The Joker is not only one of the most iconic Batman villains, but he’s also one of the most notorious villains in entertainment history. Jaded, unstable, and uncontrollable, the Joker is a horrifying combination of demented wit and unstoppable rage. Throughout cinema history, he’s been officially part of 10 films. Check out our guide below to find out all 10 movies the Joker has been in and where to watch them on streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video and more!
First up, the Joker appeared in the 1966 Batman film, portrayed by Cesar Romero. Since then the character has appeared in nine more movies, most famously being portrayed by Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, Joaquin Phoenix, and Barry Keoghan. Here’s a closer look at their performances.
Jack Nicholson’s Joker
Jack Nicholson portrayed the Joker in Tim Burton’s iconic 1989 film Batman. Taking a more comic book-looking approach to the character, Nicholson portrayed the Joker as an almost comical character whose devil-may-care attitude about carnage only made him more terrifying.
Heath Ledger’s Joker
For The Dark Knight, Heath Ledger took a much darker and demented approach to the Joker, giving the character a deep sadness that made him easily one of the most compelling villains Hollywood has ever seen. Ledger received an Oscar for his performance, which was awarded after his tragic suicide in 2008.
Jared Leto’s Joker
Jared Leto brought the character back into a more comic book style with his unhinged, energetic, and flat-out insane rendition of the Joker. Portrayed in Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey, Leto’s performance was a bit polarizing, with some audiences feeling his character didn’t live up to Ledger’s… but to be fair, few performances in cinematic history could compare to Ledger’s Joker, so trying to judge the two is a little unfair.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker
Next up, Joker got his own origin story with the 2019 film Joker. Phoenix took a dark approach to the character, presenting him as an ordinary man pushed over the edge by society’s mistreatment of him. Joker was a huge hit and earned 11 Oscar nominations, including a Best Actor win for Phoenix. He reprised the role in the 2024 sequel Joker: Folie à Deux.
Barry Keoghan’s Joker
Barry Keoghan is briefly featured in 2022’s The Batman as a prison inmate with the Riddler, and the film alludes that he’s the Joker. A sequel is slated for 2026 and Keoghan has so far refused to comment on whether he’s been cast in the film. However, many fans have pointed out that his refusal to comment isn’t him saying no…
Where Can I Watch Movies Featuring The Joker Online?
Check out our guide below to find out where you can watch every movie featuring the Joker online.
