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The Definitive List: All 8 Live-Action Movies Featuring The Joker (Including The 2024 Flop)

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The Joker is arguably the most iconic and enduring villain in cinematic history, a character so complex that his on-screen portrayals have won two different actors Academy Awards. This enduring fascination has led to a constantly evolving filmography, with a new generation of fans discovering the Clown Prince of Crime with every new release. The most recent addition, *Joker: Folie à Deux* (2024), has fundamentally reshaped the character’s legacy, delivering a musical spectacle that has sparked massive debate among fans and critics alike.

As of December 22, 2025, the cinematic journey of the Joker spans over six decades, featuring a diverse range of interpretations that reflect the cultural anxieties of their respective eras. From the campy, prankster aesthetic of the 1960s to the gritty, psychological realism of the 21st century, understanding the Joker's film appearances requires a full chronological breakdown of his reign of chaos on the big screen.

The Complete Cinematic Biography of Every Live-Action Joker Actor

The Joker's unique power lies in his ability to be reinvented. Five major actors have taken on the role in live-action theatrical films, each leaving an indelible mark on the character’s mythology and contributing to his rich cinematic evolution.

  • César Romero (1907–1994)
    • Key Role: The Joker in *Batman* (1966)
    • Portrayal: The original live-action Clown Prince of Crime. His version was a flamboyant, campy "giggle-meister" whose crimes were elaborate, theatrical pranks. Romero famously refused to shave his mustache, which is visible under his white makeup.
    • Legacy: Established the character's visual template and served as the first major DC villain in film.
  • Jack Nicholson (Born 1937)
    • Key Role: Jack Napier / The Joker in *Batman* (1989)
    • Portrayal: A ruthless, gangster clown who is obsessed with art and media. Nicholson’s high-profile casting and performance blended the character’s comic book roots with a dark, Gothic edge, defining the villain for a generation.
    • Legacy: His performance was a box office phenomenon and remains one of the most beloved and quoted takes on the character.
  • Heath Ledger (1979–2008)
    • Key Role: The Joker in *The Dark Knight* (2008)
    • Portrayal: The Anarchist Joker. A scarred, chaotic agent of mayhem with no clear origin, focused on exposing the corruption of society. His method acting resulted in a performance widely regarded as the definitive best Joker performance.
    • Legacy: Won a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, cementing his version as a cultural benchmark for psychological villains.
  • Jared Leto (Born 1971)
    • Key Role: The Joker in *Suicide Squad* (2016) and *Zack Snyder's Justice League* (2021)
    • Portrayal: A modern, tattooed gang leader version, heavily influenced by modern hip-hop culture. His brief but polarizing appearances were part of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) continuity.
    • Legacy: His interpretation is often cited as the most divisive and controversial among the major film portrayals.
  • Joaquin Phoenix (Born 1974)
    • Key Role: Arthur Fleck / The Joker in *Joker* (2019) and *Joker: Folie à Deux* (2024)
    • Portrayal: A troubled, isolated stand-up comedian whose descent into madness is chronicled in a standalone, R-rated psychological thriller. This character exists within the separate DC Elseworlds banner.
    • Legacy: Won the Academy Award for Best Actor, making the Joker the first character to be played by two Oscar-winning actors. His films explore themes of mental health and societal neglect.

The Full List of Live-Action Joker Movie Appearances

Tracing the Joker movie timeline reveals a fascinating history of adaptation, where each director and actor sought to redefine the character for their time. The following list includes all major theatrical releases featuring the villain, ordered by release date.

1. Batman (1966)

The first major cinematic outing for the Caped Crusader and his arch-nemesis. César Romero's Joker was a colorful, over-the-top villain whose plots involved giant magnets and de-hydrating the world's leaders. The film is a direct continuation of the highly popular 1960s TV series, fully embracing the camp aesthetic of the time.

2. Batman (1989)

Director Tim Burton’s dark, Gothic reboot elevated the Joker from a prankster to a homicidal artist. Jack Nicholson's performance as Jack Napier, the mobster who falls into a vat of chemicals, provided a clear origin story—a narrative choice that has since been both embraced and rejected by later interpretations. This film was a cultural juggernaut, proving the financial viability of dark superhero films.

3. The Dark Knight (2008)

Often considered the pinnacle of the character's cinematic life, Heath Ledger's Joker redefined the villain for the modern era. Christopher Nolan’s grounded, realistic approach presented the Joker not as a costumed criminal, but as a pure agent of chaos. The film’s success led to a massive shift in how superhero movies were viewed by critics and audiences, earning over $1 billion worldwide.

4. Suicide Squad (2016)

Jared Leto introduced a heavily stylized version of the Joker into the nascent DCEU. His portrayal was a chaotic, platinum-toothed gangster, primarily focused on his relationship with Dr. Harleen Quinzel, who becomes his partner-in-crime, Harley Quinn. While the film was a commercial success, Leto’s take was largely overshadowed by other characters and received mixed reviews.

5. Joker (2019)

A massive critical and commercial success, *Joker* offered a standalone origin story for Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill man failed by society who evolves into the Joker. The film was a non-traditional comic book movie, functioning more as a character study and a dark social commentary. Its success validated the DC Elseworlds strategy, proving that non-connected, R-rated superhero content could thrive. The film crossed the $1 billion mark globally.

6. Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

This director's cut of the 2017 film included a new scene featuring Jared Leto's Joker in a "Knightmare" sequence alongside Ben Affleck's Batman. Although brief, this scene provided a more nuanced, post-apocalyptic take on Leto’s character, offering fans a glimpse of their long-standing rivalry in a desolate future.

7. The Batman (2022)

In a very brief, uncredited cameo, actor Barry Keoghan appears as a scarred, monstrous version of the Joker, locked away in Arkham Asylum. His scene with Robert Pattinson’s Batman sets up the potential for a new, terrifying interpretation of the character within Matt Reeves’ Bat-Verse, further diversifying the Joker's cinematic universe.

The Shocking Box Office and Critical Reception of Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

The latest entry in the Joker’s filmography, *Joker: Folie à Deux*, arrived in theaters on October 4, 2024, and has become the most talked-about film of the year for all the wrong reasons. The sequel, which saw Joaquin Phoenix return alongside Lady Gaga as Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn, was a highly anticipated jukebox musical drama. The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and was quickly released globally.

However, unlike its predecessor, which was a critical darling and a box office smash, *Folie à Deux* faced a brutally negative reception. Critics panned the film, and it became a major commercial disappointment.

  • Critical Flop: The sequel was plagued by negative reviews, with many critics finding the musical elements jarring and the plot unfocused.
  • Box Office Disappointment: Despite a massive budget (estimated between $190–200 million), the film grossed only $207.5 million worldwide. This modest return, compared to the original's $1 billion, resulted in a significant financial loss for Warner Bros. Discovery, with some estimates citing a loss of over $144 million.
  • Streaming Release: The film quickly moved to streaming, becoming available on Max on December 13, 2024.

The underwhelming performance of *Joker: Folie à Deux* serves as a stark reminder that even the most beloved and Oscar-winning characters are not immune to creative risks. It has sparked a widespread discussion about the future of the DC Elseworlds concept and whether a third installment, often referred to as Joker 3, will ever see the light of day. For now, the Joker's cinematic journey remains a fascinating, volatile, and ever-changing saga.

movies with the joker in them
movies with the joker in them

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