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All 5 Batman and Joker actor pairings ranked from worst to best

By Cody Schultz

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Film goers watch The Dark Knight featuring Heath Ledger during a public tribute outdoor movie night to the late actor at Burswood Park on February 12, 2011 in Perth, Australia. Australian actor Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker in the movie The Dark Knight. Ledger died from an accidental toxic combination of prescription drugs on January 22, 2008. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Film goers watch The Dark Knight featuring Heath Ledger during a public tribute outdoor movie night to the late actor at Burswood Park on February 12, 2011 in Perth, Australia. Australian actor Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker in the movie The Dark Knight. Ledger died from an accidental toxic combination of prescription drugs on January 22, 2008. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) /
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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Mannequin of Heath Ledger’s Joker at the opening of Rich Correll’s “Icons Of Darkness” VIP celebration on October 20, 2021 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Mannequin of Heath Ledger’s Joker at the opening of Rich Correll’s “Icons Of Darkness” VIP celebration on October 20, 2021 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images) /

1. Christian Bale and Heath Ledger

When one thinks of Batman and Joker duos on the big screen, it’s unlikely that Christian Bale and Heath Ledger’s portrayals aren’t the first that comes to mind. Their collaboration in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight was superhero cinema at its true best.

Bale’s introspective and tormented Dark Knight found his match in Ledger’s chaotic and anarchic Joker. Their performances acted as a mirror, each reflecting and amplifying the other’s intensity. Bale’s brooding heroism accentuated Ledger’s maniacal villainy, while Ledger’s unhinged portrayal pushed Bale to delve even deeper into the complexities of his character.

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Ledger’s tragically haunting Joker was the catalyst that brought out the best in Bale’s Batman, propelling him to the strongest performance in his trilogy of films. Similarly, Bale’s commitment to the role pushed Ledger to deliver a performance for the ages, capturing the essence of chaos in a chillingly authentic manner that led to one of the greatest performances we’ve ever witnessed. Their chemistry wasn’t just complementary; it was transformative.

Bale and Ledger’s Batman and Joker combination remains the golden standard for superhero rivalries on the big screen, proving that when two extraordinary talents come together, true magic is created. It’s just so heartbreaking that Ledger never had the chance to see the impact his performance has left on a generation of fans and on the history of cinema.

Next. All 12 Batman actors ranked from worst to best. dark

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