9 Best Joker Performances in Movies, TV, and Games

The Joker has been around for almost as long as Batman himself. And beyond the comics, more than a dozen actors in film and TV have played the iconic villain. Check out our ranked list of the best Joker performances across film, TV, and games.

Troy Baker's rendition of Joker in Batman: Arkham Origins may not be the most original, but it’s to be commended for how well it emulates Mark Hamill’s portrayal. From the signature laugh to the playful but maniacal delivery, Baker served as a solid replacement in Hamill’s absence during the Arkham series prequel.

Jeff Bennett portrayed Joker in the lighter, Silver Age-inspired Batman: Brave & the Bold animated series. Similar to co-star Diedrich Bader's portrayal of Batman in the show, Bennett's performance is self-aware and exuberant. It hits comical notes reminiscent of the campiest Joker performances, echoing the quirky behavior of actors Cesar Romero, Larry Storch, and Lennie Weinrib. Bennett embraces the childish and funny side of the Joker; a side we often forget exists in interpretations of the character after the more grounded and psychotic portrayals in recent years.

Joker in Frank Miller’s "The Dark Knight Returns" story arc is one of the most frightening interpretations of the character in comic book history. That’s why when a film adaptation of the famous arc was announced, we all wondered who would be able to live up to Miller’s iconic rendition. Fortunately, Lost actor Michael Emerson settled into the role with ease, providing a chilling, methodical performance that captures the overwhelming fear and trepidation we feel from the mere presence of Miller's Joker.

John DiMaggio's portrayal of Joker in Batman: Under the Red Hood is one of the most memorable animated performances of the character in some time. His Joker is brutal and unhinged, which is a fitting portrayal for a rendition of the character responsible for "murdering" Jason Todd--Batman's second Robin. DiMaggio pulls no punches in his delivery, calling to mind the sociopathic qualities of Heath Ledger's Joker and the comical charm of Mark Hamill's.

It doesn't get quite as campy as Cesar Romero's performance as Joker in Batman: The TV Show, but like his co-star Adam West's Batman, that's precisely why he’s so memorable. Romero goes full-cheese, embracing the zany antics of Joker’s Silver Age of Comics counterpart. He's more of a menacing clown prankster than the homicidal sociopath that creators Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson originally envisioned. But Romero’s unwavering, joyous countenance is so over-the-top, that you can’t help but be entertained. While hardcore comic book Joker fans may commonly look down upon his portrayal, Romero remains an iconic performance that helped introduce the character into the cultural zeitgeist.

Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad is a reminder of how much of a rock star the character has become over the years. Following in the footsteps of Heath Ledger, Leto’s portrayal oozes charisma, calling attention to himself like the lead singer of a band, and all the while, we’re the drove of fans in the audience rushing before him trying to get a glimpse of what he’ll do next. His Joker is psychotic, violent, and unpredictable. He has a certain mystique and physicality to him that--despite lacking any meaningful qualities thanks to the thinly layered plot he’s thrown into--manages to pull us in. While we only got to see Leto for a brief time in Suicide Squad, we remain eager to see what more he can bring to Joker in future DC films.

Jack Nicholson’s performance as Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman sticks true to the interpretation of the character from the Golden Age of Comics, emphasizing his qualities as a criminal mastermind with a psychotic, twisted sense of humor. Nicholson is menacing and violent, but unlike the other darker Joker portrayals in this list, he never hesitates to make a joke or pull off a gag. His portrayal is by far the most iconic in film history, as he was the first to redefine who the Joker was to prior generations who might’ve only known him through Romero’s performance in Batman: The TV Show.

Heath Ledger’s grounded portrayal of Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight is mesmerizing. He fully immerses himself in the role, never hesitating to show us how sinister and methodical his interpretation of the character is. He’s murderous, chaotic, and completely heartless; you cannot help but be captivated by him. Ledger’s Joker is unnervingly charismatic, and by far one of the most memorable interpretations of the character ever created.

Mark Hamill is the best voice actor to ever play the role of Joker. His performances as the character in Batman: The Animated Series and the recent Arkham series games are some of the most iconic. The overwhelming sense of tension that underlies his Joker is incomparable; where one moment he might seem silly and playful, in the next he can instantly haunt us with a spine tingling laugh and a violent disposition. No other voice actor can touch the level of nuance and rapture felt in every line spoken by Hamill as Joker. His performance is quintessential, and it's the one we instantly hear when we think of Joker.