4. The Joker – Batman (1989)
Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie may not be the most beloved cinematic iteration of the Dark Knight, but it remains popular even three decades after its release. One of the most often-cited reasons for the lasting impression Burton’s Batman left on audiences is Jack Nicholson’s take on the Joker, Batman’s iconic arch-nemesis. Batman‘s comic-accurate approach to the character is wacky and dark, with the role brilliantly matching Nicholson’s own uniquely unsettling brand of charisma.
The battle of wits between Nicholson’s Joker and Michael Keaton’s Batman served as the basis for Tim Burton’s Batman, with the film detailing the origins of its version of the villain and his rise to prominence in Gotham City. Batman‘s version of the character is even more important in relation to the eponymous hero, as he is also responsible for the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, making both hero and villain responsible for the creation of the other. Shortly after discovering Batman’s true identity, Joker falls to his unceremonious death.
The death of the Joker was a slightly shocking and particularly frustrating choice. The fact that Batman introduced and killed the iconic villain in one single film seems unthinkable by today’s standards, and the pair’s legendary conflict came to an unexpectedly abrupt end. Not only does this seem an odd creative choice, but it’s a jarring development for Batman‘s story, because it thoroughly wastes not just the character but the interesting narrative parallels between hero and villain.