The 2016 release of Batman: The Killing Joke was supposed to be a victory lap for DC’s animation department. Fans had spent decades begging for a faithful adaptation of the 1988 graphic novel by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland. We wanted to see Mark Hamill’s iconic voice paired with the most controversial Joker story ever written. But when the movie finally dropped, the reaction wasn't a standing ovation. It was a confused, frustrated silence followed by some of the loudest internet debates in the history of comic book media. Honestly, the Killing Joke movie Joker is a fascinating study in how you can follow a script almost perfectly and still somehow miss the mark for half your audience.
It's a weird one. You've got Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, the definitive Batman and Joker, returning to their roles. You’ve got Sam Liu directing and Bruce Timm producing. On paper, it’s a dream team. Yet, the film remains one of the most polarizing entries in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies lineup.
The Problem With That Infamous Prologue
Before we even get to the Joker, we have to talk about the first 30 minutes. This is where most of the vitriol lives. The original graphic novel is a tight, lean 46 pages. That’s not enough for a feature film. To pad the runtime, the creators added a prologue focusing on Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.
The intent was probably noble. They wanted to give Barbara more agency and screen time before her life-altering injury at the hands of the Joker. They wanted us to care more. But the execution? It felt like a different movie entirely. The "relationship" between Batman and Batgirl—specifically a sexual encounter on a rooftop—sent shockwaves through the fandom. It felt out of character for Bruce Wayne and, frankly, a bit demeaning to Barbara's independent legacy. It’s a classic example of "more isn't always better." By the time the Joker actually shows up to kick off the plot we all know, the audience is already exhausted and, in many cases, genuinely annoyed.
The Killing Joke Movie Joker: A Performance of Pure Malice
When the movie finally settles into the actual adaptation, Mark Hamill takes center stage. This isn't the "Clown Prince of Crime" from the 90s animated series. This is a much darker, meaner version of the character. Hamill has gone on record many times saying that The Killing Joke is his favorite Joker story, and you can hear that passion in every line.
He delivers the "One Bad Day" monologue with a chilling level of conviction.
The Joker in this film isn't just trying to rob a bank or blow up a building. He’s a philosopher of chaos. He wants to prove a point. He wants to show that Commissioner Gordon—the most "upright" man in Gotham—is just as broken as he is under the right amount of pressure. The movie handles the flashback sequences with a certain melancholy that's quite effective. Seeing the Joker as a failed stand-up comedian, a man desperate to provide for his pregnant wife, adds a layer of tragedy that the film actually manages to capture quite well. It makes his eventual descent into the chemical vat feel like a mercy killing of his former self.
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Why the Animation Style Sparked Such Heat
One of the biggest complaints—and this is something critics like Chris Stuckmann pointed out at the time—is the animation itself. Brian Bolland’s art in the original comic is legendary. It’s hyper-detailed, claustrophobic, and intensely vibrant.
The movie opted for a much simpler, cleaner aesthetic.
Some fans felt it looked "cheap" compared to the source material. It lacks the grit. When you're dealing with a story this heavy, the visuals need to carry some weight. Instead, the Killing Joke movie Joker exists in a world that looks a bit too much like a standard Saturday morning cartoon, which creates a jarring disconnect with the R-rated content. There’s a scene where Joker is singing a musical number ("I'm Going Looney") while Gordon is being tortured. In the comic, it feels like a fever dream. In the movie, it occasionally feels like a high-budget storyboard.
The Ending: Did He Kill Him?
The ending of the film, which mirrors the comic, is the ultimate "did they or didn't they" moment. Joker tells a joke about two inmates escaping an asylum. Batman starts laughing. They both stand there, laughing in the rain, as the police sirens approach.
Then, the laughter stops.
The camera pans down to the puddles. Many people, including legendary writer Grant Morrison, believe that Batman actually kills the Joker in this moment. The title itself—The Killing Joke—could be a double entendre. The movie doesn't give you a clear answer, which is exactly what a good adaptation should do. It preserves the ambiguity of the source material. However, because the movie spent so much time on that weird Batgirl prologue, some viewers felt the ending lacked the punch it should have had. The emotional core was diluted.
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Key Differences Between the Comic and the Screen
If you're looking at the two side-by-side, the movie is almost a shot-for-shot recreation of the second half of the book.
- The Dialogue: Almost 95% of the dialogue in the Joker scenes is lifted directly from Alan Moore's script.
- The Tone: The movie is R-rated, allowing for the violence and the disturbing "funhouse" sequence to remain intact.
- The Music: The score by Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter, and Michael McCuistion adds a layer of dread that the silent pages of the comic obviously couldn't provide.
- The Voice Acting: Having Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill is the ultimate "get." No matter how you feel about the script additions, their performances are definitive.
The "One Bad Day" Philosophy in 2026
Looking back at this film from 2026, the Joker's philosophy feels even more cynical. The idea that everyone is just one bad day away from total madness is a recurring theme in modern cinema, from Joker (2019) to The Batman.
The Killing Joke movie Joker is perhaps the purest distillation of this idea. He doesn't want money. He doesn't want power. He wants to prove that your morality is a facade. He fails, of course—Gordon remains sane—but the Joker doesn't seem to care. He just wants the audience (us) to see the joke.
There's a lot of nuance here that people miss because they're so focused on the controversial scenes. The Joker's refusal to be "sane" is his way of coping with a world he finds inherently meaningless. It's a dark, nihilistic take that has influenced almost every version of the character we've seen since.
Is It Worth Re-Watching?
If you haven't seen it in a while, it’s worth a second look, but maybe skip the first half-hour. Honestly. If you start the movie right when Batman goes to Arkham Asylum to talk to the Joker, it becomes a much better experience. You get the meat of the story without the baggage of the prologue.
It’s not a perfect movie. It’s flawed, weirdly paced, and sometimes visually underwhelming. But as a showcase for Mark Hamill’s range, it’s essential. He hits notes of vulnerability and terrifying glee that few other actors can reach.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're a fan of this specific era of DC animation or the Joker himself, here's how to get the most out of this story without getting bogged down in the negativity.
1. Watch the "Deluxe Edition" with the Bolland Documentary
The behind-the-scenes features on the physical release are actually better than the movie for some. They interview Brian Bolland about the original art process, which gives you a huge appreciation for what they were trying to adapt.
2. Compare the 1988 Original Colors vs. the 2008 Recoloring
Before you judge the movie's colors, look at the two versions of the comic. The original 1988 version by John Higgins had psychedelic, neon colors. The 2008 version, colored by Bolland himself, is more muted and realistic. The movie tries to bridge the gap between these two styles, which is why it looks the way it does.
3. Listen to the Soundtrack Separately
The musical number "I'm Going Looney" is a standout. Hamill’s singing voice is genuinely creepy, and the orchestration is top-notch. It works surprisingly well as a standalone piece of character work.
4. Read "The Man Who Laughs" as a Companion
If you want the full Joker origin experience, read Ed Brubaker’s The Man Who Laughs alongside The Killing Joke. It fills in the gaps of the Joker's first encounter with Batman and makes the "failed comedian" backstory feel more integrated into the larger Gotham mythos.
The Killing Joke movie Joker will likely always be a "black sheep" in the DC catalog. It tried to do too much and too little at the same time. But as a piece of history, and as a final "greatest hits" performance for the Conroy/Hamill duo, it’s a milestone that can't be ignored. Just keep your remote handy to skip the rooftop scene.