Why Jared Leto’s Joker Was the Best Live-Action Joker Ever

Why Jared Leto’s Joker Was the Most Accurate Joker Ever on Screen

Jared Leto’s portrayal of the Joker in Suicide Squad (2016) was met with mixed reactions, but was it truly a failure, or was it actually the most comic-accurate live-action Joker we’ve ever seen?

While Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix delivered Oscar-winning performances, their versions of the Joker took major creative liberties with the character. In contrast, Leto’s Joker borrowed heavily from DC’s animated series, comics, and video games bringing a version of the Clown Prince of Crime that was psychotic, unpredictable, and deeply theatrical, just like the best versions seen in DC’s history.

Here’s why Jared Leto’s Joker may be the most underrated, and possibly the best live-action version of the character.

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1. The Most Comic-Accurate Joker We've Ever Seen

If you compare Leto’s Joker to the Batman: The Animated Series, Arkham Asylum video games, and classic DC comics, you’ll see striking similarities:

• Look & Style: The bright green slicked-back hair, the pale white skin, and the eerie, shark-like grin mirror the Joker seen in many of DC’s animated adaptations. The flashy, purple-gangster aesthetic pays homage to comic book versions where the Joker is often depicted as a twisted crime lord.
• Personality & Psychosis: Unlike Phoenix’s Joker, who was more of a tragic loner, or Ledger’s agent of chaos, Leto’s Joker was truly unpredictable, switching between charm and menace in an instant. This is exactly how Joker is portrayed in the comics, where he is both a ruthless criminal mastermind and an insane, violent force of nature.
• Obsession with Harley Quinn: Leto’s Joker captures the twisted, abusive, and manipulative relationship Joker has with Harley Quinn in the Batman: The Animated Series and Arkham video games, making him the first live-action version to explore their toxic dynamic in full.

Many fans dismissed Leto’s version because it was different from Ledger’s ultra-serious, anarchist Joker, but in reality, his Joker was closer to the source material than any live-action version before him.

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2. Jared Leto’s Performance Was 100% Committed to Madness

Say what you will about his performance, but one thing is undeniable, Jared Leto became the Joker. He completely immersed himself in the role, bringing a chilling unpredictability that made his version feel truly dangerous.

• Unhinged Laugh: His eerie, almost mechanical laugh was inspired by classic Joker performances from Batman: The Animated Series and Arkham Asylum. While different from Ledger’s guttural laugh or Phoenix’s pained chuckle, Leto’s version was uniquely haunting.
• Sudden Mood Swings: In just a few seconds, he could go from charming and seductive to terrifying and violent. This mirrored the animated and comic book Jokers, who often switch between clownish humor and extreme brutality.
• Genuine Intensity: Every scene he was in carried a sense of dread. Whether calmly sitting with Harley or threatening someone with a gun, his presence was unnerving, just as the Joker should be.

Many fans complained that Leto’s Joker was “too extra,” but isn’t that exactly what the Joker is supposed to be? Loud, theatrical, unpredictable, and completely psychotic?

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3. Studio Edits Sabotaged His Performance

One of the biggest problems with Suicide Squad was that Warner Bros. cut a majority of Leto’s Joker scenes from the final film. Even director David Ayer confirmed that most of Leto’s best moments never made it into the movie.

• Originally, Leto’s Joker had a much larger role. In early trailers and promotional material, we saw different scenes that never appeared in the final cut.
• His performance was meant to be much darker and more violent, closer to the terrifying version fans know from the comics.
• The Joker-Harley relationship was far more twisted before edits removed the most brutal elements of their interactions.

If we had seen the full version of Leto’s Joker, there’s a strong chance he would have been received very differently. Instead, he was reduced to just a few minutes of screen time, making his character feel incomplete.

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4. Leto’s Joker Was the Closest to Mark Hamill’s Iconic Animated Version

For many DC fans, Mark Hamill’s Joker from Batman: The Animated Series is the definitive version of the character. His voice acting, unpredictability, and mix of humor and horror set the standard for all Jokers that followed.

Leto’s version closely resembled Hamill’s Joker in several ways:

• Theatricality: Both are over-the-top, dramatic, and love the sound of their own voice.
• Sadistic Humor: Leto’s Joker delivers lines with a mix of comedy and menace, just like Hamill’s Joker.
• Genuine Threat: In Suicide Squad, Joker is one of Gotham’s most feared crime bosses, much like Hamill’s version in The Animated Series.

Many fans expected something like Heath Ledger’s gritty, realistic Joker, but instead, Leto delivered the animated Joker in live-action form.

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5. Should Jared Leto Get Another Shot as the Joker?

Given how much of his performance was cut from Suicide Squad, many believe Leto deserves a second chance. In Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021), we got a brief glimpse of a darker, more menacing Joker, and it was enough to make fans wonder, what if he had been given a full movie?

With DC currently revamping its cinematic universe under James Gunn, it’s unlikely Leto will return. However, if he were given a second chance, a few changes could make his Joker the best ever:

• More Screen Time: Let him truly showcase his version of the character.

• Darker Tone: Lean into the terrifying, sadistic side of his Joker.

• Better Writing: Give him scenes that truly show his genius-level criminal mind.

Would Leto’s Joker thrive in a Joker sequel alongside Joaquin Phoenix? Or could he work in Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe with Robert Pattinson? If given the right script and direction, Leto’s Joker could become the most terrifying Joker in DC history.

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Final Verdict: Was Leto’s Joker Actually the Best?

While he may not have been the Joker that fans expected, Jared Leto delivered the most comic-accurate live-action Joker ever seen. His portrayal was closer to the Batman: The Animated Series and Arkham video games than any other film version, capturing the true madness and theatricality of the character.

Unfortunately, due to studio edits and unfair comparisons, his performance was never given the chance to shine. But if fans revisit his portrayal with an open mind, and if DC ever gives him a second chance, Jared Leto’s Joker might just become one of the greatest takes on the character.

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What Do You Think?

Do you agree that Jared Leto’s Joker was misunderstood? Was his version actually the closest to the animated and comic book Joker? Let’s discuss this in the comments! If you enjoyed this article, share it with fellow DC fans to keep the debate going!

Disclaimer:

This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. All opinions expressed are those of the author and do not represent the views of Warner Bros., DC Studios, or any affiliated companies. Joker, Suicide Squad, and all related characters are trademarks of DC Comics and Warner Bros. This article does not intend to infringe on any copyrights, trademarks, or intellectual property rights. Images and references used are for discussion and analysis under fair use guidelines.