10 Worst Things Joker Has Ever Done In DC Movies And TV Shows

Throughout DC's history, the Jokerhas done some truly awful things, many of which have been adapted to movies and television shows. The Joker is one of the most infamous villains in comic book history, known for his chaotic and sadistic nature. Over the years, DC movies and TV shows have brought the Joker to life in ways that showcase his cruelty and madness. From animated series to blockbuster films, the Joker’s deeds have often gone beyond villainy to the downright horrifying.

DC’s animated and live-action universes have provided countless adaptations of the Joker, each presenting a new perspective on his sinister psyche. Across the DC timeline, from Batman: The Animated Series to The Dark Knight and beyond, the Joker has committed atrocities that leave even the most seasoned viewers reeling. His actions often test the limits of morality, forcing his adversaries – especially Batman – to confront impossible choices. Unlike other villains who seek power or revenge, the Joker’s motivations are often rooted in anarchy and the sheer pleasure of causing pain.

10 Joker Threatens To Nuke Gotham

Batman: The Animated Series

In Batman: The Animated Series, the Joker’s schemes are often as theatrical as they are dangerous. One of his most chilling plans involves threatening to detonate a nuclear bomb in Gotham City. In the episode “Joker’s Wild,” the Clown Prince of Crime hijacks a casino and reveals that he has rigged the city with a nuclear device. His demands are as nonsensical as they are terrifying, exemplifying his love for chaos over any tangible reward.

What makes this moment particularly harrowing is the Joker’s nonchalant attitude toward mass destruction. For him, the lives of Gotham’s citizens are mere pawns in his game against Batman. The tension in this episode highlights the Joker’s unpredictability and his willingness to escalate his schemes to apocalyptic levels, cementing his reputation as one of the most dangerous villains in Gotham.

9 Jerome Turns Jeremiah Mad

Gotham

In the TV series Gotham, the Joker’s origin is explored through the characters of Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska. Jerome, a clear precursor to the Joker, begins as an unstable and sadistic criminal. However, his worst act comes when he orchestrates the descent of his twin brother, Jeremiah, into madness. Using a specially designed toxin, Jerome ensures that Jeremiah inherits his own psychotic tendencies, transforming him into a darker and more calculated version of himself.

This act of sibling sabotage in Gotham is not just cruel – it’s deeply personal. Jerome doesn’t simply want to spread chaos; he wants to destroy the person closest to him and reshape him in his own twisted image. This storyline adds a deeply unsettling layer to the Joker’s legacy, showing how his influence corrupts even those who initially resist his madness.

8 Joker Gives Batman The Wrong Address

The Dark Knight

In Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, the Joker masterminds one of his most devastating plans by exploiting Batman’s moral code. After kidnapping Harvey Dent and Rachel Dawes, the Joker tells Batman their locations, forcing him to choose who to save. However, the Joker deliberately gives Batman the wrong address, leading him to rescue Harvey instead of Rachel.

This calculated move results in Rachel’s death and Harvey’s transformation into Two-Face. The psychological torment inflicted on Batman is immense, as the Joker turns a heroic rescue attempt into a tragic failure. This moment exemplifies the Joker’s ability to manipulate and destroy lives without ever laying a hand on his victims. By twisting Batman’s sense of duty into a weapon, Heath Ledger’s Joker delivers one of the most heartbreaking and cruel blows in the character’s cinematic history.

7 Joker Poisons The Public

Batman (1989)

Tim Burton’s Batman introduces a version of the Joker that is both flamboyant and horrifying. One of his most chilling schemes involves poisoning Gotham’s citizens through everyday products. By contaminating items like cosmetics and hygiene products with a lethal chemical known as “Smylex,” the Joker turns ordinary routines into death traps. Victims die with grotesque, permanent grins on their faces – a macabre signature of the Clown Prince of Crime.

His plot highlights the Joker’s sadistic sense of humour and his disregard for human life. Unlike other villains who seek power or wealth, the Joker’s goal is pure chaos, and this plan exemplifies his twisted creativity. The scene where news anchors fall victim to the toxin on live television underscores the widespread terror he inflicts, cementing this as one of the character’s most iconic and horrifying deeds.

6 Joker Tortures Harley Quinn

Suicide Squad

In Suicide Squad, the toxic relationship between the Joker and Harley Quinn is put on full display. While the film romanticizes their bond to some extent, it also reveals the darker, abusive side of their relationship. The Joker manipulates and torments Harley, exploiting her love for him to further his own goals. From throwing her into a vat of chemicals to emotionally breaking her down, the Joker’s treatment of Harley is a chilling reminder of his cruelty. This reaches its zenith when Joker uses electroshock therapy on Harley, destroying her mind.

Despite her intelligence and strength, Harley becomes a victim of the Joker’s manipulations. This dynamic serves as a stark contrast to the playful, chaotic partnership often seen in other adaptations, highlighting the Joker’s capacity for intimate cruelty. Harley’s tragic descent into madness is a direct result of the Joker’s influence, making this one of his most personal and devastating crimes.

5 Joker Experiments On His Girlfriend's Face

Batman (1989)

One of the most disturbing moments in Tim Burton’s Batman is when the Joker experiments on his girlfriend, Alicia Hunt. After she expresses concerns about his behavior, the Joker disfigures her face, turning her into his own “work of art,” that forces her to wear a porcelain mask. This act is not only cruel but also deeply symbolic of the Joker’s twisted psyche.

By reducing Alicia to one of his grotesque creations, the Joker demonstrates his need to dominate and corrupt those around him. Alicia’s disfigurement serves as a visual reminder of the Joker’s sadistic nature and his ability to inflict both physical and psychological harm. This moment is particularly unsettling because it shows how the Joker’s cruelty extends beyond his enemies to those who are supposed to be closest to him. It’s a chilling example of his capacity for personal and intimate violence.

4 Joker Turns Tim Drake Into A Mini Joker

Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker

In the animated film Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime commits one of his most horrifying acts by kidnapping Tim Drake, the new Robin. The Joker and Harley Quinn torture Tim physically and psychologically, eventually brainwashing him into becoming a mini version of the Joker. This transformation is both tragic and disturbing, as Tim is forced to betray everything he stands for as a hero.

The moment when Tim, in his Joker persona, kills the Clown Prince is both cathartic and heartbreaking, spotlighting the deep scars left by this traumatic experience. The Joker’s actions in this film highlight his penchant for targeting Batman’s allies to cause maximum pain. Tim’s ordeal is one of the darkest moments in DC’s animated history, cementing the Joker’s status as a villain willing to cross any line.

3 Joker Kills Jason Todd

Batman: Under the Red Hood

The brutal murder of Jason Todd, the second Robin, is one of the Joker’s most infamous crimes. In the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood, this horrific event is brought to life with chilling detail. The Joker kidnaps Jason and mercilessly beats him with a crowbar before leaving him to die in an explosion. This act not only robs Batman of his protégé but also leaves him with a profound sense of guilt and failure.

Jason’s death becomes a defining moment for both Batman and the Joker, with the latter relishing the pain he’s inflicted. The emotional weight of this crime is further explored when Jason returns as the vengeful Red Hood, highlighting the long-lasting impact of the Joker’s cruelty. This act remains one of the most harrowing examples of the Joker’s ability to destroy lives and relationships.

2 Joker Tricks Superman Into Killing His Pregnant Wife

Injustice

In Injustice, a movie based on the video game series of the same name, the Joker commits one of his most heinous crimes by tricking Superman into killing Lois Lane, who is pregnant with his child. Using a combination of fear toxin and kryptonite-laced gas, the Joker manipulates Superman into believing Lois is Doomsday. In his panic, Superman kills her, before triggering a nuclear bomb that destroys Metropolis.

This act not only devastates Superman but also drives him to become a tyrannical ruler, fundamentally altering the course of the DC universe. The Joker’s actions in Injustice highlight his ability to dismantle even the most powerful heroes by exploiting their vulnerabilities. This crime is particularly horrifying because it combines psychological manipulation with catastrophic consequences, proving the Joker’s capacity for unparalleled destruction. The fallout from this event reverberates throughout the Injustice storyline, cementing it as one of the darkest moments in DC history.

1 Joker Paralyzes And Assaults Barbara Gordon

Batman: The Killing Joke

In the animated adaptation of The Killing Joke, the Joker commits one of his most infamous and controversial crimes by targeting Barbara Gordon. He shoots her in the spine, leaving her paralyzed, and then proceeds to subject her to psychological torture. The Joker photographs Barbara in various states of undress, using these images to torment her father, Commissioner Gordon.

This act is a chilling demonstration of the Joker’s sadism and his ability to inflict both physical and emotional pain. Barbara’s assault is one of the most graphic and unsettling moments in DC’s animated history, sparking debates about the depiction of violence against women in comics and animation. Despite its controversial nature, this moment underscores the Joker’s role as a villain who thrives on pushing his enemies to their breaking points, leaving lasting scars on his victims and their loved ones.