The Jokers, Ranked from Worst to Best (4 of 5)

6. Joaquin Phoenix—Joker (2019), Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

Oh, what’s this? Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker isn’t in the #1 spot? Hell no! Sure, he won an Oscar for the 2019 movie, and yes, he’s one of the best actors out there, but his Joker was kind of a lot. It was a great take on the character, and the tiny details, like Phoenix’s endless twitching, giggling, and creepy dance routines, will forever live in our memories. If there’s one thing that’s missing, I’d say it’s the trademark Joker chaos. Compared to his layered work in The Master, Phoenix’s Joker feels shallow and way too serious for its own good.

7. Mark Hamill—Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)

Mark Hamill’s greatest legacy is not that scrawny padawan but the best Joker laugh in the history of everything. In case you somehow didn’t know this, Hamill has been voicing the Joker for decades, starting with Batman: The Animated Series and carrying on through movies and video games. His take is deliciously sinister, going from a circus clown to an unhinged mastermind in a single line. If there were an Oscar for voice acting, Hamill would have shelves full of them.