10 Comic Book Movie Villains Who Were Universally Loved

5. Jack Nicholson's Joker

Jack Nicholson was born to play the Joker. His performances as Randle McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Jack Torrance in The Shining prior to taking the role, and his general appearance (which isn't dissimilar to the Joker even when he isn't wearing make-up), exemplified the fact that he would be perfect for it - and he didn't disappoint. In the movie, Joker's appearance was radically and permanently altered by chemicals and Nicholson presents him as a vain (with a penchant for nice suits and a trophy girlfriend), cackling, psychotic individual, with a truly macabre sense of humour, who is never without his trademark trick items and shows a genuine fear of Batman - initially at least. The performance is relentless and Nicholson obviously gave 100% in every scene. He describes his thoughts toward his performance as "proud" and considered it to be a piece of pop art. At the end of the first Batman movie, when the Joker plummets to his death, he is seen laying, as a corpse, smiling for eternity - and that really leaves a lasting impression on the audience.