Hello again I am back with another Top Ten! Now I know some of you are thinking “I loved your last Top Ten but I’m not a sports person, well today you’re in luck. Today I present to you The Top Ten Movie Villains of All Time! Next to sports, movies are in my soul and practically help raise me. With the “Bad guy” always playing a big role in any movie where there is an antagonist, he or she has always been one of my favorite characters to watch. Whether it’s trying to conquer an entire planet or just torturing one person, the Villain intends to deliver a polarizing performance. Agree or Disagree, I give you my Top Ten Villains of All Time! WARNING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
#10 — MAGNETO/ERIK LEHNSHERR: (X-MEN UNIVERSE)
PLAYED BY:
IAN MCKELLEN (2000, 2003 2X, 2006)
MICHAEL FASSBENDER (2001, 2014)
The master of magnetism and former partner of Charles Xavier “Magneto” is the first villain to make the list. The cold heart and masterful leadership, Erik Lehnsherr was bound to make viewers hate him since his first lines on screen. Played by the incomparable Ian McKellen and then followed by Michael Fassbender in prequels, you can’t help but have an eerie balance of sympathy and anger for the antagonist. After losing his mother at an early age, Erik vows to get revenge and in the process brings together an army of mutants to rule the Earth because he believes that they are the evolution of Mankind.
#9 — AGENT SMITH: (MATRIX UNIVERSE)
PLAYED BY:
HUGO WEAVING (1999, 2003 2X)
JONATHAN GROFF (2017)
It was “inevitable” that Neo’s arch-enemy would make this list after starring in the Matrix trilogy. The lengths that Agent Smith went through to try to take down “The One” and his crew were extreme and intense. Shockingly Weaving was just nominated for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award and an MTV Movie Award respectively. He has done everything from cloning himself, exiting the Matrix, and even reinventing himself as Neo’s boss. Agent Smith deserves a spot on the Top Ten Villain list!
#8 — VOLDEMORT/TOM RIDDLE: (HARRY POTTER UNIVERSE)
PLAYED BY:
IAN HART (2001, 2011)
CHRISTIAN COULSON (2002, 2009)
RALPH FIENNES (2005, 2007, 2010 2X)
“He Who Must Not Be Named” had to make this list just off of the strength of a whole universe that was terrified to even utter his name. Tom Riddle’s alter ego was the star antagonist in all of the Harry Potter films and either appeared in or was referenced in all 8 movies! The sheer fact that he attempted to murder a child is chilling enough to add on some revenge and a slow reveal, and you have one of the most intriguing villains in recent memory. Difficult to kill but compelling to watch Voldemort is one of the baddest dudes to grace the silver screen!
#7 — ANNIE WILKES: (MISERY)
PLAYED BY:
KATHY BATES (1990)
Coming in as our first entry from just one film, Kathy Bates scored the role of a lifetime when she portrayed Annie Wilkes in Stephen King’s Misery. A part she was born to play, Annie Wilkes is a psychotic ex-nurse who kidnaps her favorite author during a horrible snowstorm. While nursing him back to health she forces him to rewrite the last edition of his novel. The near-perfect balance of mood changes and lack of foul language make Ms. Wilkes a very believable movie villain, she also walked away with an Academy Award for her performance. So don’t be a “dirty birdie” and watch or re-watch Misery whenever you get the chance!
#6 — KEYSER SOZE/ROGER “VERBAL” KINT: (THE USUAL SUSPECTS)
PLAYED BY:
KEVIN SPACEY (1995)
The infamous Keyser Soze comes in at number 6 and is only 1 of 2 villains on this list that only makes one appearance, even though fans have been dying for a “Usual Suspects” sequel. The cold and calculating stare of Spacey was captured beautifully in the critically acclaimed Seven, and is now revisited in “The Usual Suspects”. The limp, the awkwardness, and the fact that the viewer does not know whether the tale that Roger “Verbal” Kint states is even true, makes this a cinematic masterpiece! A massacre occurs at a boat dock and Kint, being the only known survivor is brought in for questioning and the adventure begins. Or does it?!
#5 — DR. HANNIBAL LECTER: (THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS UNIVERSE)
PLAYED BY:
BRIAN COX (1986)
ANTHONY HOPKINS (1991, 2001, 2002, 2007)
Anthony Hopkins delivered such a polarizing performance in the first movie he overshadowed the main antagonist “Buffalo Bill” and made him an afterthought. Even though the “Manhunter” movie did not receive much praise, Brian Cox’s original offering was underrated. So much so that the “Silence of the Lambs” and its sequels were spawned from it! The crazy cannibalistic psychiatrist captured millions just after his first scene and never let go, leaving audiences hanging on his every word. Hopkins won Best Actor at the Academy Awards and his first BAFTA award for his performance. Clarice, an up-and-coming F.B.I. agent is sent to Lecter to pick his brain on an open serial killer case. In the process, Ms. Starling gets more than she bargained for as the ex-doctor turned killer starts to dive into her mind. A people-eating shrink is terrifying because it can happen and the possibility mixed with the realism that Anthony adds makes the perfect villain!
#4 — FREDDY KRUGER: (THE NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET UNIVERSE)
PLAYED BY:
ROBERT ENGLUND (1984–2003 8X)
JACKIE EARLE HALEY (2010)
Back in the day when “brutal killings” and Action ruled the screen, along came a sadistic serial killer that only tortured you in your dreams. Armed only with a tattered Fedora, knives attached to a glove, and the uncanny ability to murder people when they sleep. Ladies and gentlemen I bring to you Freddy Kruger! Two actors portrayed the role of Mr. Kruger but the masses only really recognize one, Robert Englund. Who surprisingly just received nominations for two Saturn Awards for Supporting Actor and a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Actor. What immediately grabbed viewers was the lack of distinction between dream and reality, which made it harder to predict any of Freddy’s murder attempts. One thing all humans have in common is we have to sleep which makes Freddy one of the scariest villains ever created!
#3 — SCAR: (THE LION KING UNIVERSE)
PLAYED BY:
JEREMY IRONS (1994)
JIM CUMMINGS (1998)
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR (2019)
Why did a fictional character from an animated movie make it to #3? I believe that along with a great villain comes great hatred or disgust. Jeremy Irons’ rendition of Scar from The Lion King is the first antagonist I think we were all disgusted by and had at least a small amount of hatred for. The low-down dirty act of going through a man’s child to take his throne makes Scar one of the worst villains ever. Brought back when called upon by Cummings and Ejiofor, Scar is a character that we all grew to love and grew to hate!
#2 — DARTH VADER/ANAKIN SKYWALKER: (STAR WARS UNIVERSE)
PLAYED BY:
JAMES EARL JONES (1977,1980, 1983, 2005, 2016, 2019)
JAKE LLOYD (1999)
HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN (2002, 2005)
By far one of the more chilling voices to hit sound and screen, James Earl Jones made the character of Darth Vader an instant classic and gripping from his very first scene. The 1977 cinematic gem has had a very strong following for over 40 years now with no intent of going away. With Disney taking over the reins of the franchise, the content will be available for years to come. Many believe that Hayden Christensen’s rendition of Vader maybe has spoiled the lore of the Universe’s most famous villain. Even with that, more and more kids are dressing up as Lord Vader for Halloween. Whether it’s mid-air force choke or being behind the biggest plot twist in movie history, the former slave turned Sith should be in everyone’s top 5!
HONORABLE MENTION — PENNYWISE (IT)
PLAYED BY:
TIM CURRY (1990)
BILL SKARSGARD (2017, 2019)
I just could not narrow it down to just 10 villains there are just so many, but if I had to get someone on this list it would have to be the demon that can morph into whatever your worst fear is and that’s Pennywise! Another character from the mind of Stephen King barely missed this list, Tim Curry and Bill Skarsgard’s versions are both electric making the sewer-dwelling clown can’t-miss material. As a parent myself your worst nightmare is for anything to happen to your child which makes IT a horrifying movie to watch. So even if it’s only every 27 years, blow up a couple of balloons and check out Stephen King’s IT!
#1 -THE JOKER: (BATMAN UNIVERSE)
PLAYED BY:
JACK NICHOLSON (1989)
HEATH LEDGER (2008)
JOAQUIN PHOENIX (2019)
An iconic character in movie and comic history The Joker has always captured the attention of viewers no matter which actor is portraying him. Nicholson received a Golden Globe Nomination. Ledger received The Golden Globe, Academy, and BAFTA awards for Best Supporting Actor. Joaquin Phoenix grabbed an Academy Award for Best Actor when he played the Clown Prince. Although the three versions of The Joker slightly differ, all three were performed beautifully. Ledger’s take is regarded as the best even though they were received posthumously, as many believe the toll of the character lead to Ledger’s death. A role that always steals the whole show, The Joker is my #1 Movie Villain of All-Time!
