In the 2008 film The Dark Knight, the Joker is portrayed by Heath Ledger, who told Sarah Lyall of The New York Times that he viewed that film's version of the character as a "psychopathic, mass murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy." In this film, he is a bank robber targeting Mafia-owned banks, whom Gotham's crime families reluctantly hire to kill Batman (Christian Bale) after he brazenly offers them his services. It is gradually revealed that he desires to upset social order through crime, and that he defines himself by his battle with Batman.

Indeed, The Joker is one of the reasons contributing to the biblical amounts of hype behind "The Dark Knight." The late Heath Ledger’s performance in the role had become legendary even prior to the film’s release. The draw to Ledger’s character goes beyond the honoring of a great actor having passed away before his time. Ledger is entirely deserving of all the praise he has earned for his performance; he is mesmerizing in the film.