Jack Nicholson is the best Joker of all the live-action movies, including the 1966 version with Cesar Romero.
He is better than Heather Ledger's version, as well. Ledger was just a manic smart-alek, one whos motives and motivations are never quite clear. That lack of character development is a major detraction in the Dark Knight (2008), a film which has not gotten better with time, in my view, a flawed work that loses its gleam as the movie progresses.
Nicholson didn't steal the show; he made the show.
Michael Keaton as Batman would have never been as great, or as believable, without a manic comedian/dramatic actor like Nicholson carrying the movie.
Check out these photos taken on set during production of the movie:
Behind-the-scenes Polaroids of Jack Nicholson as the Joker during the making of BATMAN (1989). 🃏 pic.twitter.com/ISObxB3Zm0
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) June 21, 2026
He was funny, creepy, scary, evil, and just plain believable in Batman (1989).
He was devilish at the outset, the clues in the early signs point to what he will become in the rest of the movie, and it was all believable. He didn't clown it up. He was direct, tough, and just plain funny while frightening!
The studio paid big money to get him to take the part, and he knew it would be a big hit.
The movie could have also been a big hit on his acting career, too, so he pushed for a massive payout: a percentage of the profits, merchandise, and even a percentage of the receipts from future Batman movies.
And he deserved every penny!
