Joker Movies Ranked By Worldwide Box Office: Which Actor’s Clown Prince Truly Ruled The Theaters?

The Joker. A name that evokes madness, brilliance, chaos—and billion-dollar box office potential. From Joaquin Phoenix’s tortured loner to Heath Ledger’s anarchic mastermind, each cinematic Joker has left an indelible mark on audiences and ticket sales alike. But which version really owned the big screen?

In this ranking, we dive into each Joker-led DC film’s global box office performance—analyzing hits, surprises, and missed opportunities. Whether you’re here for the numbers, the nostalgia, or just some good ol’ Joker chaos, this list has you covered.

🔔 Subscribe to marvelphase5 for more deep dives into your favorite comic book legends and cinematic universes.

Joker Movies Ranked by Worldwide Box Office

Below is the definitive ranking of Joker movies based on global box office earnings, as tracked via Box Office Mojo:

Rank	Movie Title	Year	Actor	Worldwide Gross
1	Joker	2019	Joaquin Phoenix	$1.07 Billion
2	The Dark Knight	2008	Heath Ledger	$1.00 Billion
3	Suicide Squad	2016	Jared Leto	$749 Million
4	Batman	1989	Jack Nicholson	$401 Million
5	Joker: Folie à Deux	2024	Joaquin Phoenix	$207 Million

Let’s break down each entry to see why some soared—and why others stumbled.

🥇 Joker (2019) – Joaquin Phoenix

💰 Worldwide Box Office: $1.07 Billion
📺 Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
🎯 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 68%

Todd Phillips’ Joker wasn’t just a film—it was a movement. Released on a modest $55 million budget, it stunned the industry by grossing over $1.07 billion, making it the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. The film’s deep psychological dive into Arthur Fleck resonated globally, combining gritty realism with haunting storytelling.

Joaquin Phoenix’s transformative performance earned him an Oscar for Best Actor, while Hildur Guðnadóttir’s score also took home gold. It wasn’t your typical superhero movie—it was raw, painful, and utterly compelling.

🔑 Why it worked: A bold, standalone narrative. No CGI. No capes. Just unfiltered descent into madness, striking a chord in a world hungry for originality.

🥈 The Dark Knight (2008) – Heath Ledger

💰 Worldwide Box Office: $1.00 Billion
📺 Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
🎯 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

If Phoenix’s Joker was empathy gone wrong, Ledger’s Joker was chaos in human form. His Oscar-winning performance as a philosophical terrorist redefined the superhero villain archetype. The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, was both a commercial and critical juggernaut.

It opened to $158 million in the U.S.—a record at the time—and eventually crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide. Ledger’s chilling “Why so serious?” remains iconic.

🔑 Why it worked: A perfect storm of masterful storytelling, timely release, and Ledger’s haunting legacy following his tragic death.

🥉 Suicide Squad (2016) – Jared Leto

💰 Worldwide Box Office: $749 Million
📺 Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
🎯 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 26%

While Suicide Squad wasn’t exactly beloved by critics, it was a box office monster, raking in $749 million globally. Jared Leto’s take on Joker was more of a punk-gangster remix—tattoos, grills, and all. While he didn’t get much screen time, the film introduced a grittier DC ensemble and gave us Margot Robbie’s breakout as Harley Quinn.

🔑 Why it worked: Strong marketing, character hype, and the peak of superhero movie mania—even if the final cut felt unfinished.

🎭 Batman (1989) – Jack Nicholson

💰 Worldwide Box Office: $401 Million
📺 Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
🎯 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 77%

Before superheroes dominated Hollywood, Tim Burton’s Batman changed the game. Jack Nicholson’s Joker was grotesque, theatrical, and genuinely disturbing—a perfect foil to Michael Keaton’s brooding Batman. The film became a pop culture juggernaut, especially considering its 1989 release.

With $401 million globally on just a $35 million budget, this was a landmark moment for comic book movies.

🔑 Why it worked: Burton’s dark vision, Danny Elfman’s score, and Jack’s unforgettable maniacal grin.

🪞 Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) – Joaquin Phoenix & Lady Gaga

💰 Worldwide Box Office: $207 Million
📺 Streaming: Max (US), JioHotstar (India)
🎯 Rotten Tomatoes Score: 31%

One of 2024’s most divisive films, Joker: Folie à Deux returned with Phoenix but pivoted toward musical expression—and cast Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. It opened to a modest $37 million domestically and capped off at $207 million globally.

Despite the artistic ambition and intense performances, the film polarized both fans and critics. The musical genre shift, along with a more experimental tone, may have limited its mainstream appeal.

🔑 Why it stumbled: High expectations, genre shock, and a lack of universal resonance despite bold performances.

🎤 What the Experts and Fans Say

🔹 Box Office Analysts:

Box Office Mojo confirmed the historical records set by Joker (2019) and The Dark Knight, both of which reshaped box office norms for comic book films.
Forbes noted that Joker (2019) “revolutionized the standalone villain film model,” paving the way for character-first storytelling.

🔹 Critics:

RogerEbert.com called The Dark Knight “the new benchmark for comic book villainy.”
IGN described Joker: Folie à Deux as “a bold swing with limited connection to general audiences.”

🔹 Fans on Social Media:

Reddit’s r/DC_Cinematic celebrated Joker (2019) as “a masterpiece of modern character cinema.”
Twitter/X reactions to Folie à Deux ranged from “artistic brilliance” to “an ambitious misstep.”

🧠 Insights: What These Numbers Tell Us

Star Power Alone Isn’t Enough: Despite casting icons like Lady Gaga, Folie à Deux underperformed due to its genre departure.
Risk-Taking Pays Off—Sometimes: Joker (2019) proved that audiences crave character-driven narratives. But Folie à Deux showed that too much deviation can alienate the mainstream.
Legacy Still Matters: The Dark Knight continues to prove that great writing + unforgettable acting = timeless appeal.

Final Thoughts

The Joker remains one of cinema’s most bankable and complex villains. From billion-dollar dominance to cult-favorite chaos, the Clown Prince of Crime continues to reinvent himself—and box office metrics reflect that.

While Joaquin Phoenix holds the current crown with Joker (2019), Heath Ledger’s legacy in The Dark Knight casts a long, iconic shadow. As for the future? With DC’s multiverse playbook wide open, we might not have seen the last Joker showdown.

💡 Want more ranking deep-dives like this? Don’t forget to subscribe to marvelphase5 for your next hit of comic-to-screen storytelling analysis.

Sources & References

Box Office Mojo: https://www.boxofficemojo.com
Variety, 2023–2025 Reports
IGN Reviews & Rotten Tomatoes Ratings
Warner Bros. Financial Releases (2024, Q2)
Reddit r/DC_Cinematic, Fan Polls & Reaction Threads

Joker Movies Ranked by Worldwide Box Office: Which Actor’s Clown Prince Truly Ruled The Theaters?