The Joker is, along with Batman, one of the most expensive DC characters he has ever had and it is normal since he appears in numerous films. Some exclusively his, such as the one recently starring Joaquin Phoenix. These are all the movies the Joker appears in.
Who is joker
The Joker, who is also known in some countries as Joker or Joker, is one of DC’s most popular characters and one of Batman’s greatest enemies. Although the most significant thing about the character is that, unlike many others, he has managed to penetrate the fans to the point of being one of the favorites of many. But what are its origins.
The Joker was created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson for DC and first saw the light of day in the first issue of the Batman comic book in 1940 . Since then, he has been one of Gotham City’s best-known criminals and the batman’s main enemy.
Regarding its origins, the story has been changing as new comics, books, series and movies were published. But if there is something that is maintained in practically each and every one of these productions, it is the personality with psychopathic airs and a quite twisted humor.
Despite all this or because of all this, the character of the Joker has managed to captivate many of us and have earned him to be one of the best known villains . Moreover, there are those who think that there is no better antagonist of any other hero than him. And they may be right, especially when you see some interpretations that certain actors made of it in the cinema.
All the movies where the Joker appears
As we have said, the Joker is one of the most popular characters in the DC universe and Batman stories. That has meant that the character has been seen in movies on several occasions. Some of them even as the main protagonist. So, if you like and interest, these are all the occasions in which Joker appeared on the big screen.
Batman: The Movie (1966)
Adam West was the first Batman in history and how could it be otherwise the Joker was his enemy. In Batman: The Movie , a film directed by Leslie H. Martinson, the role of Joker was played by Cesar Romero .
Like that first Batman, Romero’s role as Joker was neither as dark nor sinister as it would appear years later. If in some stories the also known as Joker or Joker was simply engaged in playing jokes in bad taste, here he exploited that simpleton role. Still, there he remains as one of the first to make this psychopathic clown his own.
Batman (1989)
Batman was released in 1989 , a film that many of us will remember for various reasons and one of them being the interpretation of the character by the popular actor Jack Nicholson .
The Tim Burton tape explained the origin of Joker, a Gotham criminal who after falling into a container with acid is disfigured with that particular and disturbing “smile”. Without a doubt, one of the best Joker or so we thought, until other actors with much darker roles were arriving.
The Dark Knight (2008)
There were many successes of The Dark Knight that Christopher Nolan directed and that placed Christian Bale as Batman, but there is no discussion in which the best of all was to choose Heath Ledger as Joker.
The actor left us with one of the most faithful interpretations of the Joker idea that many of us have in mind after reading numerous comics. And it is that among the much more mature and dark tone of said Nolan trilogy, the clown who showed us this second installment was exquisite in every way.
It is true that later other great actors would arrive playing Joker as we will see, but after seeing the role of Ledger many decided that there was no going back: from then on he would be the best Joker in history.
Suicide Squad (2016)
In Suicide Squad the Joker appeared, but by far with the prominence that he has had or enjoyed in other films. Here, played by Jared Leto, his aesthetics attracted a lot of attention, which despite preserving some characteristic elements such as the psychopathic smile also provided a much more excessive vision with tattoos and piercings.
It is a pity that in the final cut of the film you could not see all that work that has been talked about even by the actor himself. And it is that there was much more and hence Leto’s criticism and his intention to forget the character due to the lack of opportunities to demonstrate what he was capable of when he played him.
Joker (2019)
One of the best movies of 2019, at least for all of us who love the world of comics and the DC universe. Played by Joaquin Phoenix , this was not just another Batman movie in which he would play his role as antagonist but instead would be the exclusive protagonist of it.
With a fabulous performance, Joaquin Phoenix introduced us to the story that gave rise to the Joker. A character that is not really discovered as such until the end of it, when … Well, we will not tell you anything to avoid possible spoilers so that you still have an interest in seeing it. Because you should, it’s an amazing movie.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
In the latest version of Justice League, the Snyder Cut, we see the Joker again and he is played by the same actor who accidentally brought him to life in Suicide Squad: Jared Leto .
The actor did not have the opportunity to show his full worth in that first film. Decisions in the editing room seem to have deprived us of a greater depth in a character who this time painted differently from how we normally know him. With many tattoos, piercings and other excesses, now in the new Justice League movie it will be possible to see it again and what future could await the actor as Joker.
Other Jokers that have been seen on screen
Although the actors who have given life to the Joker on the big screen are the most recognizable and those who have helped the most to get to know the character, the truth is that he has also been played by other actors in productions such as live action television series and even animation.
In live action there are some actors who have also known how to give Joker a unique personality and style. Maybe not always achieving the best version of the criminal, but still they are worth being known as well.
For example, Cesar Romero not only played him in the movie but also in the 22 chapters of the Batman series where he once again shared the roster with Adam West as Batman. Although perhaps the most recent of all is Cameron Monaghan , who played the clown on the series Gotham .
Of course there are interpretations so varied in tone, style and character that surely everyone has their favorite Joker. Many will agree that Heath Ledger has been the most successful of all while others will bet on Joaquin Phoenix. Whatever it is, the best news is that this character has a lot to say and there are numerous actors capable of giving him their own personal stamp so that we can continue to enjoy his maddening laugh.