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Batman: All 9 Dark Knight trilogy villains ranked from worst to best

By Joe Anthony Myrick

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Bane costume from the 2012 Dark Knight Rises film worn by Tom Hardy and designed by Lindy Hemming is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Bane costume from the 2012 Dark Knight Rises film worn by Tom Hardy and designed by Lindy Hemming is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /
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2. Two-Face

Aaron Eckhart’s performance as Two-Face could not have been more perfect if he tried. We see him go from Gotham’s strong willed White Knight to a bitter murderer ready to burn down the city he swore to protect. That transformation is extremely compelling to witness on top of tying in perfectly to the themes of the film.

In a movie where he easily could have been overshadowed by a larger villain who had a larger focus, Two-Face stands side-by-side with The Joker as far as significance to the plot and leaving an impression on the viewers go.

Which, speaking of The Joker, that brings us to the number one spot …

1. The Joker

No surprise here, right? Heath Ledger’s Joker was always destined to be number one. After all, this is the only performance on the list which earned an Oscar win, but it’s more than that. The importance of this Joker goes beyond Ledger’s performance or even the character’s impact in the film itself. It boils down to how this version of The Joker changed the culture as we know it.

There was always a worldwide fascination and interest in The Joker since he was first introduced in the comics, but there was something special about Heath Ledger’s portrayal that shifted how we all collectively think of and view the character. Ledger became the quintessential Joker in our eyes almost instantly.

When it came time to cosplay as The Joker or deliver an impression of him, people did so with the Ledger version in mind. When it came time for new actors to play The Joker, Ledger became the new template, either to produce a performance similar or to produce something so different that no one could compare the new portrayal to the gold standard of it all.

Often emulated but never duplicated, no one in the Dark Knight trilogy – hero or villain – had a bigger impact on the world than The Joker.

Next. Ranking all 3 films in The Dark Knight trilogy from worst to best. dark

Which villain in The Dark Knight trilogy was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

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