If you loved
Batman: The Killing Joke
Sam Liu · Film · 2016
What hooked you in Batman: The Killing Joke was the unsettling descent into psychological trauma and the blurred lines between justice and madness.
Start with the source
The source
Batman
William Dozier · Series · 1966
Adaptation
Batman
Tim Burton · Film · 1989
Adaptation
Batman: The Animated Series
Bruce Timm · Series · 1992
Books on the same thread
Batman Arkham Asylum 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Grant Morrison · Book · 2014
Like Batman: The Killing Joke, this graphic novel forces the hero to confront the darkest corners of the human psyche while trapped in a harrowing, claustrophobic nightmare of Joker's design.
Series on the same thread
Batman: The Animated Series
Bruce Timm · Series · 1992
If you appreciated the gritty, noir-drenched atmosphere of Batman: The Killing Joke, this series provides the definitive exploration of the moral ambiguity and urban decay defining Bruce Wayne's crusade.
The Batman
Duane Capizzi · Series · 2004
Building on the dual identity conflicts seen in Batman: The Killing Joke, this series examines the heavy toll of vigilantism as a young billionaire struggles to maintain his sanity against corruption.
Marvel's The Punisher
Steve Lightfoot · Series · 2017
This series mirrors the visceral exploration of trauma found in Batman: The Killing Joke, focusing on a man pushed to the brink by grief as he navigates a violent, morally grey world.
Harley Quinn
Patrick Schumacker · Series · 2019
While Batman: The Killing Joke highlights the Joker's cruelty, this show offers a subversive, character-driven look at breaking free from his cycle of abuse and reclaiming one's own identity.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Much like the investigative intensity of Batman: The Killing Joke, this podcast demands a deep dive into the disturbing nature of unsolved crimes and the pursuit of truth behind human tragedy.
Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media · Podcast · 2026
Just as Batman: The Killing Joke analyzes the terrifying unpredictability of the human mind, this series explores the primal, visceral nature of survival and the chaos inherent in the natural world.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Batman: The Killing Joke a sequel to the 1989 Batman movie?
No, Batman: The Killing Joke is a standalone 2016 animated film directed by Sam Liu. It is not narratively connected to the 1989 Batman movie or the 1966 television series, as it focuses specifically on the Joker attempting to prove a point about madness to the Gordon family.
How does Batman: The Killing Joke relate to Batman: The Animated Series?
While both Batman: The Killing Joke and Batman: The Animated Series feature the iconic rivalry between Batman and the Joker, they are separate productions. The 2016 film is an individual adaptation of the source material and does not function as a continuation of the 1992 television series.
What is the primary plot of Batman: The Killing Joke?
In Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman hunts for the Joker after he escapes from custody. The Joker attacks the Gordon family to demonstrate his theory that anyone can fall into madness. The film explores this diabolical plan as Batman attempts to stop the Clown Prince of Crime.
Should I watch Batman: The Killing Joke before the 1966 Batman series?
You can watch Batman: The Killing Joke independently of the 1966 Batman television series. The 2016 film is a distinct adaptation focusing on a specific confrontation between Batman and the Joker, whereas the 1966 series follows its own episodic continuity and style that is unrelated to this film.