Sometimes it is more fun to be evil. Movie villains are often the best part of the film. The best movie villains can steal focus and deliver iconic performances. From Disney movies to horror films, the greatest movie villains give us someone to fear, hate and root against (while others make you want to be them). Iconic movie villains get to be more dramatic, conniving, and sometimes even funnier than their hero counterparts. The best villains steal scenes and then some. The best villains of all time are more than antagonists; they are integral to what makes their respective films memorable and great.
Top Movie Villains
While great villains can come from any genre, horror, action, family and superhero films are often over-represented given that these genres usually have a clear and defined villain. Sorry, drama films, but “the concept of grief” doesn’t work on a list like this. Generally, this list steers away from real-life examples of villainy (with some light expectations). This list is supposed to feel fun and not based on real-life examples of evil.
Films on this list come from multiple genres from the 1930s to the 2010s. However, all of them feature an iconic and memorable villain performance. For the purposes of this list, the villains are the main antagonist or, at minimum, do at least one evil act in the film. Notably, this list is not ranked based on film; it is based on the villain’s performance. This is not a list of the best films; it is just the best villains. There are several factors that make a good villain. Camp, iconicness and strong performances all factor in. However, the most crucial factor may be that they compel a strong emotion from the audience. Villains are meant to be hated, feared and maybe sometimes rooted for in the very back of one’s mind. When it comes to villains, it is all about strong emotions.
30. Bill, Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
While Kill Bill: Volume 1 is the better film, there is much more Bill in Volume 2. Bill, played by David Carradine, gets a chance to shine at the very end of the sequel. Almost like a final boss in a video game, the entire two films lead to him, and it’s incredibly satisfying. The Kill Bill films follow a Bride who decides to take revenge on her ex and his deadly assassin gang after they victimize her on her wedding day.
There are a lot of “bad guys” in the Kill Bill movies, and there is an argument that many of them could have made this list, but in the end, the films are all about Bill and the damage he creates. Bill also gets a lot of the best dialogue in Volume 2. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill: Volume 2 also stars Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Gordon Liu and Michael Parks. Here’s where you can find Kill Bill: Volume 2.
29. Candyman, Candyman (1992)
There are a lot of iconic horror villains, and arguably, this spot should be taken by a character like Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees. These horror characters are more ubiquitous than Candyman, but Candyman should be a bigger contender in the iconic horror villain race. The film Candyman follows a grad student who, while researching urban legends and superstitions in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing project, comes face to face with Candyman, a hook-handed ghost.
Directed by Bernard Rose, the film stars Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd. Todd is exceptional in this film. The actor is a horror legend who has also played iconic villains in non-horror films like The Rock. There are several Candyman films, including a 2021 Jordan Peele remake, and Todd appears as the character in all of them. It truly feels like his role. Here’s where you can find Candyman.
28. Jane Hudson, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
The so-called psycho-biddy genre won’t be for everyone, but What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is the best of the micro-genre and the one that started it all. The film follows a former child star who is driven to crazed cruelty towards her paraplegic sister. The film stars Bette Davis as the villainous Jane and Joan Crawford as her long-suffering, captive sister. It is also the film debut of Victor Buono.
It made back its modest budget and was even nominated for five Oscars. However, it wasn’t very well-received upon its release. It has generally been reassessed as a camp cult classic. The film doesn’t really exist outside of the legendary feud between the film’s leads, but it only adds to the legend of the film. Here’s where you can find What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
27. The Velociraptors, Jurassic Park (1993)
Having a non-anthropomorphic animal on this list feels a little silly. However, the velociraptors from Jurassic Park are set up like true villains. There is foreshadowing. There is a speech about them; the audience hears about them multiple times before they are even seen, and they are terrifying when they are finally introduced visually. In a film about dangerous dinosaurs, they are the only ones treated as villains.
The film follows a group that is sent to a theme park before its opening, only to find that they have been cloning dinosaurs as attractions, and there is a storm on the way. In some ways, Wayne Knight’s Dennis Nedry is the true villain of Jurassic Park, and maybe even more so, the concept of hubris is the central villain. However, the velociraptors do a lot of the actual heavy lifting. Jurassic Park wasn’t director Steven Spielberg’s first animal horror film; he had already directed 1975’s Jaws. While the shark in Jaws is scary, the velociraptors have a more villainous personality. Jurassic Park stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, BD Wong and Samuel L. Jackson. The film won three Oscars and was a massive box office hit with an all-time worldwide box office of over a billion dollars. Here’s where you can find Jurassic Park.
26. Max Cady, Cape Fear (1991)
There are two versions of Cape Fear, the 1962 original and the 1991 Martin Scorsese remake. While both are great, Robert De Niro as the villainous Max Cady in the remake is arguably a better Robert Mitchum’s original take on the character. The film follows a dangerous rapist who swears revenge on the public defender who withheld evidence and put him away for 14 years. De Niro has a wonderfully creepy approach to the character, which sticks with the viewer.
The film also stars Nick Nolte, Juliette Lewis, Jessica Lange, Joe Don Baker, Mitchum and Gregory Peck (who appeared in the Nolte role in the original). Steven Spielberg initially developed the film. However, deciding it was too violent for his taste, he traded the project to Scorsese in exchange for Schindler’s List. Here’s where you can find Cape Fear.
25. Mrs. Danvers, Rebecca (1940)
Alfred Hitchcock’s films brought several iconic villains to the screen, and among the best is Mrs. Danvers from Rebecca. The film follows a young woman who marries a widower, only to find she is living in a dead woman’s shadow. She must contend with her mysterious husband and their maid, who is still obsessed with the former lady of the house. In some ways, Mrs. Danvers isn’t even the biggest villain in the film; however, she is genuinely one of the creepiest characters put to film without doing anything specifically overt. Played by Judith Anderson, there is a subtlety to Mrs. Danvers that only makes her scarier.
The film is a classic of the suspense genre and also stars Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Reginald Denny and Gladys Cooper. The film won two Oscars, including Best Picture, and was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress in 2018. While all subtextual, the film is notable for its LGBTQ+ themes. Here’s where you can find Rebecca.
24. Anton Chigurh, No Country For Old Men (2007)
No Country for Old Men follows a man who stumbles across drug money, a brutal killer and a local sheriff as their fates collide in 1980s West Texas. The killer, Anton Chigurh, played by Javier Bardem, steals the show in this movie. He is easily the most iconic part of the film, and Bardem’s performance is haunting and upsetting in all the right ways. There is an intensity to it that is unshakeable. It isn’t surprising that he took home a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the role.
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, the film also features excellent performances by Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin. The Neo-Western thriller is deeply stylish and filled with references to other Coen Brothers works. It was nominated for eight Oscars, winning four, including Best Picture. Here’s where you can find No Country for Old Men.
23. Amy Dunne, Gone Girl (2014)
Calling a femme fatale a villain doesn’t sit quite right. While Gone Girl’s Amy Dunne isn’t really a femme fatale in the traditional sense, she feels like a new villainous spin on the archetype. Gone Girl follows a missing woman and her seemingly guilty husband. However, and SPOILER WARNING, Amy isn’t actually missing; she orchestrated the entire plot. Directed by David Fincher, the film stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry.
Pike is great at being both the victim and the villain as she portrays Amy. Pike’s performance is arguably the best part of the film; however, the cinematography, a great script by Gillian Flynn (who also wrote the novel it is based on), and Affleck are also standouts. The film made $370 million worldwide, but is still considered a cult favorite. Here’s where you can find Gone Girl.
22. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice appears for only around 17 minutes in the film Beetlejuice, but he completely steals the show. Portrayed by Michael Keaton, the character feels like an undead used car salesman in the best way possible. The film follows two recently deceased ghosts who enlist a “bio-exorcist” named Beetlejuice to scare away the new owners of their Connecticut home.
Directed by Tim Burton, the film also stars Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder. It was a critical and box office success, grossing $84 million on a $15 million budget and winning an Academy Award for Best Makeup. The character has also appeared in an animated TV show, Broadway play and 2024 sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Here’s where you can find Beetlejuice.
21. Agent Smith, The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
While the first Matrix movie is the better film, the second film in the trilogy, The Matrix Reloaded, is really where the villain becomes important. The film follows Neo, Morpheus and Trinity on a mission to reach the Source of the Matrix before a machine invasion. Agent Smith is largely played by Hugo Weaving. However, in this film, the AI agent also copies his consciousness into the character of Bane, played by Ian Bliss, making Bliss the second actor to take on the role.
Directed by The Wachowskis, the film also stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith and Gloria Foster. The Matrix Reloaded is more of a fun blockbuster than the groundbreaking first film. However, it is a beloved sci-fi that also held the record of the highest-grossing rated R film until 2016’s Deadpool unseated it. Here’s where you can find The Matrix Reloaded.
20. Hal 9000, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
It is hard to make a camera seem menacing. However, Hal 9000 in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is a great movie villain that does just that. The film follows astronauts sent on a mysterious space mission when their ship’s AI computer system, Hal, starts acting erratically. The computer system was voiced by Douglas Rain. The film also stars Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood and William Sylvester.
The film is based on a couple of short stories by Arthur C. Clarke (who also co-wrote the film with Kubrick), which gives it a slightly disparate feel. This initially led to many audiences “not getting it.” During the New York premiere, 250 people reportedly walked out, and at the LA premiere, actor Rock Hudson notably left early after muttering, “What is this bullshit?” However, the film was nominated for four Academy Awards and won for Best Special Visual Effects. The award would become Kubrick’s only Oscar. Since the 1960s, the film has only become more impressive. It has left a considerable mark not only on the sci-fi genre but on film history and popular culture. Here’s where you can find 2001: A Space Odyssey.
19. Dr. Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus, Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Sam Raimi’s early 2000s Spider-Man trilogy came before the heyday of superhero movies. However, these films deliver when it comes to villains. The first film has a great version of the Green Goblin as portrayed by Willem Dafoe, and while the third movie is not good, it has a solid version of Sandman played by Thomas Haden Church. However, the best villain from this run is Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus. There is almost something Shakespearean that Molina infuses in the character. He understands the comic book bigness of the role but gives it something more hallowed.
Spider-Man 2 follows Spider-Man/Peter Parker as he fights a crisis of confidence and a college professor turned supervillain, set on revenge. The film adds emotional depth to the series and also stars Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco. Spider-Man 2 is one of the few superhero films to win an Oscar (it won Best Visual Effects and was nominated for Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing). Here’s where you can find Spider-Man 2.
18. Patrick Bateman, American Psycho (2000)
American Psycho follows an investment banker turned serial killer. The film is often misunderstood, but it is essentially a black comedy about the yuppie culture of the 1980s and a critique of the rise of consumerism in America. That being said, Christian Bale’s take on the central psycho is a masterclass in dark comedy and psychological horror.
Directed by Mary Harron, the film also stars Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, Bill Sage, Chloë Sevigny, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux, Guinevere Turner and Reese Witherspoon. The film is based on the Bret Easton Ellis novel of the same name; however, the book was considered largely unfilmable due to its violence against women. The movie has become a cult classic, and it works in large part due to Bale’s performance. Here’s where you can find American Psycho.
17. Hans Landa, Inglourious Bastards (2009)
It feels a little weird to include nazis on this list. In many cases, they feel too inseparable from real-life crimes to be “movie villains.” It would be like giving the top spot to Adolf Hitler in Downfall or Pol Pot from Meeting with Pol Pot due to the scope of their real-life atrocities. The realities of genocide are too big for a list that could also include a Spider-Man villain. However, there is something deeply cartoonish about Inglourious Bastards that divorces it from more real-life horror. That being said, Hans Landa, as portrayed by Christoph Waltz, is skin-crawlingly creepy in this film.
The film is an alternate history about a group of Jewish GIs who must outsmart a devious SS officer, Landa, to carry out an assassination plan at a French cinema. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film also stars Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger and Mélanie Laurent. However, Waltz really steals the show at every possible opportunity. Tarantino originally wanted Leonardo DiCaprio for the part, but needed a native German speaker. The director later said of Waltz, “he gave me my movie” after producers called the part unplayable. For a time, the film was Tarantino’s most commercially successful, grossing $321.5 million worldwide (Django Unchained later eclipsed it). It was also nominated for eight Oscars. Here’s where you can find Inglourious Bastards.
16. Auric Goldfinger, Goldfinger (1964)
There are a lot of James Bond villains, and many are iconic; however, the best is arguably Auric Goldfinger from Goldfinger. He even gets one of the most quoted lines of the 25-film franchise: “Do you expect me to talk?” / “No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!” Goldfinger follows Bond as he has to stop the titular wealthy tycoon’s plan to raid Fort Knox and crash the world economy.
While the role was first offered to Orson Welles, he was too expensive, and Gert Fröbe was chosen to play the gold magnate. Directed by Guy Hamilton, the film also stars Sean Connery, Honor Blackman and Shirley Eaton. The film is surprisingly funny for a Bond film, and it moves at a wonderful pace, making it an extremely easy watch. It was a critical and financial success, grossing $125 million worldwide against a $3 million budget. It was also the first Bond film to win an Academy Award, for Sound Editing. It is also the highest rated Bond film on Rotten Tomatoes with a 99% rating. Here’s where you can find Goldfinger.
15. The Joker, The Dark Knight (2008)
When it comes to comic books, Batman is notable for his impressive rogues’ gallery, and the most famous Batman villain is easily his nemesis, the Joker. The Joker has appeared in several film versions of Batman, and great portrayals include those from Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson and Mark Hamil. However, the most notable is Heath Ledger’s turn as the character in The Dark Knight. Ledger’s version isn’t the most comic-book accurate, and at moments he seems more like the Riddler than the Joker, but that doesn’t really matter when looking at the final product. He’s terrifying and menacing in all the right ways and is easily the best part of the movie.
The Dark Knight follows Batman as he takes on the Joker, who tries to unmask him. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film also stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Morgan Freeman. In many ways, The Dark Knight is a superhero film for people who don’t like superhero movies. The film also represents a significant shift in how “superhero movies” were defined and recognized critically. The film was nominated for eight Oscars and won two, including Best Supporting Actor for Ledger. For better or worse, it also brought in a trend of super-dark, super-serious superhero movies, especially from DC. Here’s where you can find The Dark Knight.
14. Dr. Evil, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
The first Austin Powers film is funnier than it sometimes gets credit for, and many of the best scenes feature the iconic villain, Dr. Evil. The film is a parody of the 1960s James Bond films, and Dr. Evil is a fairly blatant send-up of Ernst Stavro Blofeld. However, Dr. Evil almost improves on the Bond-Villian archetype and is arguably the Best “Bond Villain” put to film. Portrayed by Mike Myers (who also plays Austin Powers in the movie), Dr. Evil is a masterclass in parody.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery follows the titular spy as he is un-cryogenically frozen after 30 years to take on his nemesis, Dr. Evil. Directed by Jay Roach, the film also stars Elizabeth Hurley, Michael York, Robert Wagner, Mindy Sterling, Seth Green and Mimi Rogers. While Dr. Evil is now iconic, there has been some controversy with the character. Since the 1990s, there have been rumors that the character was stolen from a Lorne Michaels impression that an SNL contemporary of Myers used to do behind the scenes. While these rumors were never confirmed, in 2019, Dana Carvey said that he had forgiven Myers for allegedly stealing the character. Here’s where you can find Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
13. T-800, The Terminator (1984)
While the T-800, a.k.a. The Terminator, is only really the villain for the first Terminator film, the robot is still an impressive ’80s action villain. The film follows the cybernetic assassin as he is sent back in time to kill a woman who will one day birth a son destined to save humanity from the AI apocalypse. Directed by James Cameron, stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton.
The Terminator not only launched Cameron’s career, but it also solidified Schwarzenegger as a bankable leading man. Still, it was met with mixed reviews when it first came out. Since then, it has largely been reassessed as one of the best Sci-Fi films ever made. While it is somewhat eclipsed by its own sequel, 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day, where the T-800 becomes the hero against the T-1000, an even more advanced assassin, the first film has such a great take on a futuristic villain. Here’s where you can find The Terminator.
12. Eve Harrington, All About Eve (1950)
Some of the best villains don’t seem villainous until their plans have already been carried out. In All About Eve, Eve Harrington seems like a sweet ingénue, but she’s much more conniving than she lets on at first. The film follows an ambitious fan who maneuvers her way into the life of an aging Broadway star. Eve Harrington is played by Anne Baxter, who holds her own across from Bette Davis.
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the film also stars George Sanders, Celeste Holm, Gary Merrill, Hugh Marlowe, Thelma Ritter, Marilyn Monroe, Gregory Ratoff, Barbara Bates and Walter Hampden. The acting is one of the most impressive parts of All About Eve. It is the only film in Oscar history to receive four female acting nominations (with Davis and Baxter as Best Actress, Holm and Ritter as Best Supporting Actress). It was nominated for, at the time, a record 14 Oscars and won six, including Best Picture. Here’s where you can find All About Eve.
11. Magneto/Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, X-Men (2000)
Sometimes the best villains are the ones that have a point. Magneto is the central villain in the first three X-Men movies, and he has a point. While the trilogy varies in quality, Magneto, as portrayed by Ian McKellen, is a high point of the series. Even in the low point of the series, 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, he delivers lines like “No one ever talks about it. They just do it. And you go on with your lives, ignoring the signs all around you. And then, one day, when the air is still and the night has fallen, they come for you,” with such gavitas. McKellen brings a presence and class to the character.
X-Men isn’t your typical superhero film. It tackles more weighty subjects than many of the films that followed it. X-Men follows two mutants, Wolverine and Rogue, as they are brought into a political (and physical) battle over the fate of the mutant race and the path to acceptance. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film also stars Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Ray Park and Anna Paquin. Here’s where you can find X-Men.
10. Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
There is an issue with including Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs on this list. He’s not really the villain of the film. Played by Anthony Hopkins, Lecter is a consultant, working mostly with law enforcement, while the real villains are sexism and a killer nicknamed Buffalo Bill. The character also appears in Michael Mann’s 1986 film, Manhunter, as portrayed by Brian Cox and in 2002’s Red Dragon, played by Hopkins. Again, in these movies (based on the same Thomas Harris novel, Red Dragon), he isn’t the villain; the true antagonist of the films is a serial killer named the Tooth Fairy. It is curious that in the three best films to feature the character, he isn’t really the villain. However, this speaks to the power of Lecter as a horror icon.
Directed by Jonathan Demme, The Silence of the Lambs is a horror classic. The film follows a young FBI trainee who is enlisted to speak with an imprisoned cannibal psychologist to see if he can aid in a manhunt for an active serial killer. The film also stars Jodie Foster, Scott Glenn and Ted Levine. It was a sleeper box office success and is the most recent film to win the “big five” at the Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay). However, the film has been rightly critiqued by the LGBTQ and, specifically, the Trans community for the film’s blatant transmisogyny. Here’s where you can find The Silence of the Lambs.
9. Jack Torrance, The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is an impressive film for many reasons. It has a captivating central performance by Shelley Duvall, some of the most iconic horror iconography ever and a deep symbolic visual language. However, one of the best parts of the film is Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance.
The film follows Jack as he slowly loses his mind and is pushed to the edge by ghosts in an empty mountain hotel. The film also stars Scatman Crothers and Danny Lloyd. The Shining has long been controversial. Kubrick was difficult to work with on set and specifically hard on Duvall. Stephen King also disliked it as an adaptation of his novel of the same name. At the first Golden Raspberry Awards in 1981, it was controversially nominated for Worst Director and Worst Actress. However, it is a horror classic that has been heralded as one of the best horror films of all time. Here’s where you can find The Shining.
8. Reverend Henry Powell, The Night of the Hunter (1955)
The Night of the Hunter is far from the most famous film on this list. It is more of a cult classic, but its villain, Reverend Henry Powell, is sure to stick with viewers. Based on the true story of Harry Powers, the film follows a conman and murderer who terrorizes two kids in Depression-era West Virginia while pretending to be a priest. Powell is played by Robert Mitchum, who delivers one of the best performances in his career. He is perfectly off-putting and threatening in the role while still being restrained until he doesn’t have to be.
While the film was a flop with both audiences and critics when it was released, it has since become a favorite of the film community. The Night of the Hunter is directly referenced in many Coen Brothers’ films as well as Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing and Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman. One of the most lasting images from the film is Powell’s knuckle tattoos, which spell “love” and “hate,” and have permeated into popular culture more generally. It was the first and last film directed by actor Charles Laughton, and it also stars Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. Here’s where you can find The Night of the Hunter.
7. Annie Wilkes, Misery (1990)
Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, Misery follows a novelist who is held captive by an obsessed fan. The film is wholly made by its villain, Annie Wilkes, as portrayed by Kathy Bates. Bates won both the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actress, making it the only King adaptation to win an Oscar. She is wonderfully twisted in the film. At the time of filming, Bates was a stage actress who was largely unknown to theatrical audiences. However, Misery was a star turn.
Misery was directed by Rob Reiner and written by William Goldman. It stars James Caan, Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth and Lauren Bacall. King ranks it as one of his favorite adaptations of his works. Here’s where you can find Misery.
6. Dracula, Dracula (1931)
There is something safe about choosing Dracula as one of the best villains. Like many of the universal monsters, Dracula is a horror icon. The image of Bela Lugosi as Dracula is written into American Cinema’s visual history; however, after decades of parodies and references, the fact that Lugosi is perfect in this role almost gets lost. It is easy to take for granted that Dracula is an iconic villain, but Lugosi’s version of him really is that good. The film also stars David Manners, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan.
Directed by Tod Browning, the film is based on the Bram Stoker novel of the same name. It follows the Transylvanian Count, who uses a real estate agent to come to London and pursue his next bride. The film was produced by Carl Laemmle Jr., who also produced 1931’s Frankenstein, 1932’s The Mummy, 1933’s The Invisible Man and 1935’s The Bride of Frankenstein. So much of modern horror and monster movies comes from this 1930s run of Universal Studios monster movies. This version of Dracula is sexy and charming, but also horrifying and dangerous. Three versions of the film were made, including a Spanish version starring Carlos Villarías, which was filmed with the same costumes and sets but at night after the English version wrapped each day. A third silent version was also made for theaters that had not installed sound technology. Both the Spanish language version and the English version have been preserved in the Library of Congress. Here’s where you can find Dracula.
5. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Explaining the plot and villain of The Wizard of Oz feels almost silly; the film is fairly ubiquitous in the language of American cinematic history. The film and the Frank Baum novel it is based on have been reimagined and spun off many times, including The Wiz, Journey Back to Oz, Return to Oz and Wicked. However, the best villain arguably appears in the original.
The Wizard of Oz follows a young girl from Kansas who must find her way home after being sucked into the world of Oz. She and her friends must find the Wizard while evading a wicked witch who hopes to stop them. The Wicked Witch of the West is wonderfully terrifying. The character is played by Margaret Hamilton, who even appeared again as the character on a 1976 episode of Sesame Street to teach kids about getting over their fears; however, the episode was pulled from circulation due to parents writing that show that kids were too afraid of the character. The Wizard of Oz is an essential film in cinematic history that holds up exceptionally well for being made in the 1930s. Directed by Victor Fleming, the film also stars Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Billie Burke. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three, including Best Original Song for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Here’s where you can find The Wizard of Oz.
4. Ursula, The Little Mermaid (1989)
Disney animated films have a lot of iconic villains, including Scar, The Evil Queen, Maleficent and even Dr. Facilier. However, near the top of that list has to be Ursula from The Little Mermaid. The film follows a mermaid whose quest to become a part of the human world leads her to make a bad deal with the sea witch, Ursula. Ursula was voiced by Pat Carroll, and her design was modeled after the drag artist Divine, who starred in many John Waters films. In turn, the villain song of the film, “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” has become a drag standard in the LGBTQ+ community.
Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, The Little Mermaid also stars René Auberjonois, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Buddy Hackett and Jodi Benson. The film is remembered for its music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. It is very loosely based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of the same name. The film was a critical and box office success and won two Oscars. The film is also credited with starting the Disney Renaissance, a period of excellence for the studio that would run through the late ’90s. Here’s where you can find The Little Mermaid.
3. Norman Bates, Psycho (1960)
Norman Bates is possibly Alfred Hitchcock’s most iconic villain. The character comes from 1960’s Psycho. Portrayed by Anthony Perkins, the character is an icon of the slasher genre. The film follows an embezzler who tries to hide out at a run-down motel operated by the shy Bates. It also stars Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam and Janet Leigh.
Part of what makes the film great is Perkins. He seamlessly shifts between meek and creepy. Psycho was nominated for four Oscars, and it has seeped into the larger cultural consciousness. Even if you haven’t seen it, the film will likely feel familiar, given how much it is referenced, from parodies and homages. It has become iconic for its shower scene, final shot and lines like “We all go a little mad sometimes.” However, it has also been critiqued by the Trans community and by mental illness advocates. Here’s where you can find Psycho.
2. Hans Gruber, Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard is an excellent 1980s action film overall. However, it is elevated by its iconic villain, Hans Gruber. Portrayed by Alan Rickman, Gruber is the head of a criminal ring that holds an LA office building hostage to extort bonds from a CEO. He is foiled by Bruce Willis’ John McClane, a New York cop visiting his estranged wife’s Christmas party.
Die Hard is an impressive and contained action film that is made by its great directing from John McTiernan and central performances. While initial reviews of the film were mixed, it was quickly reevaluated as one of the best action films ever made. It was even nominated for four Oscars for its production and effects. Gruber was Rickman’s first film role; however, he had already gained notoriety as a theater actor. His Shakespearean training comes through in the role of Gruber, and Rickman would become known for playing great villains throughout his career. Here’s where you can find Die Hard.
1. Darth Vader, Star Wars (1977)
Choosing just one film for Darth Vader slightly undersells the character. His arc is seen over six Star Wars films, and he’s referenced in much more Star Wars content. However, you can’t go wrong with the original 1977 film. While David Prowse physically portrayed the character, he was voiced by James Earl Jones.
Star Wars, also later called Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, follows a young Jedi who must help a group of rebels take down a dangerous weapon controlled by an evil empire, the Death Star. Directed by George Lucas, the film also stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing and Alec Guinness. Star Wars is a phenomenon and is one of the most culturally significant films in American history. Darth Vader is very much a part of that legacy. Here’s where you can find Star Wars.
Bottom Line
From vampires and witches to wannabe actresses and robots, great villains come in all forms. Sometimes it’s more fun to be evil, so jump in with these iconic villains.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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