The Joker is DC’s most iconic villain. While this crown may have been held by Lex Luthor at some point, several amazing performances as the Clown Prince of Crime across several fantastic movies have elevated the Joker to dizzying heights of popularity.
This consistent love of the Joker, perhaps, started with Jack Nicholson’s performance in Batman 1989, persisted through Mark Hamill’s stellar portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series, and cumulated in Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight. This article will rank Joker’s film appearances according to power. Rather than focus on the quality of the actor’s performance, this list will focus on the power of the Joker in the film, whether it be physical or political.
Jason Spisak - Hush
Maybe it’s unfair to place Jason Spisak’s Joker on this list as he played a fairly small part in the recent movie adaption of Hush. However, while we didn’t get to see the Joker in his ‘prime’ in this iteration, we did least get to see him so he must be on this list.
In this movie, Joker is kidnapped by Harley Quinn, then ends up shooting Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend Thomas Elliot. After doing this, Batman beats Joker to a pulp. Consequently, Joker appeared in this to get kidnapped, kill a guy, then get beat up - not too powerful.
Joaquin Phoenix - Joker
2019’s Joker was an incredible movie. Taking inspiration from Scorsese classics such as the King of Comedy and Taxi Driver, Todd Phillips managed to craft a movie that superbly grounded the Joker into a 1980s world without Batman.
Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime was also superb, he perfectly captured the struggles of Arthur Fleck before he became Joker and managed to nail that difficult joker laugh. However, with regard to power, this Joker is not at all powerful. He does rely on luck at times throughout the movie and would have undoubtedly been stopped had Batman existed.
Jared Leto - Suicide Squad
Jared Leto’s performance and look as the Joker have been much criticized. While Leto has claimed that most of his scenes in Suicide Squad were unfairly cut from the final release, there is no doubt that Leto’s Joker represented a sharp turn from classic Joker, as this version featured tattoos, grills, and no eyebrows.
Regardless of his style in the movie, Joker also did not seem that powerful. While he was capable of breaking Harley out of prison several times, he wasn’t shown to bring a city to its knees like other versions of the Joker would do.
John DiMaggio - Under The Red Hood
This version of the Joker follows the character after he committed one of his most heinous crimes - the brutal murder of Jason Todd.
The movie follows Batman as he tries to stop the mysterious Red Hood from taking over the gangs in Gotham. While the Joker wasn’t shown to be exceptionally powerful in this movie, it does follow the villain after his most heinous crime and the Joker does also manage to defeat Black Mask in this movie. However, apart from that the Joker just gets beat up a lot.
Mark Hamill - Mask Of The Phantasm
Following on from the established canon in Batman: The Animated Series, Mask of the Phantasm helped to establish more of a history for the Joker. In this version, the Joker was a mob enforcer who was connected to the Phantasm’s own past.
This movie shows Joker to be extremely cunning and clever. He is able to deduce that the Phantasm is tracking him and, as a consequence, is able to lay a trap for her. The Joker would have defeated her too if it wasn’t for Batman showing up.
Zach Galifianakis - Lego Batman
This version of the Joker, while not entirely memorable, was certainly unique and watchable. The return to a more clownish and PG version of the Joker felt fresh and new, allowing for a different take on the character.
With regard to power, this version can build Lego blocks in his lego world. So, world rearranging powers is a fairly decent superpower, but as every other Lego character can do this it isn’t too impressive.
Cesar Romero - Batman 1966
It may not be fair to include this version as he was working in tandem with the Riddler, the Penguin, and Catwoman, but it’s always fun to talk about the 1960s’ Batman.
In the feature-length movie, The United Underworld, comprised of the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman, hatch a plan to dehydrate the United Nations Security Council. Despite being ultimately successful in dehydrating the Security Council, the Dynamic Duo are able to reverse the dehydration and defeat the villains. That being said, Joker and Co were successful for a short period of time, so that counts in his favor.
Jack Nicholson - Batman
Jack Nicholson’s involvement in this movie earned him top billing, even above Batman himself. Nicholson’s portrayal was closer to the comics than Heath Ledgers, as Nicholson stuck far closer to the cartoonish image from the comics.
This Joker is also fairly powerful in Gotham. As he was fairly well respected in the mob before he became the Joker, this version was able to use his experience to rise to become the leader of the Gotham mob. If this wasn’t enough, this Joker even poisoned several different varieties of cosmetic products sold in Gotham.
Mark Hamill - The Killing Joke
The Killing Joke may be the Joker’s defining moment. In the graphic novel the Joker, famously, shoots Barbara Gordon through the spine, paralyzing her from the waist down. This brutal act changed the character of Barbara Gordon, forcing her to retire as Batgirl and to become Oracle.
This movie, however, showcased a Joker that was incredibly powerful and cunning. He was able to trick his way out of Arkham and then defeat both Jim Gordon and Barbara Gordon. The ambiguous ending of the Killing Joke could also make this the most powerful Joker, did he drive Batman to kill him? If he did this would be one huge win for the Joker.
Michael Emerson - The Dark Knight Returns
The Dark Knight Returns is a two-part feature based on Frank Miller’s seminal graphic novel of the same name. In the first part of this movie, the Joker is not very powerful at all, as he is in a catatonic state. however, in the second part, the Joker is almost at his peak.
Joker appears on a talk show, kills the host and the audience. After the talk show, the Joker then tracks down a congressional representative and then uses mind control lipstick to make her order a nuclear strike. While it is true that Batman goes on to defeat the Joker in this movie, in a way, the Joker also wins here too. The Clown Prince of Crime, after having his neck broken by Batman in front of witnesses, then goes on to fully break his own neck so batman would be branded a murderer. Even in death, this Joker damaged Batman.
Mark Hamill - Return Of The Joker
This version of the Joker is in the same continuity as the Mask of the Phantasm Joker, but also deserves his own place on this list. The conceit behind this Joker has been missing for 35 years, but suddenly appears one night in Gotham to ambush the new Batman.
This list won’t include spoilers behind the Joker’s return, but you should certainly watch this movie. The reasoning behind the Joker’s return places him quite high on this list, as well as the fact that he is in command of an intimidating street gang.
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight’s Joker was, arguably, what elevated the Dark Knight to its high status. Heath Ledger turned in a stellar performance as the Joker that grounded the clown in the realistic world that director Christopher Nolan was trying to build.
Powerwise, this Joker ought to be ranked high. Despite not using mind-controlling lipstick, this Joker had deep connections in the Gotham mob and used them to bring the city to its knees.
