As moviegoers prepare for Joaquin Phoenix’s take on the Joker this fall, Rotten Tomatoes has proven that Heath Ledger’s Academy Award-winning performance from The Dark Knight is still on people’s minds. The film review outlet conducted a poll of almost 25,000 visitors in honor of its 21st birthday to find the most memorable movie moments, and Ledger’s Clown Prince came out on top.
It’s almost incredible to think in hindsight that a great number of Batman fans were skeptical of Ledger’s casting. His career and ability, which included another Oscar-nominated performance in Brokeback Mountain, had been called into question when put up against Jack Nicholson’s iconic portrayal in Tim Burton’s 1989 classic. But ever since Nolan’s gritty masterpiece unleashed upon theaters in 2008, Ledger’s take on the Clown Prince of Crime has become the basis upon which all other Jokers, and superhero villains in general, are judged.
While the actor tragically passed away before the film was released, his legacy will never be put into question again.
Now, whether or not a performance qualifies as a “moment,” is up for debate – as it’s simply listed as “The Joker from The Dark Knight” on Rotten Tomatoes’ official posting. But the review site took that into consideration, explaining that what they were referring to was “the moment we first saw Heath Ledger as the Joker, not in the actual film, but in the pre-release marketing.”
What many people would call a movie moment is instead characterized by the poll’s runner-up: Thanos’ decimating snap from Avengers: Infinity War.
But whether you’re a DC or a Marvel fan, we want to know, do you think this poll made the right choice? Does Ledger’s acclaimed performance from The Dark Knight really trump Thanos’ successful campaign in Infinity War? Be sure to drop a comment in the section down below and make your case.
