Batman (1989) | Jack Nicholson’s Joker Transformation Scene | ClipZone: Heroes & Villains

#JackNicholson gives an iconic performance as the Joker Batman follows Jack Palance and his gang as they raid Axis Chemicals. When the thugs start to fight back, it leads to a terrible accident that will create Batman's arch nemesis.

In BATMAN (1989) Gotham City's Dark Knight initiates his crusade against crime, encountering his inaugural adversary, Jack Napier, a felon who transforms into the lethal Joker

Directed by Tim Burton
Written by Bob Kane, Sam Hamm, Warren Skaaren
Starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger


This is the official ClipZone: Heroes & Villains channel! Subscribe for a whirlwind of action, intrigue, and battles showcasing legendary superheroes and villains like Joker, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Wonder Woman!

Own Now on Digital

[singhpreet]

Jack Nicholson
Jack Napier
Jack Torrance
He is the most definitive Jack of all time

[anxioussamurai]

This movie has aged like a fine wine. I love everything about it.

[ronnyraygunz]

Ah, the eighties. Every movie had a vat of unidentified toxic waste, labeled "toxic waste"

[dorrin]

This movie was kind of surreal in how it combined 1940s gangster flick/film noir with late 80s pop music.

[TheKikkomaster]

2:11 I just love this part and how batman looks. Burton really nailed the shot + lighting and Elfman's score just makes it perfect.

[DjBillman]

Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson were phenomenal such a combo

[Lane]

I was 9 years old when I first saw this in theaters and now I am 42 and I have never gotten tired of this and I still liked how LOL funny Jack Nicholson was as the Joker.

[joshuahenderson]

Does anyone else have this entire scene memorized, even the sound effects? This move shaped my childhood.

[zaxbitterzen]

I always kinda liked the idea that his "smile" was an accident mixed with a botched surgery. Really lends to the insanity, pain, irony and sadistic acceptance of truly being a crazy smiling clown.

[lw]

Possibly my favourite scene in the film. Batman's lack of dialogue, the steamy dark shadowy environment, the origin of the villain....

[KingBedlam]

The way Keaton/Batman moves in this scene is incredible. He isn't very physical, he just sort of glides from place to place, taking out criminals. He definitely gives Batman a supernatural flair that was missing in later films.

[bheemsinghbora]

classic color, serious shot, noiric atmosphere, this movie will never get old

[petergresh]

It took me 26 years of my life to finally realize that it wasn't the vat of chemicals that gave the Joker his grin it was the bullet that Batman deflected with his gauntlet cutting into his cheeks as well as the glass

[Zachary-vwdc]

At 3:55 I love how you can see the cable holding him but they incorporated it into his suit as a grapple. That’s really genius

[guitarzan]

Always loved the sound of the bullets ricocheting. Absolute timeless movie, came out when I was just 4.

[thesentinel]

@4:25 Remember folks, Michael Keaton is the only Batman actor who could smile in costume and seem even more intimidating.

[WaterMeLoan]

So that's where my LEGO Batman Nostalgia comes from.

[starwarsroo]

One thing that these ones lacked is the Gordon Batman partnership

[lwnf]

I like the subtle detail that Jack Napier was already wearing the purple suit under the overcoat.

[KleWdSide]

"Nice outfit."

That goofy smile on Batman's face afterwards cracks me up 🤣