Entertainment
By Reporter Brady Landry
There have been many versions of the Joker, with his first film/tv appearance being Cesar Romero in 1966’s Batman. With Todd Phillips’s Joker out in theaters now, I’ve decided to rank all iterations of the Joker in film and TV.
7. Jared Leto
Leto was bizarre choice to play the clown prince of crime in 2016’s Suicide Squad, considering he was the lead singer of the band 30 Seconds to Mars. His take on the Joker was highly anticipated, but ended up as a disappointment. He didn’t stay true to the character, by stylizing him as a psychopathic modern day gangster, and he had no chemistry with any of his castmates. All in all, a very flawed performance and the worst iteration of the Joker on this list.
6. Zach Galifianakis
Galifianakis’ take on the Joker was pure satire, but a nice breath of fresh air from Leto’s take. With multiple references to Batman ‘89, The Nolan trilogy, and Suicide Squad, the Lego Movie’s Joker was a hilarious take on a classic character, and his love/hate relationship with Lego Batman is what makes the movie work.
5. Cesar Romero
Romero’s take on the Joker was the original television/movie adaption, and one with the most nostalgia. He is also the oldest person to play a live action Joker, at 59. His iconic take on Joker in the camp classic Batman’66 is what a lot of people think of when people say the Joker. With his signature mustache Romero refused to shave, his baseball prison escape, and the villain team ups,Romero’s Joker was certainly memorable.
4. Jack Nicholson
Nicholson was darker than Romero’s take on the Joker, with a scene of him killing young Bruce Wayne’s parents and saying his signature quote of “Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?” His battles with Michael Keaton’s Batman and an interesting mob boss alter ego that (kinda) works, Nicholson is arguably the highlight of the film, and that's WITH Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent
3. Joaquin Phoenix.
Phoenix had massive shoes to fill following Nicholson and Ledger’s take on the Joker, but he delivered in a different way. Playing a mentally ill failed comedian, Nicholson nails his role as a 70’s tinged psychopath, much like Nicholson and Ledger before him, Phoenix has multiple signature traits, like his laughing disorder and his vintage clown makeup.
2. Mark Hamill
Hamill was one of the greatest Jokers of all time, with a stunning voice acting performances,bringing the comic book Joker to the small screen. He voiced the Clown Prince of Crime from 1992-2015. He blended the Joker’s silly and comical side, but also his dark and murderous side. His notable shows and direct-to-video movies are Birds of Prey, Batman: The Animated Series, and Batman: The Killing Joke.
1. Heath Ledger
Who else could be number one besides the late Ledger? He won a posthumous Oscar for his performance in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 thriller “The Dark Knight”, and is the most recognizable Joker. With multiple quotable lines becoming pop culture phenomenon like “Why so serious”, “You wanna know how I got these scars?”, and “Let’s put a smile on that face!” The choice to cast Ledger as Batman’s greatest villain was questioned by critics and fans alike, but were soon proven wrong as Ledger stole every scene he was in . Sadly, Ledger passed away shortly before the movie opened in theaters. With Ledger’s death making the performance even more legendary, his take on the Joker will be remembered as one of the greatest movie villains in one of the greatest superhero movies of all time.