The world was first introduced to a big screen adaptation of Harley Quinn via the controversial Suicide Squad in August of 2016. Whether you love or despise the film itself, it’s impossible not to recognize that Margot Robbie´s Harley Quinn stole the show. She´s a kooky, seductive murderess in stiletto boots—it would be impossible for Robbie not to steal viewer’s attention. 

However, this film´s rendition of Harley Quinn was met with a hefty amount of criticism. The primary gripe was that many were disheartened by the hyper-sexualization of the character. While Quinn is known to wear provocative clothing in numerous comic book depictions, animated films, and video game appearances, her skimpy shorts and ¨Daddy´s Little Monster¨ baseball tee crossed a line for some viewers. Robbie even noted that she was very self-conscious in the outfit, but clarified that Quinn is ¨wearing hot pants because they’re sparkly and fun,¨ (Shepherd, 2016) which are fashion traits Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn will later double down on. 

Her sparse attire wasn’t the only issue brought into question as scores of audience members, predominantly women, found that the character´s interactions with her male counterparts placed her into a position of subjection. Quinn’s relationship with the Joker is based on her ability to be subservient to his wants and needs, and yet, some see her portrayal in Suicide Squad as a demotion from a delirious side-kick to a possession. 

Somewhere in the “Property of Joker” bomber jacket, being given to other men during date night, and being ogled by every prison guard in Belle Reve, she has lost all of her autonomy. The redemption of the Quinn character in this film is that Robbie truly cares for the character and portrays her as someone that deserves empathy. Quinn has lost control of her circumstances by the time viewers meet her, but slowly gains back some of her self-governance throughout the movie. By the end of the film, Harley Quinn has traded in her ¨Puddin´¨ collar for fuzzy slippers and funky hair-buns. Until Joker breaks into prison to retrieve his property, Harley Quinn is her own woman. 

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, more commonly referred to as Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, or simply Birds of Prey, underlines Quinn´s transformation into an independent, sparkle-clad mercenary. This film grounds Harley Quinn in relatability. She sobs in footie pajamas after a breakup. She chops off her hair, then immediately regrets it. Quinn isn’t owned by anyone anymore and it’s terrifying, as it should be. 

Instead of mini, glittery hot pants and her bomber jacket, Quinn wears high waisted shorts and an eccentric jacket with caution tape tassels. Her clubbing outfit is a night and day shift from her previous Suicide Squad dress. Gone is the sequined mini dress and in its place are striped trousers and an ankle length duster. If Suicide Squad Harley Quinn accentuates her suggestiveness, Birds of Prey asserts her peculiarity. 

Robbie plays Harley Quinn with more depth in this film, possibly because she was one of the movie´s producers. Birds of Prey was met with mixed reviews, similar to its predecessor, but these negative reviews emphasized more heavily on the “girl power” ambiance and general disconnect from its comic book source material. The transition from Joker´s thrall-turned-femme fatale Harley Quinn into a wacky, self-sufficient yet vulnerable Harley Quinn also caused dissonance among viewers.

James Gunn´s generally well-received The Suicide Squad sees the accumulation of both previous iterations into what many fans have agreed is the ideal live action Harley Quinn depiction. She´s unhinged and zany, yet maintains her allure and magnetism. Robbie delivers zingers and bizarre remarks all while commanding the attention of her team and the audience. Harley Quinn isn´t attempting to be her own woman anymore, she is her own woman. 

Quinn has moved past experimenting with glitter and gold and has reclaimed her iconic red and black color palette. Embracing the practicality of clothing, she has shelved the hot pants and replaced them with a matching pants, jacket, and bustier combo. Chunky boots take precedence over stiletto booties. Seemingly trivial changes in costuming from her debut appearance to her latest depict active growth within the character. 

This film also shows her fierce loyalty, but in a relatively healthier perspective. Her loyalty to Joker was shown through total devotion, however, her loyalty to her team is shown through her blooming compassion and desire to create and maintain friendships. Robbie compromises on the relatability of Harley Quinn presented in Birds of Prey and delivers a version that all fans can thoroughly enjoy without any major complaints. 

While it´s unclear whether Margot Robbie will return in any of the upcoming films slated by James Gunn, Lady Gaga will deliver her rendition of the character in Joker: Folie à Deux. Given Gaga´s brand of strangeness and theatrics, it’s certain that she will try to stray from any established interpretations of the character. That being said, pieces of Robbie´s version of Harley Quinn may seep through the cracks given that she is so well associated by fans with the character. 

From set photos and teaser images, her costuming thus far shows a combination of the clothing featured in the three aforementioned films. She enjoys miniskirts and heeled booties, while also sporting a practical blazer—all in her signature red and black—as well as varying hair lengths. Will she also chop off her hair and instantly regret it? It’s impossible for the two interpretations to not have some overlapping similarities, but what these overlaps will be is yet to be known. Will she be a proper Harley Quinn, or just another figment of Arthur Fleck´s imagination? Who knows. But it´ll be a crazy good time either way. 

Shepherd, J. (2016, April 28). Margot Robbie on suicide squad: “I’m not wearing hot pants next time.” The

Independent.  https://www.independent.co.uk/arts entertainment/films/news/suicide-squad-

margot-robbie-harleY-quinn-s-costume-i-m-not-wearing-hot-pants-next-time-a7004801.html