Joker vs. Joker: Who Played the Better Joker in the Batman Movies?

Heath wins.

And please don't think that people vote for him because he died, come on. That gives me the right of calling you things that I am not going to call you.

The reason why Heath was better is because he took the Character into realism, into THIS world. Those are different jokers, Jack is funny and his laugh is adorable. But Heath. He still has this sort of fun in him and you can really find many funny things in him, but not too many, because that would go against the film's theme. Heath plays a psychopathic and philosophical anarchist that totally creeps you out but you still, subtle, find him funny. Jack's laugh was great and fully to be proud of. He laughed this classical madman laugh like the former jokers, loud, long and evil.

But Heath. My god.
His laughs give me goosebumps, each and everyone of them. He took the joy and evilness out of them, and left a horrifying and haunting giggle that showes just pure madness. Not a theatrical and sensemaking laugh (witch is still pretty cool) but a joyless and nonsense giggle of pure crazyness.

Let me tell you why you voted for Jack Nicholson. Most likely you were around for the 1989 movie when it came out in theaters. You have this idea in your head that the movie would be slightly funny with a twist of evil. Maybe a few people get shot but the Joker will come to a nice clean end. Instead, you get a true psychopath who portrays completely real situations that scare the crap out of you. I had nightmares for the next few days. People, especially older, don't like change. Jack Nicholson's joker is nothing compared to Heath Ledger's. Dancing around an art gallery to dance music is child's play compared to slowly torturing Harvey Dent until he turns to chaos.

Hands down, Heaths Ledger. But thats because hes my favorite. but in reality were comparing dark chocolate to milk chocolate, same thing just a different taste. Jacks Nicholson was my favorite til heaths joker came along. Tim Burtons Joker was meant to be more of a comic feel and gothicish type of Joker while Nolans version was meant to be a more realistic and darker version of how the joker would b in real life. no fictonal laughing gas that gives u a smiley grin except guns and knives like a real life criminal, no bleached skin and red lips and green hair that would coincidentally make u look like a clown, but instead simple make up. Both portrayals were good in their own times and for their own genres. u want comic book joker? then jack nicholson is for u, u want a realisitic joker? Heath is ur man. i love both though but Heath is my favorite.

I think most people vote for Heath Ledger because....HE DIED! People believe its the right thing to do, and its not. First off, Heath overdosed. Kind of explains why he acted the way he did in his portrayal of the Joker. He played him like a crazed psychopath, with no sense of humor, hence "The Joker"...AT ALL. It was more like a horror movie, and to be quite frank, that took everything I had to finish the movie. It was like he was living out his own nightmare. I have a picture I have had for several years, I adore it, and people either love it, or they hate it...This will pretty much explain why I choose Jack. He is the one, the best, and Heath, well I pray that he is in a better place, but he definately did not leave this topic up for any debate, as far as I am concerned!!!!!!!!!!Now, put him in One flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, and maybe we could chat about it. :) please click the link below to see the great artwork...

Posted Again for Clarity
Sorry, but what Heath Ledger did to the joker will never be replicated in any movie role ever again. He embodied true relentless chaos and torment in a way such that viewers were terrified and awestruck at the same time. Rather than a man, he was evil's response to the rise of batman and the pursuit of peace and order. The meticulous manner in which he dismantled the people of Gotham's values and beliefs in good nature was something the Joker, played by Jack Nicholson, could never hope to do. Neither actors past movies should be considered here. Nobody was comparing Ledger's previous roles to the Joker because this wasn't the dashing Australian actor viewers had adored, this was a sinister creature that had no other purpose than to dismantle the morale and social structure of Gotham City. Jack Nicholson's joker attained his smile from a freak, unrealistic chemical accident. Ledgers smile, as mentioned several times, was carved into his face in his youth only adding to his tortured and pyschopathic charisma. Jack was undeniably good, but boiled down, he was a mean clown with a loaded gun. Heath's Joker was a force that shook viewers perceptions of what a villain could be and redefined what they are capable on and off the screen.

i think batman pursh him down into that thing

I Love Jack Nicholson as the Joker because he played the original creation and to take on the character he did and portray it with a likeness no one else ever can!! this has put him high in my book. If you choose Heath you have not followed Batman very long or ever because you are only going by the newer version that lacks the thought put into the Joker that made his character so sadistic, creative, funny and Highly intelligent. Jack found that balance and brought it life! All Heath did was be a sadistic and intelligent Joker. At least Jack's Joker had a background in the movie and you could get a sense of what made him. Heath's Joker gave up nothing("my dad did it""my wife made me do it") so you are lost as to what made him, which gives lack of care(by the writers) for the character. So you Brats pick up a damn comic book from before 1980 and learn something Hell watch the animated series from the 90'(Amazing! Mark Hamill words can not describe his brilliance as the Joker) then maybe you'll see what a true Joker is! So Shut up and look to the best before you say Heath is the best Joker!!

It is not a lack of care by the writers to leave out the jokers true background. They wanted him to be a misunderstood man, a man of mystery who is twisted and sadistic in his nature. This is a new and interesting take on the character and in no way retracts from the performance. You are simply so stubborn and simplistic in your manner that you cannot take an objective look at Ledgers portrayal. You are stuck in the glory days and stated yourself that you love Jack because he played the original, why should we take the word of a biased man? Maybe we should stick with the original of everything and allow no room for change or improvement.

Dude, Heath did not choose to have no backstory, writers did. And it was cool.

jack nicholson is one of the greatest actors of all time and played the joker really well but when heath ledger played the joker he killed everyone in the movie and any joker or villain

if your a true fan of the comic book it's jack nicholson, but i think heath ledger was scarier

Most people who vote Ledger never really watched the 89 badman movie.
The joker was suppose to be evil, funny and creative. Jack was.
Jack lives on, but the character over took Heath it seems.

Heath Ledger's joker all the way. He did a really sensational job playing a character that has been already played before by a great actor, Jack Nicholson. It's amazing how he found a different way to portray the Joker. He perfected the Joker in a way no one will ever be able to. Rest in peace Heath, we lost such an excellent actor, I never would have guessed he had it in him, he made Australia proud. It will take a long time for Hollywood to come across a well developed actor at a young age, we might never see a better actor, who knows. By the way, not to mention the direction of TDK Chris Nolan, one of the finest directors out there.

People are saying "Jack because he was more funny" and that Heath was too "sadistic" and was more of a "psychopath"....um...I could've SWORE that Joker was a psychopath. I think both performances were terrific, but Heath had a more realistic feel of the Joker. He really brought out the murderous and evil side in the Joker. And even though Heath's Joker wasn't AS humorous, I still thought it was funny here and there. But both men are terrific actors and both performaces were amazing, R.I.P. Heath.

jack is way better as the joker the joker should smile and be scary at the same time. Ledger never smiled and we whats the point in been the joker if ya not gonna smile.
JACK IS THE BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST.

Ledger did smile, he was always smiling

If you're under 30 or didnt see Batman in 89 your vote shouldn't count! But really everytime I watch Dark Knight and I see Heath's Joker I dont think of Joker I think of Jack Nicholson! Jack's Joker set the bar and made the Batman movie worth watching! With that said Heath did a fabulous job but I still give Jack the nod!

ok, i think most people here are too young to know who jack even is. the man has a history of psycho roles. heath, well doesnt really have anything other than roles catering to the youth. i had nightmares as an eight year old after seeing the joker completely fry a man to ash with a joy buzzer. jack's joker was funny, but really, he came to power after killing his boss (a mob boss). he terrorized an entire city, threw a party where he gave away stolen cash, then attempted to gas gotham to death, all just to lure out the bat. which, by the way, he was responsible for creating batman. jack's joker wasnt just a crazy clown having a bad day, he was a ruthless, maniacle, relentless, killer and mobster who destroyed people's lives just for fun. now, what did heath's joker really do? he robbed a mob owned bank, blew up a tanker truck, and accidentally created two-face. jack left young bruce wayne in a dark alley to watch his parents die. heath attempted to murder harvey dent. some might argue that heaths joker was shown as the killer in the dark night, true, but the story wasnt played up like it was in the original. jack wins. no question about it.

Sorry, but what Heath Ledger did to the joker will never be replicated in any movie role ever again. He embodied true relentless chaos and torment in a way such that viewers were terrified and awestruck at the same time. Rather than a man, he was evil's response to the rise of batman and the pursuit of peace and order. The meticulous manner in which he dismantled the people of Gotham's values and beliefs in good nature was something the Joker, played by Jack Nicholson, could never hope to do. Neither actors past movies should be considered here. Nobody was comparing Ledger's previous roles to the Joker because this wasn't the dashing Australian actor viewers had adored, this was a sinister creature that had no other purpose than to dismantle the morale and social structure of Gotham City. Jack Nicholson's joker attained his smile from a freak, unrealistic chemical accident. Ledgers smile, as mentioned several times, was carved into his face in his youth only adding to his tortured and pyschopathic charisma. Jack was undeniably good, but boiled down, he was a mean clown with a loaded gun. Heath's Joker was a force that shook viewers perceptions of what a villain could be and redefined what they are capable on and off the screen.

Ledger's performance was awesome, but it didn't really feel like the Joker. Sans makeup, he could've been an entirely new (but awesome) villain and noone would've made any Joker parallels.

Definitely Heath Ledger, though his performance was clearly inspired by Nicholson with a darker more serious twist. Epic!

I think Heath Ledger was a more believable villain all around. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical that Heath Ledger could do as well as Jack Nicholson for the Joker. I was really little when I saw Batman(1989), so Jack Nicholson scared the crap out of me for a very long time. He was a more cartoon-like Joker. Now, when I was trying to decide which one I preferred I had to put aside my personal love for Heath Ledger. Even then, I chose him. There was something about his performance that simply left me speechless. I also took into consideration that maybe if the 1989 film had had the technology we have nowadays that it would have been just as good, but this isn't about the over all movie, it's about who played a better Joker. I think Heath Ledger (even though he had a lot to live up to) played a better Joker. With all of that being said, Jack Nicholson DEFINITELY owns the laugh, and you cannot take that away from him.

By and far the better Joker.

I actually don't care about either. I loved Mark Hamill/B:TAS Joker the best.

i would always pick nicholson cause as a kid he spooked the crap out of me. however i did enjoy ledger take on the joker. i think he and more demons to the joker

Heath Ledger is the iconic Joker...

... Johhny Depp will soon come to symbolize Tonto.. as in "Tonto and the Lone Ranger"

Heath Ledger all the way, he took The Joker to another level; which I doubt anyone will be able to out do.

Heath Ledger nailed that role.

they both were good in the Batman movies

Tour to Force role

they both were great but Ledger's joker is better

Nicholson. Not Ledger. Really.

In twenty years or less when you show someone who's never seen The Dark Knight but has seen other media that has Batman in it (video games, television shows, the comics, the other Batman movies) they'll be like ''That's the Joker?''! Also The Dark Knight won't be looked on as kindly as it was when it was 1st released. All the previous Batman movies were BETTER Batman movies, BETTER comic book movies, & BETTER superhero movies than TDK was. The Dark Knight was a BETTER film than the other Batman movies but it will only be viewed as a good film & not as a good Comic book, Superhero, or Batman movie once it ages a little more. Now back to the matter at hand. First your missing someone who played the Joker in an earlier live-action Batman movie who was named Cesar Romaro. Secondly Nicholson's Joker felt like he was pulled straight out the comics. Ledger's Joker felt like a generic bad guy that could be in ANY film but didn't really feel like a Batman or superhero villian. So Jack's Joker will have the last laugh.

Exactly!

Okay, this is very simple and also something i didn't agree with in the past series and movies of the batman!! THE JOKER IS A CRAZY PHYCO!! since the beginning in the comic books he was made to be complety crazy!! he was never meant to be funny, his laughter was meant to inspire fear!! the shows just made him out to be a prankster!!! this is why heath ledger did a TERRIFIC JOB!!

Cesar Romero played the Joker better than both Nichcolson and Ledger.


This question should have had a choice for Romero.

Romero was good, but Heath Ledger really captured the dark side/psycho side of the character. It has been claimed that he channeled spirits while in the character "Joker."