Iconic DC villains Harley Quinn and the Joker have been around for ages, and each has been portrayed on the big (and small) screen in numerous movies and animated series. from David Ayer Suicide Squadhowever, would be the first live-action film to feature both characters and the origins of their relationship.
The villains play Margot Robbie and Jared Leto. Both Robbie and Leto have proven themselves over the years as some of the most talented actors in the business. Leto earned his first Academy Award in 2014 for Best Supporting Actor in Motion Picture Dallas Buyers Club and Robbie has a total of two Oscar nominations in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories for her roles in I, Tonya And Bomb(respectively).
In Suicide SquadRobbie and Leto starred alongside Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Will Smith, Idris Elba and John Cena. Suicide Squad is available to stream on HBO and a sequel, The Suicide Squad, was released in 2021 on the streaming platform.
Here are the five best moments from Harley Quinn and Joker Suicide Squad.
Updated April 25, 2023: If you’re a fan of DC villains, including this infamous duo, you’ll be pleased to know that this article has been updated with additional content by Manthila Gallassage.
8 Harleen Quinzel meets Joker
At the beginning of suicide squad, we learn that Harley Quinn wasn’t always the wild and unpredictable villain she is today. Harley Quinn was once Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist assigned as Joker’s therapist. Thinking she was helping the clown heal, she fell in love with him.
Joker was able to manipulate the doctor’s feelings and turn her into his obsessive partner in crime. During this scene where Joker asks Harleen to please him, and she replies with “Anything”, taking the chance to help him, it becomes clear that the two’s relationship is much more than the was intended. While everyone else in the facility fears the villain, Harleen buys him gifts and offers to do him favors. This meeting marks the beginning of their outrageous adventures together as Harley Quinn and Joker.
7 Harleen Quinzel pursues Mr. J
A flashback of Harley Quinn was shown in the film’s deleted scenes where Harleen Quinzel chases Mr. J on a motorcycle. The Joker thought he could avoid Harleen but he thought wrong, after chasing him she confronts him about how he can’t, he leaves after everything she had done and she confesses her feelings to the Joker. The only answer the lovestruck Harleen got was rejection and the words “Go away”.
6 Harleen Quinzel becomes Harley Quinn
In a desperate attempt to prove she will do anything for the Joker, Harleen Quinzel gives up her old life and identity to enter a new world with the Joker as Harley Quinn. After Joker tries to leave Harleen, she confesses her love for him and begs him not to go. Joker takes her to a factory where he makes Harleen swear not only will she die for him, but she will live for him.
Once she agrees, Harleen jumps into a vat of acid that transforms her from Harleen Quinzel into the infamous Harley Quinn. The change marks her complete devotion to Joker and proves how madly in love she is. This scene is filled with incredible cinematography that leaves an unforgettable impression on the viewer.
5 At the club
Monster T meets the Joker at the club when discussing the success of the job done, the flair of the conversation only kicked in when Monster T (Common) talks about how lucky the Joker is to have Harley Quinn in his life. The unexpected happened after the Joker said, “The fire of my loins, the itch of my crotch, the only, the only… infamous Harley Quinn.”
Joker gives Harley Quinn to Monster T as a treat, but jealousy and anger are written on his face. Monster T tries to make it clear that he doesn’t want to cross boundaries with his lady, but it was too late and the club scene ends with Monster T’s death and Harley Quinn laughing.
4 Harley Quinn’s first signature weapon
Another deleted scene that will supposedly appear in the Ayer Cut of the film is when the Joker beats a person (not clearly shown or revealed by James Gunn) to death with a baseball bat. All of this happened while Harleen Quinzel was being tied to a chair by Jonny Frost, the accomplice. In the end, Joker heads towards Harleen to give her an electric shock. This is when Harleen really becomes Harley, and she proceeds to use the baseball bat as her signature weapon for the hammer.
3 Batman saves Harley Quinn
In this next scene, we see the relationship between Harley Quinn and Joker in full. As they race down highways pretending to rule the world, Batman steps in and starts “ruining date night” (as Harley claims). In an attempt to stop the two villains, Batman forces the Joker to run their car off the road and into a giant body of water. Although they are murderous villains, Batman retrieves an unconscious Harley Quinn from the water and saves her from drowning.
Besides the fact that this is an action packed scene, what also makes it great is that after Harley is saved from her near death, she starts laughing hysterically as if what just happened doesn’t affect her at all. It is said in it Suicide Squad that “She’s crazier than he is and more fearless” – and this scene is a perfect example of that.
2 Helicopter blown up
Harley Quinn and Joker’s second best moment is towards the end of the film. When Harley realizes that Joker is waiting in a helicopter to take her away, she drops everything to be with him without hesitation. This powerful moment is enhanced by the image of Harley Quinn walking up and staring Joker in the eye amidst the chaos and destruction around her, as a dramatic score fills all the space in the scene.
Eventually, Harley boards the helicopter with Joker after nearly being shot by Deadshot (Will Smith), only to fall out of the helicopter as it blows up. The sadness in Harley’s eyes after his divorce from Joker makes this moment so important again.
1 Joker saves Harley
At the very end of the movie, and the most memorable Harley Quinn and Joker moment on our list, is when Joker saves the day and frees Harley Quinn. In this scene, Harley is locked behind bars again as if he were at the beginning of the movie. She sits in despair until men invade the facility and begin breaking down the bars holding her there. A man takes off his mask to reveal that he is in fact the Joker.
This scene is so ironic because it’s the man who has figuratively trapped Harley in his world freeing her from literally being behind bars. Although she escapes prison, there is no escape insight from the Joker, and it seems like nothing is impossible when Harley Quinn and Joker are together.