Ranking The Jokers (Worst to Best)

Believe it or not, we’re getting another Joker in the form of Joaquin Phoenix produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by Todd Philips (of Old School/The Hangover trilogy fame).

There won’t be any Batman (from what I can tell) so I guess they’re really testing the limits of the theory that Batman’s villains are the true draw and he’s not needed on a big scale here. That led me to thinking about how the Batmen were ranked and I realized it’s time to rank the many Joker performances!

[NOTE: If you don’t see someone on this list… I’m probably aware of but not properly acquainted with the performance]

Actor/Rank:
#12- Michael Emerson

Main Credits:
The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012)
The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013)

Why Though:
This is not a reflection of how much I like these movies. I really liked them a lot! Unfortunately, the voice acting always felt off to me. There was a stilted cadence to almost everyone. And I never got the right Joker vibe from Michael’s performance.

Actor/Rank:
#11- Jared Leto

Main Credits:
Suicide Squad (2016)

Why Though:
I get that people don’t like this movie. I even get that people specifically don’t like Jared’s take on Joker in particular. I’m not the biggest Jared Leto fan either, however, I don’t think anyone got to see Jared’s performance for real. We saw what a company who pieces together trailers pieced together. That doesn’t mean this would be an amazing performance if we saw what was intended, but it does mean I’m inclined to shoot Mr. Leto some bail. His laugh worked for me, and I feel like if we got to see him before Suicide Squad it might have helped.

Actor/Rank:
#10- Tony Hale

Main Credits:
Batman Ninja (2018)

Why Though:
I’ll be honest, this movie has amazing visuals… but that’s about it. I almost fell asleep watching it, and that’s not usually my style. One shining spot in terms of voice acting is how Tony Hale takes some notes of Buster Bluth and creates a pretty energetic Joker. Granted Batman Ninja is truly a Joker story, so Tony Hale gets the most time to flesh out his performance but it’s still an interesting take.

Actor/Rank:
#9- Troy Baker

Main Credits:
Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)
Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)

Why Though:
Origins is known as “the other Arkham game.” The O.G. voice cast didn’t get invited back and the creative team wasn’t invited either. All of that to say that the game had a lot going against it. I didn’t finish it but I did enjoy the elements that I played. Joker was a big part of what I liked. What I remember the most about the performance is how Joker responds to being saved by Batman in the game. So I don’t think this is a stand out performance just a good performance in a very well written role. Assault on Arkham is how the Suicide Squad movie should have gone. I didn’t remember it was Troy though so I guess that speaks to the lack of a stamp Troy put on this role.

Actor/Rank:
#8- Zach Galifanakis

Main Credits:
The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

Why Though:
Talk about a Hangover connection! The best part of the first Hangover movie, Zach Galifanakis, was the voice of Joker in the surprisingly well done LEGO Batman movie. I didn’t really think of it as a proper Joker performance but it was a very interesting take of Joker needing Batman to acknowledge that they are in fact arch nemeses.

Actor/Rank:
#7- Kevin Michael Richardson

Main Credits:
The Batman (2004)

Why Though:
I mean props to the colour blind casting of one of my favourite voice actors, Kevin Michael Richardson. I didn’t watch much of The Batman but anytime I saw the joker I thought it was a cool take. I guess I could take offence at the fact that this joker seemed to be designed as less human… hence a black guy voicing him, but I decided not to dwell on that or really engage with the show.

Actor/Rank:
#6- John DiMaggio

Main Credits:
Under the Red Hood (2010)

Why Though:
I’ll completely cop to the fact that this portrayal of Joker is so high up because of the movie it’s in. Under the Red Hood ties in the Death In The Family storyline I really dig, and has a great scene between Red Hood and Batman. But that doesn’t mean that John doesn’t make for a great Joker in this movie. He’s vicious and more importantly not just a riff on other characters Mr. DiMaggio has done.

Actor/Rank:
#5- Cameron Monaghan

Main Credits:
Gotham (2014)

Why Though:
I can’t believe I haven’t stopped watching Gotham. It is a shows that makes no sense to me, but I do appreciate how the villains are portrayed. That includes whatever it is they think they’re doing with Cameron Monaghan playing twins who are clearly Joker. The first twin got to be the faceless joker that was recently in the comics, and I feel like the second twin is a more classic take on Joker. Either way I dig it.

Actor/Rank:
#4- Cesar Romero

Main Credits:
Batman (1966)
Batman: The Movie (1966)

Why Though:
My first encounter with Joker was through Cesar Romero’s painted over moustache. It’s great for introducing the Joker character, to be sure, so you gotta respect it, but the next three entries are about people doing something that built on this great performance, or made something different.

Actor/Rank:
#3- Jack Nicholson

Main Credits:
Batman (1989)

Why Though:
I absolutely loved Jack Nicholson as Joker. It’s the role that made me feel like I had to see everything else he did. Jack has something most other Jokers doesn’t have. Quotables! “You ever dance with the devil in the pale moon light?” or “This town needs an enema!” Jack didn’t just have a great laugh and a great entrance to a museum; he had lines that people still quote! McLovin even quoted Jack’s Joker in Kick-Ass!!! You gotta give it up for Tim and Jack for creating something that doesn’t just feel like a rip-off of Cesar.

Actor/Rank:
#2- Mark Hamill

Credits:
Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Batman Beyond (1999)
Justice League (2001)
Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
Batman: Arkham City (2011)
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)

Why Though:
It’s ill that the same person gets to the definitive hero in Luke Skywalker for a generation and, arguably, the definitive Joker for another generation. It’s hard not to be disappointed when you hear someone else do Joker's voice in animation or a video game. We’ve obviously had the most time with Mark’s Joker.

Actor/Rank:
#1- Heath Ledger

Credits:
The Dark Knight (2008)

Why Though:
This isn’t just because it’s a performance in the best Christopher Nolan film. This is because it’s a performance where the actor completely disappears and all that’s left is JOKER. People can play the he wouldn’t have won the Oscar if he didn’t die game all they want but that’s a moot point. Heath Ledger gave an amazing performance in The Dark Knight. It’s not the same vibe of A Knight’s Tale, Monster’s Ball, or Brokeback Mountain. This was something different and something special.

-YG