Ranking All 6 Joker Actors from Worst to Best

      Here are all six actors who have portrayed the Joker, ranked from least favorable to most favorable.

      This list solely considers film representations and excludes animated versions.

      Feel free to express your disagreements in the comments. Let’s dive in.

      **Joaquin Phoenix**

      Joaquin Phoenix in Joker. Warner Bros.

      The truth is out: Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of The Joker in *Joker* was a massive success, earning over a billion dollars and garnering him an Oscar for Best Actor.

      However, everyone is mistaken. Witnessing Phoenix’s Joker exaggerate through a convoluted psychological condition inspired by classics like *Taxi Driver* and *Fight Club* was excruciating.

      While Phoenix's visual depiction of the character was striking — his gaunt physique resonating more than any of his lines — this imitation of Travis Bickle felt so detached from genuine humanity that both he and the film lacked tension. He embodied everything a Joker shouldn’t be: dull.

      **Jared Leto**

      Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and Jared Leto as The Joker in *Suicide Squad*. Warner Bros.

      What if The Joker was attractive? That seems to be the peculiar angle taken with Jared Leto’s portrayal in *Suicide Squad*, *Birds of Prey*, and Zack Snyder’s *Justice League*. He resembled one of those alluring influencers who overemphasize their “depth” and “complexity.” Leto, not one for subtlety — as The Joker — even sported the word “Damaged” tattooed on his forehead.

      This is a matter of personal preference, but we envision The Joker as a misfit who could never thrive in polite society, no matter his efforts, turning to the Joker identity out of hopelessness. Leto’s Joker could have easily left a life of crime for a modeling career.

      That said, there were some appealing aspects to Leto’s Joker. He had the most fashionable outfits of any Joker, and we appreciated how he drew fashion and tattoo inspiration from East L.A. gangsters. But perhaps he should have originated as a new character instead of being The Joker.

      **Barry Keoghan**

      Barry Keoghan as The Joker in *The Batman*. Warner Bros.

      The 2022 film *The Batman* took a starkly different approach than Leto’s stylish Joker, depicting The Joker as someone with a complex skin condition that resembled a mix of burns and syphilis, paired with his disturbing grin.

      While we consider Barry Keoghan to be an exceptional actor, we cannot support the choice to reduce him to a glorified cameo as a fellow Arkham inmate cheering on Paul Dano’s (fantastic) Riddler.

      Many iterations of The Joker incorporate humor to disguise deep feelings of despair and depression, but Keoghan’s version appears merely melancholic and lacking energy. He doesn’t possess the undeniable presence found in the best interpretations of the character.

      He is expected to return in the next Batman film, and we are hopeful he will have a more substantial role.

      **Jack Nicholson**

      Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale and Jack Nicholson as The Joker in *Batman*. Warner Bros.

      It was a delight to see Jack Nicholson make an appearance at the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary show, reminding everyone of his incredible screen charisma.

      Speaking of charisma: he seemed somewhat above the Tim Burton-directed *Batman* from 1989 — he didn’t exactly slack off, but he also didn’t delve into the true pain or complexity of his interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime. He simply looked like he was enjoying himself.

      One aspect we particularly admire about Nicholson’s Joker is that unlike others, he genuinely had pale skin and green hair, a result of a prolonged submersion in a large vat at Axis Chemicals. We weren’t fully convinced by his interest in art, which felt like a bit much, or the idea that he killed Bruce's parents, which seemed too obvious.

      We actually have a preference for Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, who ranks highly among our favorite actresses portraying Catwoman.

      **Cesar Romero**

      Cesar Romero as The Joker and Phyllis Douglas as Josie Miller in *Batman*. ABC

      Some might deduct points for Cesar Romero’s choice not to shave his mustache while playing The Joker in the 1966 *Batman* film and the 1966-68 television series. However, we appreciate it: it is the most authentically Joker thing he could have done. It reflects a completely anarchic commitment — or a refusal to conform — that epitomizes the Joker.

      We also view Romero’s Joker as effortlessly eerie in a manner that no other rendition captures. He exhibits a certain charm and flair, which consequently makes him even more grotesque. His voice, ranging from sinewy to gravelly, is captivating. Additionally, his laugh is unmatched among all Jokers. He also had the best hair, especially when it flared as