nicholson’s Joker combined comic precision with classic big-screen villainy, injecting an extra dose of cruelty and terror into his take on Batman’s archenemy. The resulting iteration of the villain remains one of the best live-action Jokers of all time.

Nicholson’s Joker looks perfect, with a comic book-accurate design that looks like it came straight from the pages of DC comics. His performance adds the actor’s inimitable touch to the villain, with a dark energy and insidious playfulness that perfectly captures the spirit of the character. In almost every way, Nicholson’s Joker is the perfect adaptation of the comic book villainand he fits especially well with Tim Burton’s dark and wacky style Batman myth.

1

Heath Ledger’s Joker redefined the character as a truly terrifying villain

First appearance: The Dark Knight (2008)

In the history of cinema, there are few villains as memorable and terrifying as Heath Ledger’s Joker. 2008 The Dark Knight saw Christopher Nolan take on Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime, with Ledger originally seen as an unorthodox choice for the role. The late Australian actor’s performance in the film redefined not only the iconic villain, but what actors could do with comic book movie roles, given enough creative freedom.

Although he departed significantly from the character’s traditional appearance and characterization, The Dark KnightO’Hare’s Joker was frighteningly charismatic and intensely chaotic. From the villain’s design to Ledger’s unnerving performance, every aspect of the The Dark KnightJoker’s was inventive and convincing. As such, Heath Ledger’s stint in the role continues to stand out as the best live-action iteration of The Joker always to be adapted for the big or small screen.

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