As a child of the ’80s and ’90s, I’ve grown up with the Joker in my pop culture diet. From Mark Hamill’s iconic animated portrayals to Heath Ledger’s transformative performance, each actor has left an indelible mark on the character. But for me, there can only be one Joker to rule them all – Jack Nicholson in Batman (1989).
The Character Known as Multiple Nicknames: Clown Prince of Crime, Ace of Knaves, Juggalo Jesus, among others. This complex figure, who often seems mentally unstable, has numerous backstories and confrontations worthy of Gotham City, goes by many names, some more familiar than others. With each new Batman portrayal that reflects the times, a fresh Joker emerges, providing a counterpoint to the Caped Crusader’s essence. The Joker can be humorous, terrifying, or compassionate. At times, he doesn’t even need Batman. What ties together these diverse Jokers is their role as chaos agents, unpredictable elements in the storyline, and often a far cry from mental wellness. This versatility offers actors an exciting challenge, allowing them to either go over-the-top or delve into the twisted and strange. As the film Joker: Folie à Deux hits theaters this week, we’ve ranked every Joker movie performance from those that graced the silver screen, from masterpieces to animated adaptations that exceed expectations, to, well …
10.
Jared Leto, Suicide Squad
Do you know just how noxious your performance has to be to stand out as bad in a movie this messy? You gotta be leaving–Viola Davis–dead-rats levels of noxious. Backstage antics aside, Jared Leto plays Joker as the lamest, most generic, most first-thought version of “crazy.” And he does it while looking like a high-school bully in a bad sequel in the Zombies Disney Channel Original Movie Cinematic Universe. This iteration of the Joker story falls apart if you don’t believe Harley and Joker’s love. Margot Robbie is doing the absolute most to be the flirty Manic Pixie Dream Harley of any clownboy’s dreams, but the chemistry’s gotta go both ways. Leto’s Joker belongs on T-shirts at Lukewarm Topic. Call him BB-Gun Kelly. All that Method acting (more like methy acting) and for what?
9.
Barry Keoghan, The Batman
Too soon to say based off this cameo. All we know is he’s sart of like an evil porson.
8.
Kane Distler, The People’s Joker
In 2024’s top-rated Joker film, Distler’s portrayal of Mr. J, while impressive in its own right, is overshadowed by his dual role alongside another Joker-like character in Vera Drew’s revolutionary pop art indie production, “The People’s Joker”. Distler cleverly adopts a satirical take on Leto’s version of the character, which adds layers to Leto’s interpretation. In this film, Distler’s Mr. J is an abusive boyfriend, yet he was also once a victim himself. Remarkably, he develops a complex relationship with the Harlequin Joker that seems more authentic than the one in “Suicide Squad”. The portrayal of a transgender Mr. J almost feels like a form of recompense for Leto’s questionable role in “Dallas Buyers Club”. Additionally, Distler is among the most attractive Jokers on this list.
7.
Zach Galifianakis, The Lego Batman Movie
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=keO-jgSCwhQ
In a different phrasing:
6.
Cesar Romero, Batman (1966)
I love Cesar Romero’s Joker. I’m of the apparently edgy, alt opinion that clowns should be funny. So sue me. Romero invented the Joker performance, and all of these subsequent Jokers are in his debt. Romero’s Joker is Adam West’s groovy camp foil. To think it took until 2024 before we got another Joker as joyously queer as this is alarming! But this list is based only on movie performances, so I’m not factoring Romero’s fine work across three television seasons into this ranking. And sadly, in the movie, he’s not given terribly much to do. This is a Rogues Gallery Batman plot, and the order of villain significance in this film goes Catwoman, Penguin, Joker, Riddler. There’s a humorous and nonsensical subplot about how the bad guys have kidnapped a ship captain and are gaslighting him into thinking he’s still on his ship, and Romero gets to have some fun Yo-Ho-Hoeing and all that. Still, his role is mostly to react and to maniacally laugh, and he doesn’t even have the most distinctive laugh in the movie; that would be The Penguin’s wah wah wah.
5.
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
In a captivating manner, Joaquin Phoenix delivers a remarkable performance as a man portraying fragile, tormented, enigmatic characters, reaching the pinnacle of this talent in Todd Phillips’ “Joker”. The movie allows him to fully explore these tendencies, creating an intriguing spectacle. Watching Phoenix manipulate his bony, peculiar physique into scenarios where Arthur Fleck appears out of place is visually striking and engaging. The transformation from tranquil to turbulent moments is particularly noteworthy.
4.
Vera Drew, The People’s Joker
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=SqOcxL3LkHo
In an unprecedented portrayal this year, possibly even among notable performances, the fearless interpretation of the Joker doesn’t emerge from the film “Folie à Deux.” Instead, it is the brainchild of writer, director, and editor Vera Drew, who stars as “Joker the Harlequin” in her autobiographical, unauthorized antihero origin story titled “The People’s Joker.” In this film, Drew weaves her personal journey of self-discovery as a trans woman within the tumultuous, dualistic world of LA alt comedy with the darker, quirkier corners of Batman comics and films. As both the Joker and Harley Quinn of the movie, she skillfully blends elements from DC comics, ’90s Batman movies, and even “Joker” and “Suicide Squad,” creating a psychedelic Gotham City populated by gatekeepers, posers, and a digitally-nude CGI Lorne Michaels. The film is both laugh-out-loud funny, oddly endearing, and divisive (with Drew’s Batman character being a groomer), but it is also surprisingly heartfelt, thanks to Drew’s sincere performance that combines biting wit with raw vulnerability and authenticity. The closing musical number in the film surpasses any musical numbers from “Joker 2” by Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, without resorting to violence or aggression while singing the Carpenters or similar artists. This indie sensation suggests that if popular culture is saturated with superhero narratives, we, the people, should be given the freedom to shape our own art using these characters and worlds – much like commedia dell’arte, which was all about clowns and Harlequins anyway. Drew’s Joker the Harlequin hijacks the creative process and takes us on a wild ride through everything that nerds hold dear. Needless to say, this is classic Joker behavior.
3.
Mark Hamill, Mask of the Phantasm and The Killing Joke
Hey there! I’ve got a suggestion for rephrasing that text in a more conversational and easy-to-understand manner:
2.
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
There’s not much left to be said about Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker; it has become a performance of legend with profound, melancholic backstory and an impact on pop culture that persists over a decade and a half. Re-watching the film as an adult, I was astounded to learn that Ledger was only 28 when principal photography started. This Joker is a veteran, having lived multiple lives, limping around like a strange outcast and emitting a peculiar lizard-like cackle between his twisted lip smacks. He’s both genuinely terrifying and comedic when needed. Ledger provided us with the Joker for this century, transforming the character into a mythical figure, akin to a secular Satan, whose tale Hollywood can’t seem to resist retelling, for better or worse. While many consider Ledger as their favorite Joker, I hold a differing opinion; in my view, there is only one Joker who rules them all…
1.
Jack Nicholson, Batman (1989)
It was undoubtedly Jack Nicholson who portrayed the Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman, a role that made history with his unique deal conditions. He requested and received a portion of the film’s box office earnings, which amounted to approximately $90 million in 1989. Every penny of this investment is evident in Nicholson’s captivating performance as Jack Napier, the Joker.
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2024-10-04 22:54