Listed here are all 6 Joker actors ranked, from worst to finest.

Additionally, we’re solely counting movie Jokers, and never animated ones.

Disagree? Nice, that’s what the feedback are for. Right here we go.

Joaquin Phoenix

The emperor has no garments. We all know: Joaquin Phoenix’s tackle The Joker in Joker was a spectacular success, bringing in a billion {dollars} and profitable Phoenix an Oscar for Greatest Actor.

Properly, everybody was unsuitable. It was painful to observe Phoenix’s Joker ham it up by some nonsensical psychological situation cobbled collectively from superior films like Taxi Driver and Struggle Membership.

Phoenix’s Joker was cool visually — his emaciated physique was extra resonant than any of his dialogue — however his knockoff Travis Bickle felt so disconnected from any actual human being that he and his film had no stakes. He was the very last thing the Joker must be: boring.

Jared Leto

What if The Joker have been scorching? That appears to be the odd method to Jared Leto’s Joker of Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. He got here off like a kind of attractive influencers continuously insisting that they’re “deep” and “advanced.” Not one for subtlety — he’s The Joker — he even had the phrase “Broken” tattooed on his brow.

This can be a matter of non-public style, however we desire the thought of The Joker as a miscreant who might by no means survive in well mannered society, irrespective of how onerous he would possibly attempt, who turns to The Joker persona out of desperation. Leto’s Joker might have simply give up crime to enter modeling.

There have been some cool issues about Jared Leto’s Joker, for certain. He had the most effective garments of any Joker, and we preferred how he took trend and tattoo inspiration from East L.A. gangsters. However perhaps he ought to have simply been a brand new character, not The Joker.

Barry Keoghan

2022’s The Batman went in the other way from Jared Leto’s attractive Joker, portraying The Joker as having some form of sophisticated pores and skin situation that appears like a cross between burns and syphilis, along with his demented grin.

We predict Barry Keoghan is among the finest actors round, however we will’t abide by the choice to provide him glorified cameo standing as an fellow Arkham resident who cheerleads Paul Dano’s (terrific) Riddler. Keoghan will get extra to do in a deleted scene that basically ought to have been within the film.

Many variations of The Joker appears to make use of a pretense of comedy to masks profound despair and melancholy, however Keoghan’s appears to be simply depressed and low vitality. He doesn’t have the plain presence of the most effective Jokers.

He’ll reportedly return within the subsequent Batman movie, and can hopefully have extra to do.

Jack Nicholson

It was nice to see Jack Nicholson pop up on the Saturday Evening Reside fiftieth Anniversary present on Sunday, reminding everybody of what a cool display screen presence he’s at all times had.

Talking of cool: He appeared a little bit above Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman — he didn’t telephone it in, precisely, however he additionally prevented exploring any actual ache or messiness in his model of the Clown Prince of Crime. He simply appeared like he was having enjoyable.

One factor we particularly like about Nicholson’s Joker is that not like all of the others, he actually did have pale pores and skin and inexperienced hair, a consequence of a protracted dip in an enormous vat at Axis Chemical compounds. We weren’t as offered on his curiosity in artwork, which appeared like too many issues, or the notion that he killed Bruce’s dad and mom, which felt a little bit on the nostril.

Cesar Romero

Some folks would deduct factors for Cesar Romero’s refusal to shave his mustache to play The Joker within the 1966 Batman movie and the 1966-68 TV sequence. However we like it: It’s probably the most Joker factor he might presumably do. It’s a very anarchic, middle-finger-to-the-world stage of dedication — or refusal to commit — that’s as Joker as you may get.

We additionally discover Romero’s Joker effortlessly creepy in a manner no different Joker is. He’s form of suave and dashing, which makes him someway much more grotesque. His voice, alternately sinewy and gravelly, is compelling. And his chortle is the most effective of any Joker’s. He additionally had the most effective hair, particularly when it bounced as he shook with rage.

You bought the sense that he thought his entire ensemble — the purple go well with, the inexperienced hair — regarded good. Moderately than seeming ashamed of his look, he appeared useless, which gave him an unnerving aspect of narcissism. You’ll be able to say his Joker was too broad, however come on: He’s a prison who attire like a clown to play to a budget seats. He set the usual for all future Jokers.

Heath Ledger

Just one actor has gotten The Joker precisely proper, honoring the comic-book legacy of The Joker whereas grounding him utterly in actuality. In Christopher Nolan’s The Darkish Knight, Heath Ledger delivered a Gen X Joker, pragmatic and indifferent — so indifferent that he appears meta.

He refuses to reveal an origin story, as an alternative providing a number of — one in all some ways he maintains a jittery sense of perpetual menace. However the true pleasure of The Darkish Knight is realizing that regardless of his raveled look and chaotic look, the war-painted misanthrope is probably the most meticulous planner in Gotham, whether or not robbing a financial institution of staging an ethical showdown between ferry passengers.

“His Joker was deeply, deeply warped and broken, although you by no means discover out precisely why, or what he’s actually on the lookout for,” Ledger’s Darkish Knight co-star, Michael Caine, observes in his current memoir. “Wanting again, I feel Heath’s excellence made all of us increase our recreation. The psychological battle between The Joker and Batman is totally riveting. Are they in any manner the identical? What nudges one man to do good, and the opposite to do evil? The Joker needs to torment Bruce by convincing him that they’re two of a form.”

Ledger earned a posthumous Oscar for Greatest Supporting Actor for his efficiency within the movie. Sadly, he died earlier than its launch.

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You may additionally like this record of all 7 Batman actors ranked worst to finest.

Fundamental picture: Batman. Warner Bros.