Joker is the most popular and iconic villain in the Batman universe – the Dark Knight’s greatest nemesis. And his portrayal on the big screen has been no different, with interpretations for every taste delivered by some of the finest actors to ever step into the superhero genre; yes, even Jared Leto included. Yet there are two versions of the Clown Prince of Crime that feel as diametrically opposed as their very appearances: Jack Nicholson’s Joker in Batman (1989) and Joaquin Phoenix’s in Joker (2019). What unites them is a subtle detail you probably missed at the time.
The small link between Batman and Joker
Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman turned Michael Keaton’s caped crusader into a pop culture icon – and Jack Nicholson’s Joker right alongside him, offering fans a twisted yet hilarious take on Batman’s greatest foe. In one memorable sequence, Joker and his henchmen storm an art museum for Jack Napier’s date with Vicki Vale, destroying the works on display to the beat of Prince, who provided the film’s soundtrack.
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At one point, Napier walks past a particular painting: The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough, a canvas that has appeared in countless productions and become part of pop culture itself. That very same painting also makes a brief appearance in Arthur Fleck’s apartment in Joker (2019), where Joaquin Phoenix’s character ultimately descends into becoming the villain in Todd Phillips’s Oscar-winning film.
It’s a clever Easter egg that can easily slip by unnoticed, one only eagle-eyed Batman fans caught when Joker premiered in 2019. Still, Phoenix’s Joker doesn’t pause to admire the work as Nicholson’s did, making it far harder to spot in the 2019 film than in Burton’s late-80s classic.
Those wanting to catch the scenes with the famous painting can find Batman streaming on HBO Max and Apple TV+.
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