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One of the few comic villains whose popularity outshines even the hero is the Joker, first introduced in DC Comics’ Batman #1 in 1940, created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson. Initially portrayed as a sadistic psychopath, the clown was later turned into a prankster, before returning to his darker personality. He was initially a silly character in films and TV series as well, before turning bleak.
While Batman has faced several villains, the Prince of Crime is his arch-nemesis. His origin story has never been defined, with the most popular interpretation being that he fell into a vat of chemicals, which turned his skin white and his hair green. Apart from comics, the clown has been reprised in TV shows, animated series, video games, and live-action movies.
The below mentioned list only deals with his appearances in live-action films. The movies starring the Joker are not connected since each of them is part of a different franchise, so viewers can watch them in any sequence. However, here we have them listed by their release dates.
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Movies featuring the Joker in order of release date
1) Batman (1966) - Amazon Prime Video
The first live-action movie featuring the Joker was the Batman movie from 1966, where Cesar Romero played the role of the much-revered villain. He even played the character for three seasons in the TV series.
Romero's performance was campy and goofy, as the comic books were not taken seriously unlike now. But even though his reprisal is not as demented as the later versions, the actor's portrayal was much appreciated at the time.
2) Batman (1989) - Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Tim Burton, the 1989 Batman movie saw Jack Nicholson portray the role of the clown. This was the first movie where the arch nemesis of Batman was given a back story and was shown in a darker perspective.
The Joker is first introduced as Jack Napier, a mob enforcer, and the man who killed Batman’s parents. But after falling into a vat of chemicals, he gets his iconic bleached face and green hair. Now a crime boss out to kill Batman, Nicholson’s portrayal was a huge success.
3) The Dark Knight (2008) - Netflix
One of the most famous live-action portrayals to date, Heath Ledger’s adaptation of Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight received widespread critical and popular acclaim. His depiction was that of a pure psychopath, out to create chaos in Gotham City.
Interestingly, throughout the film, Ledger's Joker comes up with several stories about his facial scar, further adding to his mysterious persona. Philosophically bent, this clown villain also taunted people on their morality.
4) Suicide Squad (2016) - Amazon Prime Video
One of the most controversial adaptations, Suicide Squad introduced viewers to Jared Leto’s clown. Even though most of his scenes were removed, people were still displeased.
Like Nicholson’s reprisal, here the supervillain was shown as a crime boss too. However, his bright purple coat and multiple tattoos were not appreciated by the fans. On the other hand, this movie brought the character of Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie, to the screen which received widespread praise.
5) Joker (2019) - Amazon Prime Video
From the most controversial to the most praised portrayal in recent times, Joaquin Phoenix’s reprisal was showered with widespread praise and acclaim. The solo movie, focusing exclusively on the Joker, was set before Batman came into the picture.
The 2019 film changes his origin story to one known as Arthur Fleck, who is a failed stand-up comedian and a clown. The bleakest out of all adaptations, this movie shows Fleck on the brink of insanity and the moment he finally snaps, becoming the Joker we all know now.
6) Justice League (2021) - Apple TV+
Following a campaign by fans on social media, Zack Snyder decided to release the director’s cut version of Justice League, where Jared Leto was the Joker. In this version, Leto’s reprisal received much better reviews than Suicide Squad.
In the film, the clown villain is seen teamed up with Batman in the epilogue, after the Knightmare timeline (a point in the future where Earth is destroyed). However, there’s no confirmed news of any new Justice League movie by Zack Snyder.
7) The Batman (2022) - Amazon Prime Video
The Matt Reeves’ version of Batman saw Robert Pattinson play the hero. While Paul Dano’s Riddler and Colin Farrell’s Penguin are the central villains in the movie, the clown also left his mark in a few scenes.
Played by Barry Keoghan, the Joker has already met Batman and is in the Arkham Asylum before the events of the film unfold. In a deleted scene, we see more of Barry’s clown, as Batman consults him about Riddler’s destruction.
Apart from these live-action reprisals of the villain, we also see him in flashbacks in Birds of Prey in 2020. Fans of the supervillain can get excited as Joaquin Phoenix’s sequel, Joker: Folie á Deux, is releasing on October 4, 2024. The upcoming movie will be part musical, featuring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn.
