Stream the Top 7 Joker Movies and Shows Ahead of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’
From Jack Nicholson, to Heath Ledger, to Joaquin Phoenix - there’s something about the Joker that brings out the stars.
With “Joker: Folie à Deux” hitting theaters nationwide Thursday, Oct. 4, there’s no better time than right now to rank the best movies that feature one of Batman’s greatest villains: the Joker. Hollywood stars seem to be endlessly drawn to the role, from Jack Nicholson to the late Heath Ledger to Joaquin Phoenix (Ledger and Phoenix both won an Oscar for their performances). So, without further ado, here are the top 7 live-action movies with appearances from the Joker character ranked!
Top 7 “Joker” Character Movie Appearances
No. 7: ‘Suicide Squad’ (2016) | Max
In “Suicide Squad,” the Joker, played by Jared Leto, is a gangster-psychopath fixated on reuniting with Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). While not the plot’s main storyline, Leto’s Joker is a modernized, tattooed crime boss in a team of villains assembled to save the world. Did it work? Mostly not, but his bold portrayal at the very least marked a new direction for Batman’s greatest villain after Heath Ledger’s performance in 2008 – even if fans weren’t totally on board with that direction.
“Suicide Squad” holds a 26% score on Rotten Tomatoes, directed by David Ayer, and stars Jared Leto, Will Smith, and Margot Robbie.
Suicide Squad
From DC Comics comes the Suicide Squad, an antihero team of incarcerated supervillains who act as deniable assets for the United States government, undertaking high-risk black ops missions in exchange for commuted prison sentences.
No. 6: ‘Batman’ TV Show (1966) | Rent With Prime Video
Easily the zaniest film on this list, the 1966 film “Batman” brings the colorful world of the iconic 1960s “Batman” TV series to the big screen. Cesar Romero plays the Joker, teaming up with Batman’s other notorious villains—the Penguin, the Riddler, and Catwoman—to hatch a plot to take over the world. Adam West stars as Batman, alongside Burt Ward as Robin, in this campy, action-packed adventure full of over-the-top gadgets, outrageous villains, and plenty of “Kapows!”
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson and starring Adam West, Burt Ward, and Cesar Romero, “Batman” (1966) boast an 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Batman
The Dynamic Duo faces four super-villains who plan to hold the world for ransom with the help of a secret invention that instantly dehydrates people.
No. 5: ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ (2021) | Max
Jared Leto reprises his Joker role (for better or for worse) in the alternate dystopian future with “Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” where he teams up with Batman in a desperate bid to stop Darkseid. The Joker’s taunts about the death of Robin and Lois Lane (which helped push Superman into becoming a villain) reveal his twisted relationship with Batman, adding depth to the Knightmare timeline in a far more satisfying outing than we got with “Suicide Squad.”
“Zack Snyder’s Justice League” holds a 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes, directed by Zack Snyder, and stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, and Jared Leto.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Determined to ensure Superman’s ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne aligns forces with Diana Prince with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions.
No. 4: ‘The Batman’ (2022) | Max
Yes, Barry Keoghan’s Joker appears in one scene in “The Batman”. And that scene is better than entire movies on this list. Joker is locked up in Arkham Asylum at the end of the film, with deep scars on his face, bloody nails, and little hair. Departing from the “fell into a vat of chemicals” narrative, this Joker is said to have a congenital disease that doesn’t allow him to stop smiling. Creepy. Make sure to check out the deleted scene online for a closer look at Barry Keoghan’s Joker.
“The Batman” rocks an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes, directed by Matt Reeves, and stars Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, and Paul Dano.
The Batman
In his second year of fighting crime, Batman (Robert Pattinson) uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler (Paul Dano).
The cast includes Zoë Kravitz (Selina Kyle/Catwoman), Jeffrey Wright (James Gordon), Colin Farrell (Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot/Penguin), and Andy Serkis (Alfred Pennyworth).
The film was directed and written by Matt Reeves.
No. 3: ‘Batman’ (1988) | Max
Now we are getting somewhere. In Tim Burton’s classic take on the franchise, “Batman” (1989) introduces the Joker as a deranged gangster named Jack Napier, who falls into a vat of chemicals and emerges as the maniacal villain. Jack Nicholson delivers an iconic performance, with his Joker seeking to rule Gotham through terror, while Michael Keaton’s Batman tries to stop him.
Jack Nicholson’s much darker take on the Joker, inside Tim Burton’s moodier world, aimed to get away from the brighter, more childish world that Joker had previously inhabited. That’s one of the reasons Nicholson took on the role – to be part of the transition from cartoon movie to cinema. And it worked – the film grossed over $400 million at the box office on a budget of $35 million.
Directed by Tim Burton, and starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Basinger, “Batman” holds a 77% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Batman
Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis when a deformed madman calling himself “The Joker” seizes control of Gotham’s criminal underworld.
No. 2: ‘Joker’ (2019) | Max
If there’s a sequel, you can be pretty sure the first one worked. “Joker II” drops into theaters Thursday, Oct. 5 in what seems to be a full-blown musical take featuring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn and Joaquin Phoenix returning as Joker.
In the first “Joker” film from 2019, Phoenix delivers a chilling origin story of Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian who spirals into madness and becomes the Joker. Set in a gritty, pre-Batman Gotham, the “Joker” explores societal decay and mental illness, with Phoenix’s transformative performance earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The film was nothing short of a phenom, taking in over $1 billion worldwide at the box office on a budget of $55 million.
“Joker” holds a 69% score on Rotten Tomatoes, directed by Todd Phillips, and stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, and Zazie Beetz.
Joker
During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.
No. 1: ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008) | Max
It was his career-defining role and one worth watching over and over again. Heath Ledger takes on the classic character in Christopher Nolan’s incredible film, “The Dark Knight” (2008), which redefines the Joker as an agent of chaos with no clear origin. In the film, the Joker pushes Batman (Christian Bale) and Gotham to their moral limits, forcing choices between chaos and order. Ledger’s unforgettable portrayal won him an Oscar posthumously and goes down as one of the best Joker performances ever.
Oh – and the film was an unmitigated success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide on a budget of $185 million. Ledger’s tragic death (his performance in “A Knight’s Tale” started my love affair with movies - RIP) soon after he finished filming adds an air of finality to his status as the best Joker ever.
“The Dark Knight” holds a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes, directed by Christopher Nolan, and stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, and Aaron Eckhart.
The Dark Knight
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.