Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)

Batman: The Killing Joke (2016) is a dark, psychological animated thriller based on the iconic 1988 graphic novel by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland. Directed by Sam Liu, the film explores the twisted relationship between Batman and his arch-nemesis, the Joker, diving deep into the Joker’s origin story and his attempt to drive Commissioner Gordon insane.

Detailed Summary

A Controversial Beginning: Batgirl’s Prologue

The film opens with a 30-minute prologue focused on Barbara Gordon (Batgirl). She partners with Batman to take down a mob boss’s nephew who becomes dangerously obsessed with her. Their partnership turns personal when Barbara and Bruce share an unexpected and controversial romantic encounter. This opening act, while not part of the original comic, attempts to add emotional weight to Barbara’s eventual victimization, but it drew criticism for being underdeveloped and reducing Batgirl’s agency.

Joker Escapes Arkham

Batman visits Arkham Asylum to confront the Joker and talk about their inevitable end—whether it will end in one killing the other. But he quickly realizes the man he’s speaking to is a decoy. The real Joker has escaped and is already executing his next sadistic plan. Batman begins hunting him down before more lives are destroyed.

Joker’s Origin Story

Intercut with the present-day events is a series of flashbacks depicting the Joker’s possible backstory. Once a struggling comedian trying to support his pregnant wife, he’s coerced into helping criminals break into a chemical plant. When the plan goes awry and his wife dies in a freak accident, he falls into a vat of chemicals while escaping Batman, physically and psychologically transforming into the Joker. He becomes a man who believes that “one bad day” is all it takes to go mad.

The Attack on Barbara Gordon

In a shocking and deeply disturbing scene that mirrors the graphic novel, Joker shoots Barbara in the spine at point-blank range in her home. She is paralyzed and left bleeding while Joker kidnaps Commissioner Gordon. Joker then subjects Gordon to psychological torture—undressing Barbara, photographing her naked and injured body, and forcing Gordon through a twisted carnival of horrors to “prove” that even the most morally upright can go insane.

Batman vs Joker: The Final Confrontation

Batman eventually finds Joker’s hideout at the abandoned amusement park. He rescues Gordon—who, despite everything, insists Joker be brought in by the book. Batman chases down Joker, and the two battle it out. After subduing him, Batman tries once more to reach the man Joker used to be, offering rehabilitation. Joker responds by telling a joke: two inmates trying to escape an asylum, one offers to shine a flashlight across the gap, but the other refuses, afraid the first will turn it off halfway. Both men laugh—a rare moment of shared humanity or perhaps madness.

Movie Ending

After Joker’s joke, both he and Batman laugh in the rain. The laughter fades, and the screen cuts to black.

There is no visual resolution. But in the original comic and echoed here, there’s a controversial ambiguity: Does Batman kill Joker? The final scene shows Batman’s laughter abruptly stopping as the camera pans down. Some interpret this as Batman strangling the Joker off-screen—especially since Joker’s laughter stops suddenly too. Others see it as Batman sharing a rare moment of understanding with his enemy, finally seeing the tragedy beneath the clown’s mask. The ambiguity is deliberate and hotly debated among fans.

The film ends without providing a clear answer—echoing the comic’s open-ended finale.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes, there is a mid-credits scene—but not a traditional post-credits scene. In it, Barbara Gordon, now in a wheelchair, is shown in her home. She rolls into a room filled with computers and surveillance gear and answers a call with, “Oracle here.” This is a nod to her transformation into Oracle, the hacker and information broker identity she adopts after being paralyzed.

There are no post-credits scenes after the final credits.

Type of Movie

This is an R-rated animated psychological thriller, featuring intense violence, mature themes, and philosophical explorations of morality and madness. It’s geared toward adult audiences familiar with the Batman mythos.

Cast

• Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne
• Mark Hamill as The Joker
• Tara Strong as Barbara Gordon / Batgirl / Oracle
• Ray Wise as Commissioner James Gordon

Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprise their legendary roles from Batman: The Animated Series, giving emotional depth and intensity to their performances.

Film Music and Composer

The music was composed by Michael McCuistion, Kristopher Carter, and Lolita Ritmanis. The soundtrack maintains a moody, suspenseful atmosphere throughout, particularly during the Joker’s flashbacks and carnival scenes. There’s also an original musical number sung by Mark Hamill as Joker titled “I Go Looney,” adding a disturbingly cheerful contrast to the film’s dark tone.

Filming and Production

As an animated film, The Killing Joke was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. Voice recording took place in the U.S., while animation was outsourced to South Korean studio The Answer Studio.

Awards and Nominations

• Nominated for Best Animated Movie at the 2017 Saturn Awards.
• Received critical attention for voice acting, especially Mark Hamill’s performance.
• While praised for faithfulness to the source material, the added Batgirl prologue sparked controversy, affecting overall reception.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Mark Hamill had long expressed interest in voicing the Joker in The Killing Joke, calling it his “dream project.”
• This was the first Batman animated film to receive an R rating.
• The film had a limited one-night theatrical release before going digital and to Blu-ray.
• Alan Moore, writer of the original comic, had no involvement and disapproved of adaptations of his work.
• Bruce Timm, co-creator of Batman: The Animated Series, was executive producer and advocated for the additional Batgirl scenes.

Inspirations and References

• Based directly on Alan Moore’s graphic novel of the same name, which itself took inspiration from films like The Man Who Laughs and concepts from Existentialist philosophy.
• The Joker’s “one bad day” theory is derived from the idea that sanity is subjective and can be shattered under pressure.
• The character of Oracle was developed in later comics, adding depth and empowerment to Barbara’s arc.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

• The ending mirrors the comic nearly frame for frame, and no alternate endings have been confirmed.
• Some additional Joker flashbacks were storyboarded but ultimately cut for pacing.
• Earlier drafts considered a more definitive ending, but the creative team chose to maintain the ambiguity out of respect for Moore’s vision.

Book Adaptations and Differences

• The core plot of the Joker shooting Barbara, kidnapping Gordon, and confronting Batman is nearly identical to the graphic novel.
• The Batgirl prologue is completely original to the film and not present in the comic.
• The film adds extra dialogue and brief scenes to flesh out Batman and Joker’s psychology, which is more visually inferred in the comic.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Joker’s flashback to his failed stand-up routine and tragic origin.
• The shooting of Barbara Gordon.
• Gordon’s twisted ride through the Joker’s amusement park.
• Batman and Joker’s final conversation in the rain.

Iconic Quotes

• Joker: “All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy.”
• Batman: “We’re going to kill each other, aren’t we?”
• Joker: “Why aren’t you laughing?”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The scene in Arkham where Batman discovers Joker’s decoy is a nod to The Animated Series episode “The Man Who Killed Batman.”
• Joker’s carnival is designed similarly to the one in the Death of the Family storyline.
• The shot of Barbara in her library mirrors her depiction in the Birds of Prey comics as Oracle.
• Joker’s chemical bath closely resembles his transformation scene from Batman (1989).

Trivia

• The film was banned in some regions due to its mature content.
• Alan Moore originally wrote the comic as a non-canon one-shot.
• Mark Hamill retired from voicing the Joker after this film—until returning again later due to fan demand.
• The Joker’s origin is purposefully unreliable—he says, “If I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!”

Why Watch?

Batman: The Killing Joke is essential viewing for fans of the Dark Knight and those who appreciate deeper, more philosophical takes on comic book characters. It explores themes of trauma, madness, and morality in a way that few superhero stories do. While not perfect, it’s a bold and haunting take on two of DC’s most complex characters.

Director’s Other Movies

• Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
• Justice League vs. Teen Titans
• The Death of Superman
• Batman: Soul of the Dragon

Recommended Films for Fans

• Batman: Under the Red Hood
• Batman: Year One
• Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
• Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
• The Dark Knight Returns – Parts 1 & 2
• Joker (2019)