In today’s cinematic climate, one doesn't have to go far to find an impressive villain. In fact, villains are often more popular than some of their corresponding heroes. Baddies like Darth Vader, Sauron, Scar, Thanos and Hannibal Lecter appear in very different movies. However, the fact remains that their characters made a mark on their respective pockets of cinema in a big way. Arguably, though, the villain that made the biggest mark -- and still causes a healthy bit of controversy -- is the Joker.
Of course, it’s not like the Joker’s character is controversial. Rather, it’s the Batman fans who might as well be waging wars while debating their opinions on the best Joker portrayal. There’s been a number of actors who have portrayed the classic villain over the years, and it seems like everyone has a strong opinion on who did it best. The bottom line is that fans will likely never be able to settle on the best Joker, but critics seem to have a clear favorite for the title of “Best Live-Action Joker.”
A Brief History of Film's Live-Action Jokers
Batman first appeared in 1940’s Batman #1, but he didn’t appear in live-action until the 1960s when Cesar Romero played the Clown Prince of Crime alongside Adam West’s Batman. Romero’s portrayal was less intense and less murderous than more recent versions. Jack Nicholson was the next actor to take on the Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman. Giving fans a much more sadistic and ruthless portrayal than his predecessor, Nicholson helped define what the Joker has become more recently.
Next up was Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan’s film was grounded in reality more so than the previous two versions. As a result, his Joker was all the more terrifying. While keeping his twisted humor, Ledger’s Joker played off of public fear of terrorism while inciting chaos. Jarod Leto also briefly took on the role in 2016’s Suicide Squad, but many fans disliked his urbanized version of the character. Finally, Joaquin Phoenix played the famous villain in 2019’s Joker. That film received a lot of praise, and most fans loved Phoenix’s bleak portrayal of the Joker’s origin.
Critics Declare Heath Ledger’s Joker the Top Live-Action Portrayal
From Romero’s practical jokes as a clown in a purple suit to Phoenix’s chaos-inspired psychologically-thrilling adaptation, it’s obvious that the Joker has evolved a lot over the years. Thus, comparing the characters is difficult because each one played the character in a totally different time period with totally different expectations. That also explains why so many fans are so vehement that their favorite Joker is the best -- because it's likely the version they grew up with.
With all of that said, critical response has a clear favorite. Critic scores put The Dark Knight significantly higher than any other version, earning an impressive 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic. Whereas the runner-up, Batman: The Movie (1966), sits significantly lower at 79 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic.
While it’s far from a perfect rating system (because critics rate the film as a whole), not a specific character) there is still a clear consensus. The Dark Knight is the best Batman movie, and Heath Ledger’s Joker was a huge part of that success. Additional proof of the critical consensus comes from the multiple awards that the film won. Ledger posthumously took home the title of Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Golden Globe Awards and the BAFTAs. So, while fans can't settle on the best Joker, at least the critics have spoken.