Who Portrayed THE JOKER The Most Accurately?

Today we are discussing which live action actor portrayed The Joker the most accurately? This one was super tough.
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[@michaellynes3540]

Terry: It's funny. I know about all your other major enemies, but you never mentioned him. He was the biggest, wasn't he? Bruce: It wasn't a popularity contest. He was a psychopath, a monster.

[@ayufever1978]

just like james bond, each actor that played the joker brought a uniqueness to each version of the character and ALL OF THEM are excellent 👍🏼

[@Telos1807]

Well, except for Leto. What is he? The David Niven of Jokers? I feel like that's an insult to David Niven.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

@@Telos1807 I don't know Leto gets so much hate. He portrayed the character as a disturbed psychopath, which is correct. Like Nicholson, his performance was OTT, but (unlike Jacks') it didn't suit the tone of the film. It didn't help that Suicide Squad was rubbish anyway, which is why the performance of other actors also suffered.

[@seanlynott9033]

I’ll be honest, I’m no avid reader of comics, but when I quote Heath Ledger, you hear his voice done by me. You hear me quote Joaquin Phoenix, you hear me mimic him. Otherwise, I give you a forced-grinning Joker of ‘89. “You ever dance with the devil by the pale moonlight?”

[@Deondre_Clark]

Other than Jared Leto they all have done some aspect of the Joker extremely well

[@nanotech1921]

I think Jared Leto actually can portray a good joker, he was decent in Jack Snyders justice league Its just suicide squad that absolutely ruined him lmao 😂

[@Rhawry]

I like that this felt like a college thesis paper. No shade at all - genuine.

[@camhaugstad4726]

Mark Hamill best all time. For live action tho Personally think Cameron Monahagn was the best because he encapsulated all live action jokers in his portrayal through the evolution of his joker through the series of Gotham. He was clownish and funny but terrifyingly psychotic and insane and all the while having that brilliant mind to be 1 step ahead most of the time. He was absolutely brilliant in portraying that role!

[@joshuajohn74]

I agree with the cameron point but mark hamill is def not the best joker in any field

[@djangosusamogus742]

@@joshuajohn74Why not?

[@freddiemercury2075]

@@joshuajohn74 What ????

[@joshuajohn74]

he simply isnt what the joker is or what the joker represents but he def is the best if you take him as an alternate universe where the joker is simply a gangster boss

[@DROWSpitOW]

@@joshuajohn74Not animated series Batman. But Arkham Game series Batman. Hamill takes it.

[@johnpittsii7524]

Thanks for the amazing video ❤

[@kevinskoien6165]

Of the live action, Nicholson is the best. Heath ledger was a great actor and pulled off the chaotic and sadistic sides of the Joker well; but an important part of the Joker's whole character is that he is HAVING FUN doing it. At no time did I feel Ledger's Joker was having fun, although that may more due to the writing than his portrayal of the character. Nicholson looked like he was having fun, as did Romero. That being said, Hamill is the best Joker of all the mediums. Nobody understood the multi-faceted clown as well as he, nor has anyone combined ALL the aspects of the Joker's psyche as cohesively as Mark Hamill.

[@havu2236]

How about when he was driving the big rig? He literally was saying I love my job. Teasing one of his thugs for getting electrocute by Batman's mask. He was laughing his ass off while falling to his suppose death. Jack's version was screaming like a girl.

[@dynaguy3]

Cameron Monaghan deserves a mention. He felt like the most accurate to me

[@Blahblahblehblhah]

Mark Hamill is the most accurate

[@dynaguy3]

@@Blahblahblehblhah that’s not live action

[@Blahblahblehblhah]

@@dynaguy3 still the best

[@kevtv7357]

Underrated comment. I’ve always thought he did it best in live action.

[@11C1P]

This guy seems to ignore Gotham altogether & any pre 1960's shows as well. He did the same thing on his batman portrayal reviews.

[@user-dp4he8fk1n]

Romero literally brought the old campy Joker to life but lakes the darker side that DC started to create within Joker. I have to to give to Nichelson as the BEST because he brought that darker persona to life first, which gave all the other personas something to build upon and make their own. Ledger is the BEST overall Joker in my view, he took it in ways that can stand today as the best and very complex, his dark past and overall message is very intriguing. Leto to me did not not a bad job he portrayed a different interpretation but it was not as bad as people keep saying. Phoenix's Joker portrayed the most relatable Joker to me, because of the intricate nature of mental illness and the stigmas behind it.

[@peterobinson1895]

Jack Nicholson is the most accurate Joker to me

[@geordiemc4571]

personally i think we've seen enough of barry keagans joker to tell he's accurate, just in the 5 min deleted scene alone it showed joker to be intelligent with him breaking down riddlers motive with just one little look at his file, even whilst breaking down riddlers motives he finds a way to get under batmans skin, he's gonna be the twisted intelligent serial killer joker that i've always wanted in live action

[@reymeza2707]

And is face. If Joker was born in acid, his face must as deformed as it was shown in Barry Keagan's portrayal.

[@jessicawhited8196]

There a big things to come from Phoenix's joker. Out of all of them he scared me most because of the mental deterioration that happenes during the film

[@freddiemercury2075]

Jared Leto is more of a Joke than a Joker. That being said Mark Hamil is by far the most perfect Joker ever.

[@byronmontgomeryjr.]

I have always said that each actor either redefined or actually reinforced public opinion of Joker. Romero was the Clown Prince of Crime. Nicholson seemingly built his expression on Romero’s. Ledger redefined Joker and fleshed out his inner anarchist.

[@billymoore7182]

That's why Heath Ledger is my favorite live action Joker. He is the most Accurate but in a more realistic tone.

[@HENZI-cv7re]

He was accurate to which comic or cartoon?

[@billymoore7182]

Mark Hamill. But more realistic

[@Bettytinish]

Let's not forget how gigantic he is, as a character that stands for decades

[@faruquekhan3353]

Heath Ledger Joker by far. But honestly there are so many versions of Joker that you have to give credit to all of them. And they all played Joker great. I just liked Heath Ledger version best.

[@MisterBrimm]

So what is Matt Reeves joker? We've seen one clip that was cut from the movie so it might not be an official representation of how he will act.

[@edgeworth097]

There's another scene that DID make the cut, but it's still not enough

[@JohnDoe-qy5eu]

Can you do one for animated versions?

[@paulshri8609]

Each actor put their own stamp on the role, whether it was good or bad, but Heath Ledger crushed it. RIP.

[@Blahblahblehblhah]

Cesar Romaro is by far the best

[@codyott1982]

Man, y'all forgot mark Hamill. Arkham is in his name. As far as live action, it depends which joker you go by. My fave is Phoenix, but not for accuracy.

[@josephpowers7155]

why exactly isnt Mark Hamils picture up here? Kevin Conroy was the greatest Batman [by far] but it was also in part to the stratispheric delivery of the billionaires evil counterpart [NOBODY does Jokers laughs like Hamil!]

[@yournamehere1935]

Cameron Monahagn from 'Gotham' has been criminally underrated and doesn't get nowhere near the accolades he deserves

[@AnthonyJPiccione]

Ledger will always be the gold standard for live action Joker depictions.

[@TheFreshlyRottenCritic]

For me it’s a tie between Hamil and Ledger with Nicholson being a mesh of both.

[@SamareDoTelke]

i got tattood jaquin phonix 😤

[@zippythechimp4219]

The best joker art Brian Bolland.

[@matthewkuhl79]

Mark Hamill is the GOAT and is really the only actor who got a chance to play to every facet of the character. That said, he _nailed_ it every time.

[@Pansapistolas]

Cameron Monaghan is my Joker. He should get a chance to reprise the role with a good writer and a serious cinamatic budget.

[@KingdomCitizen7]

Hot take: I actually like jared leto's joker

[@HENZI-cv7re]

Me too. ✊

[@nocberry7797]

You forgot about the Valeska Twins in the Gotham series. They are two versions of Joker in all but name (because WB did not want to show a origin story for Joker). And in my opinion not bad. Jerome is the "funny" Psychopath clown Archetype, while Jeremiah is the coldblooded but still crazy criminal mastermind. Both have a "need" for attention, both are obsessed at some point with Bruce Wayne like Joker is with batman. They had their flaws, but i would set them between Jack Nickolson´s and Heth Ledger´s Joker in terms of the best potraited Jokers.

[@thebugbear9198]

At least we can agree that Leto is the absolute worst

[@codyott1982]

Had to say "live action" jokers, cuz otherwise everyone knows its mark hamill. I mean, you cant even argue that. His joker is the most rewatched joker in history, and still gets more rewatches than any other version by far.

[@user-pr8er6ug8w]

Phoniex is by the best joker by far.This video wouldn't have been a video about joker without it

[@generaljimmies3429]

True Answer: Mark Hamill

[@Nickpetronio]

I think Jack Nicholson just edges out heath ledger. The reason I say that is because I feel like Nicholson played a joker that was murderous and smart while also being colorful and “funny.” So I think he had the best balance. Ledger’s joker was great, crazy dangerous and smart, but he didn’t bring the color and “fun” of Nicholson.

[@freddiemercury2075]

Mark Hamil was insane but fun. He is usually goofing around but is terrifying as hell.

[@Nickpetronio]

@@freddiemercury2075 oh for sure. I was just sticking to the live action

[@djangosusamogus742]

Nicholsons Joker wasted most of the time following Vicki Vale around. I always found it really weird that the Joker would fall for some pretty face. The first thing we see from Nicholson Joker is his origin story which takes away the mysterious factor from the Joker that even Romero had. We don’t know anything about him.

[@Potatosoupisgood]

⁠@@djangosusamogus742all they show is him falling in the chemicals at ace, which we already know has happened. And yes there is the twist at the end that he was the one that killed Batman’s parents which never really bothered me much but idk about you. Although yes I do agree it was a little weird how he was chasing Vikki Vale throughout the movie but he still did more than that.

[@All-Heil-Prince-Vegeta]

I cannot choose between Nickelson and Ledger. They are both so great. And the movies are both in a different tone. Each Joker belongs in the movie they are in.

[@jackorear2536]

Ceaser Romero!

[@Higsby100]

The Joker has changed alot over time, honestly all of them but Leto portray a different version of the joker. The 1969 and 89 did a good job portraying the early Joker. Joaquin Phoenix did a good rendition of some of the Jokers origin stories. Heath Ledger did a good job showing the darker side of the Joker, which we see in more recent adaptations.

[@davidanderson_surrey_bc]

So help me out here... How many actors have won an Oscar for portraying a villain? Even better... how many actors have won an Oscar for portraying the SAME villain? THAT'S how good a villain Joker is.

[@jukebox1138]

It’s a loaded question. Played more accurately based on what ? Over the many decades there have been many different renditions of the joker

[@wilhelmtheconquerer6214]

Heath Ledger's version was perfect. Only thing that wasn't was his look if you're going for comic book accuracy, otherwise I think even the look was perfect for Nolan's version of Batman

[@hetwitblad6544]

Although he couldnt officially be called the joker, Cameron Monaghan's Jerome is the most accurate in my opinion. Shame you didn't include him

[@phillipwalters7702]

Batcave. This was a wonderful job on this video dealing with The Joker. I have to admit in my opinion that Heath Ledger's and Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of The Joker was very poor and didn't do justice to the character. As for Ceaser Romero's and Jack Nicholson's portrayals of The Joker really were entertaining and definitely shows justice to the character. I also have to admit That I see Jared Leto's version of The Joker was a combination of all the previous portrayals before him.

[@user-eg9yu6bt7u]

You forget Cameron Monohagen

[@jackmccullagh9417]

Could you please do one for Catwoman ❤

[@kevinlee5753]

It depends on which aspect of the joker you're looking for. I think Jack Nicholson is the closest to the anime version but with some differences. Same name, both had affiliation with the mob, both had bleached skin and had the same attire complete with the psychotic persona. Ledger brought about a chaotic joker that wasn't about the money which is good but the animated version did want money so it really depends on what you're looking for but we can all agree Jared Leto did the worst take.

[@joshuajohn74]

I disagree its not the comic accuracy or the animated accuracy that matters but who will be the best joker if the superhero world was real and that title can only go to either phoenix or heath ledger

[@kevinlee5753]

@@joshuajohn74 it depends on what you're looking for. Ledger is probably the best depiction of a real life Joker but I go for comic book accuracy since that's where the character comes from so I still put Nicholson at the top

[@broken_blade2087]

Most accurate Joker? Gotta say Mark Hamill.

[@henryharrington4108]

Jack

[@fs.pureblood]

Cameron Monaghan in my opinion. Although I think that could soon become Barry Keoghan. I just know he's going to be brilliant.

[@user-oz3um2ii7o]

Jared Leto, of course. I love the part where he said ''It's Jokin' Time!''.

[@eddieolivas4804]

He never said that. I just watched the movie

[@sadetwizelve]

Hamill

[@dockholiday06]

No one better than heath ledger

[@nonofyourbusiness007]

Mark Hamill Heath Ledger Joaquin Phoenix Jack Nicholson

[@aaronanglea]

Jack Nicholson vs HeathLedger, thats a tough one

[@TheMinskyTerrorist]

In live action the more accurate would be Nicholson but not by much.

[@kevtv7357]

Unpopular opinion but Cameron Monaghan did it best and it’s not even close.

[@The.Rot.Consumer]

why is it not close?

[@jetsmith6281]

Ledgers depiction is wrong. Hamill’s version in the arkham is spot on. If you’re talking about live action, then it’s Nicholson. Ledgers acting was awesome, but not the joker.

[@uglyweirdo1389]

Walter Koenig

[@czarcoma]

Most accurate, based on what? Even the comics have different iterations and versions of ALL characters, villain or hero. Maybe it just boils down to your own preference.

[@CronksNewBrothel]

Ok we get it, yall hate jared Leto joker, I personally like his joker and even more in the snyder cut, Leto shows potential

[@johnnybeasley3675]

If you're going off of which Joker is most accurate to the comics of it's time? Romero, without question. Jack Nicholson has close second.

[@chrisharknessdcfan]

The best best story was when he killed Jason

[@matthewkuhl79]

And yet no one ever even mentions John Dimaggio among those who've played the character. He nailed the psychopath aspect of the character on the head.

[@Bettytinish]

It sound like you've meant to say that Joker is vague and has a large variety of deeds. Joker isn't vague, he is complex definitely and cannot be easily written or played, because the character is evil, not a vague charlatan that does stupid things and writes graffitti as a sign of protest, as it may be concluded from some of your statements. I know you didn't mean that, and there is clearly a sort of respect for Batman's villains and love for Batman series, but Joker is Joker for a whole different reason.

[@renemarrero6523]

🃏

[@neoshadowdukeofgames8223]

Each actor to have worn the mantle of Joker, just like each actor to have worn the cape of Batman & stepped into the TARDIS brings something unique to the role. Nicholson is the one I've enjoyed the most, but i'm not sure that qualifies him for the best portrayal of the Joker.

[@poncoyogapurnomo3517]

Heath ledger may not accurate in my view. But his character can be capture what joker should be

[@marquislexil]

Mark Hamil > Heath Ledger > Jack Nicholson > Joaquin Phoenix > Cesar Romero Jared Leto is so horrid as whatever it was he was trying to pass off as the "Joker" and isnt even in consideration for me.

[@EMUUEL]

I imagine Caesar Ramiro portrayed the joker as what the joker was (as/for the times) a clown prince of crime. A deadly gag criminal. Then time went on and characters adapted to that time. Jack Nicholson portrayed the joker as more a mobster type. \A self proclaimed -made man\ that uses deadly gags. Little bit more time passes and changes... (The animated series- mixed both the clown prince and the made man mobster as the joker) /the voice acting of mark Hamill allowed that Segway between the two portrayals of the jokers/ You can hear joker as both the clown prince and as the mobster. ...time has passed to changes in leaps. Joker has adapted, not just a deadly gag, separated from a king pin direction. He doesn't want to be the top of a mob organization. He goes/uses anyone to fulfill his gag, has no crew, whoever wants to be expendable, pretty much going to die. Heath ledgers take on joker. The portrayal of the joker of the times. Darker tones as exploration of sanity and insane encompass the direction of ppl and characters. Jared letos joker was simply a character out of time. Perhaps back in the 90s when gangs had appeal. A gangster joker may have took off. But the joker had been cemeted in a root and a gangster joker is a step backwards from adapting towards what the joker has become now. Phoenix's joker was a portrayal of a take on the mindset of the joker. A purposeful step back, Which is why his joker even though a step back. The ideals are of the same root. Dropping Phoenix's joker in a movie where he was already the joker and that's how he played it, don't think it would of gone so good. Opposite of if leto's joker had more of why his joker is the way he is, may of not been so bad. Playing the joker is more of a take on the ideals of joker and his adaptions. But there will always be roots (the joker is not a character you can completely reinvent in your performance) so whatever take you play, the portrayal must project (Like 70 years ) of what embodies the character known as the joker;

[@ET_Bermuda]

It's popular online for someone to be contrarian and not place Heath Ledger as the best/most accurate Joker, but he is. Joaquin Phoenix is the least accurate.

[@Lord-Emperor-Vader]

The answer is M(ark Ham)il.

[@michaelw1669]

Mark Hamill's Joker is the best most accurate Joker no one will ever be better but live action Heath Ledger's Joker was good but I still have nightmares of Nicholson's Joker

[@Jack-uv5gc]

its disrespectful to even call Jared Leto the joker.

[@BengaloFFM]

I do not like Nicholsons Joker. It's not that he did a bad Job, it's just the script that ruins it. Burton got the look and feel of gotham like no other but he didn't get the characters correct. The Joker did not kill the Waynes. The relation between Batman and the Joker is that they are two sides of a single coin. They're both the product of one bad day.

[@grumix8774]

Jack Nicholson he is the best !!!!

[@micahbell5572]

Ledger's was the best but not the most accurate. Nicholson takes that.

[@krypto6848]

Romero and Nicholson were great at portraying The Joker but to me they kinda look fat in appearance and not scary looking. To me I think Ledger was great and totally nailed it with his performance as The Joker by the scary looks and a bit of skinny joker.

[@aicarrie1]

How can you say Heath Ledger is the most accurate? His Joker did not even have bleached skin.

[@primusfan87]

My favorite Joker has been Heath Ledger since ‘The Dark Knight’

[@reztheninja]

Kinda agree but everything about heath ledger was too messy, body language, voice and look

[@timalice-2833]

Jack Nicholson is my favorite version of the Joker. With the animated one I constantly think about how we almost had Tim Curry as a Joker voice but he was seen as too frightening.

[@smoothoperator7219]

The answer is nobody. Just like Batman, nobody nailed both sides. Cesar was definitely good for his time. Quite comical, wasn't about to scare anyone. Personally, I found Nicholson funnier than Ledger, he had the clown side. Ledger was more criminal, more of a loose cannon, but not as funny. Suicide Squad Leto was terrible, but his brief performance in Snyder's Justice League was more appropriate. That one would have worked. I like Joaquin Phoenix, but that one doesn't count. People don't like to include voice acting, but Hamil's Joker is my favorite. That laugh could give children nightmares, but he was funny.

[@chrisharknessdcfan]

The two best jokers are jack Nicholson and heath ledger

[@davidrohde2636]

The only one who i think has taken the character out there to far is Joaquin. The Joker is not mentally ill! He has been established as hypersane

[@Anthonycheesman33]

Probably would say none of them lol.

[@joehammond9946]

Bs. Heath played the riddler in a joker costume

[@michaelm-bs2er]

Heath Ledger's version was not the most accurate, and the comics in the last 20 years or so have misinterpreted what character is meant to be. Ledger's version is an iddalist or a zealot. He is an anarchist fighting for a cause. You could say he's really a terrorist. This is not what the Joker is supposed to be. The Joker was always supposed to be simply a psychopath, who kills for no other reason except he enjoys seeing people get hurt and suffer, not because he is trying to prove some (bullshit) point about the moral decay/hypocrisy of society. To the Joker, killing people is like making art. There is a sick beauty to it, and that is the only motivation he really needs. Therefore, Jack Nicholson's "homicidal artist" is the most (and maybe only) truly accurate version of the character. Also noticed in your "most accurate Batman" video, you said that Michael Kenton's version didn't portray any detective work. That is nonsense. Keaton's batman showed his detective skills far more than Bale's version or any other (up until Pattinson's), e.g. the scenes where he deciphers how the Joker's poison gas beauty products are only lethal when they're mixed. I think your videos need a serious revision and, since you're such a fan of the Nolan movies, I think the only way to make you see the error of your ways is to subject you to 10 or 15 years of isolated confinement in that pit in Morocco where Bain came from. Good day to you, and may God have mercy on you.

[@Sabatonrex]

Leto❤

[@micksilva6028]

Joaquin Phoenix's joker is NOT Joker. I don't buy that a little cry baby crying about being made fun of by a talk show host would create THE JOKER. Nope, that movie is about a guy with mental issues thinking he is The Joker.

[@alanmatthew5713]

Heath was DEFINITELY the best!

[@OrangeFreeman]

Dude, if you're lazy enough to write your scripts with ChatGPT, then double down and voice it with AI. Why waste your breath, right?

[@djangosusamogus742]

Cesar Romero: goofy Jack Nicholson: stylish Mark Hamill: perfect Heath Ledger: realistic but true to the heart of the character Cameron Monaghan: underrated as fuck (at least as Jerome) Jared Leto: cringe Joaquin Phoenix: overrated as fuck (tried too hard to be even more realistic than Heath) Barry Keoghan: too disgusting

[@reymeza2707]

Heath Ledger hands down.

[@samking6583]

Ledger all the way, then Pheonix

[@RevahsMada]

Heath. Ledger.

[@Nameless0061]

How can Ledger be the most accurate if he didn't directly adapt any Joker? 🤔 Sounds contradictory to me.

[@Shadowborg]

Jared Leto was by far the worst.

[@HENZI-cv7re]

I actually loved Jarred Leto's Joker. You all seem to love his Harley Quinn. 😏

[@michaelince7311]

Heath Ledger is the live action joker... Jarrod Leto... Joaquin Phoenix... failures... Leto is the WORST Joker I have seen, JARROD LETO CAN'T ACT!!!

[@jetsmith6281]

Ledgers depiction is wrong. Hamill’s version in the arkham is spot on. If you’re talking about live action, then it’s Nicholson. Ledgers acting was awesome, but not the joker.