Greatest Movie Villains

[Lew]

Criteria: Villain - One who shows cruel and evil intent, often having a depraved, vile, or criminal character, with major disregard for the well-being of others. These Movie characters best demonstrate the 'villainous' nature.

Edited By: Lew
Last Updated: 2017-09-25

https://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/movi ... _vill.html

Character (Actor) - Movie Title (Year)

1. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) - Psycho (1960)
2. Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) - The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
3. Darth Vader (David Prowse / James Earl Jones - voice) - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
4. The Wicked Witch Of The West (Margaret Hamilton) - The Wizard of OZ (1939)
5. Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) - M (1931)
6. HAL 9000 (Douglas Rain - voice) - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
7. Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) - It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
8. The Queen (Lucille LaVerne - voice) - Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
9. Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) - Schindler's List (1993)
10. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) - The Godfarther Part II (1974)
11. Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) - No Country For Old Men (2007)
12. Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
13. The Joker (Heath Ledger) - The Dark Knight (2008)
14. Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) - A Clockwork Orange (1971)
15. Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) - Misery (1990)
16. Regan MacNeil/Satan (Linda Blair) - The Exorcist (1973)
17. Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence) - You Only Live Twice (1967)
18. Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) - Fatal Attraction (1987)
19. Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton) - Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)
20. Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) - Double Indemnity (1944)
21. Max Cady (Robert Mitchum) - Cape Fear (1962)
22. Mrs. John Iselin (Angela Lansbury) - The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
23. Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) - A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
24. Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) - All About Eve (1950)
25. Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) - The Terminator (1984)
26. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) - The Shining (1980)
27. Arthur "Cody" Jarrett (James Cagney) - White Heat (1949)
28. Maleficent (Eleanor Audley - voice) - Sleeping Beauty (1959)
29. Graf Orlok (Max Schreck) - Nosferatu (1922)
30. Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) - Dracula (1931)
31. Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) - It (2017)
32. Noah Cross (John Huston) - Chinatown (1974)
33. Lil' Dice (aka Lil' Ze) (Leandro Firmino) - City of God (2002)
34. Reverend Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) - The Night Of The Hunter (1955)
35. Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson) - Rebecca (1940)
36. Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) - Star Wars III: Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
37. Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) - Wall Street (1987)
38. Dr. Szell (Laurence Olivier) - Marathon Man (1976)
39. John Morlar (Richard Burton) - The Medusa Touch (1978)
40. J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster) - Sweet Smell Of Success (1957)
41. Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) - Blue Velvet (1986)
42. Captain Vidal (Sergi López) - Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
43. Harry Lime (Orson Welles) - The Third Man (1949)
44. Rico (Enrico Caesar Bandello) (Edward G. Robinson) - Little Caesar (1930)
45. Cruella De Vil (Betty Lou Gerson - voice) - One Hundred And One Dalmatians (1961)
46. Joan Crawford (Faye Dunaway) - Mommie Dearest (1981)
47. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) - Die Hard (1988)
48. Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) - American Psycho (2000)
49. Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) - Goodfellas (1990)
50. Jack The Ripper (Laird Cregar) - The Lodger (1944)
51. Tom Powers (James Cagney) - The Public Enemy (1931)
52. Regina Giddens (Bette Davis) - The Little Foxes (1941)
53. Howard (John Goodman) - 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
54. "Baby" Jane Hudson (Bette Davis) - What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962)
55. Tony Montana (Al Pacino) - Scarface (1983)
56. The Joker (Jack Nicholson) - Batman (1989)
57. Headless Horseman "Hessian Horseman" (Christopher Walken) - Sleepy Hollow (1999)
58. Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) - Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
59. Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey) - The Usual Suspects (1995)
60. Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) - Goldfinger (1964)
61. Alan Yates (Gabriel Yorke) - Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
62. Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) - Training Day (2001)
63. Al Capone (Robert DeNiro) - The Untouchables (1987)
64. Gordo (Joel Edgerton) - The Gift (2015)
65. Jame Gumb "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine) - The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
66. Sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett (Gene Hackman) - Unforgiven (1992)
67. Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando) - Apocalypse Now (1979)
68. Woo-Jin Lee (Ji-Tae Yu) - Oldboy (2003)
69. Jason Voorhees (Richard Brooker) - Friday The 13th: Part 3 (1982)
70. Gollum (Andy Serkis) - Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (2003)
71. John Doe (Kevin Spacey) - Se7en (1995)
72. Stromboli (Charles Judels - voice) - Pinocchio (1940)
73. Max Cady (Robert De Niro) - Cape Fear (1991)
74. Tony Camonte (Paul Muni) - Scarface (1932)
75. Frank (Henry Fonda) - Once Upon A Time In The West (1969)
76. Sergeant Barnes (Tom Berenger) - Platoon (1986)
77. Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare) - Fargo (1996)
78. Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) - Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (1982)
79. Vincent Vega & Jules Winnfield (John Travolta / Samuel L. Jackson) - Pulp Fiction (1994)
80. Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender) - 12 Years a Slave (2013)
81. Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) - Speed (1994)
82. Heinrich Strasser (Conrad Veidt) - Casablanca (1942)
83. Bill The Butcher (Daniel Day Lewis) - Gangs Of New York (2002)
84. Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) - Strangers on a Train (1951)
85. General Zod (Michael Shannon) - Man of Steel (2013)
86. Warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton) - The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
87. Booth (John Malkovich) - In The Line Of Fire (1993)
88. Chad (Aaron Eckhart) - In The Company Of Men (1997)
89. Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) - Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
90. Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) - The Last King of Scotland (2006)
91. Hedra 'Hedy' Carlson (Jennifer Jason Leigh) - Single White Female (1992)
92. Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) - Blade Runner (1982)
93. Norman Stanfield (Gary Oldman) - Leon (1994)
94. Peyton Flanders (Rebecca De Mornay) - The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
95. Scar (voice of Jeremy Irons) - The Lion King (1994)
96. Sergeant Hartman (R. Lee Ermey) - Full Metal Jacket (1987)
97. Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) - Gladiator (2000)
98. Col. William Tavington (Jason Isaacs) - The Patriot (2000)
99. Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) - New Jack City (1991)
100. Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) - There Will Be Blood (2007)

Honerable Mentions

"Chief Justice" Frollo (Cedric Hardwicke) - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
Officer Pete Davis (Ray Liotta) - Unlawful Entry (1992)
Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) - Superman (1978)
Magua (Wes Studi) - The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) - Casino (1995)
General Zod (Terrance Stamp) - Superman II (1980)
Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) - Fight Club (1999)
Silva (Javier Bardem) - Skyfall (2012)
Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) - Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Mr. Smith (Hugo Weaving) - The Matrix (1999)
Jake (Jean-Claude La Marre) - Fresh (1994)
Ghostface (Skeet Ulrich) - Scream (1996)
Guy Woodhouse (John Cassavetes) - Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) - Dr. No (1962)
Ghostface (Skeet Ulrich) - Scream (1996)
Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) - The Adventures of Robin Hood - (1938)
Jadis the White Witch (Tilda Swinton) - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen / Andrew Bryniarski) - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr) - Rear Window (1954)
Don Logan (Ben Kingsley) - Sexy Beast (2000)
Sid (Erik von Detten - voice) - Toy Story (1995)
Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) - Heat (1995)
Simon Gruber (Jeremy Irons) - Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
Captain Hook (Ernest Torrence) - Peter Pan (1924)
Vincent (Tom Cruise) - Collateral (2004)
Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) - Batman & Robin (1997)
Emperor Ming (Max von Sydow) - Flash Gordon (1980)
Colonel Stuart (William Sadler) - Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)
Major Arnold Toht (Ronald Lacey) - Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
Frank Fitts (Chris Cooper) - American Beauty (1999)
John Ryder (Rutger Hauer) - The Hitcher (1986)
Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg (Gary Oldman) - The Fifth Element (1997)
Reinhardt Heymar Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer) - Nighthawks (1981)
Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida)- Fast Five (2011)
Henry Evans ((Macaulay Culkin) - The Good Son (1993)
Ike Turner (Laurence Fishburne) - What's Love Got To Do With It (1993)
Freddie Lee Cobb (Kiefer Sutherland) - A Time to Kill (1996)
"Scorpio Killer" (Andrew Robinson) - Dirty Harry (1971)
Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) - Cruel Intentions (1999)
Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) - Saw III (2006)
Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz) - Downfall (2004)
Mr. Smith (Christopher Walken) - Nick of Time (1995)
Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) - Desperate Measures (1998)
Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith) - Robocop (1987)
Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell) - Star Trek: Generations (1994)
Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) - The Mummy (1999) / The Mummy Returns (2001)
Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) - A View To A Kill (1985)
Clyde Barrow & Bonnie Parker (Warren Beatty/Faye Dunaway) - Bonnie And Clyde (1967)
Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) - Demolition Man (1993)
Wade (Kevin Bacon) - The River Wild (1994)
Samara Morgan (Daveigh Chase) - The Ring (2002)
Venom/Eddie Brock (Topher Grace) - Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Lori Quaid (Sharon Stone) - Total Recall (1990)

[Dubrow555]

Some welcomed additions to this list:

-Michael Myers (Nick Castle) - Halloween (1978)
-Pinhead (Doug Bradley) - Hellraiser (1987)
-Jafar (Jonathan Freeman - voice) - Aladdin (1992)
-Candyman (Tony Todd) - Candyman (1992)
-Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) - Inglourious Basterds (2009)
-Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) - Whiplash (2014)
-Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) - Gone Girl (2014)
-Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) - Split (2016)
-Thanos (Josh Brolin) - Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
-Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) - Joker (2019)
-Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) - Dune (2021)
-Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) - May December (2023)
-Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
-Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård) - Nosferatu (2024)

[Zach]

Good ones.

[Dubrow555]

Michael Myers simply must have been an oversight from the original list creator(s). Might be top 20 worthy??

[Dubrow555]

Here is a proposed top 20 update (bold = new, red = lower, green = higher):

1. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) - Psycho (1960)
2. Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) - The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
3. Darth Vader (David Prowse / James Earl Jones - voice) - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
4. The Wicked Witch Of The West (Margaret Hamilton) - The Wizard of OZ (1939)
5. HAL 9000 (Douglas Rain - voice) - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
6. Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) - M (1931)
7. Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) - It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
8. Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) - Schindler's List (1993)
9. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) - The Godfarther Part II (1974)
10. The Joker (Heath Ledger) - The Dark Knight (2008)

11. Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) - No Country For Old Men (2007)
12. Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
13. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) - Inglourious Basterds (2009)
14. Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) - A Clockwork Orange (1971)
15. Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) - Misery (1990)
16. Regan MacNeil/Satan (Linda Blair) - The Exorcist (1973)
17. The Queen (Lucille LaVerne - voice) - Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
18. Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) - Fatal Attraction (1987)
19. Michael Myers (Nick Castle) - Halloween (1978)
20. Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) - Double Indemnity (1944)

Off for now:
Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence) - You Only Live Twice (1967)
Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton) - Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)

[Zach]

And though he's more of a dark omnipresence than a traditional villain, I can't help but consider Sauron from LotR.

Another notable evil-incarnate is Darkness from Legend.

[ManPerson]

I think the Queen from Snow White was fine where she was before, tbh. I'd move Darth Vader up to #2 since he's arguably the most iconic figure on this list.

[ManPerson]

Some others who could be on the list
Voldemort
Predator
Xenomorph
Loki
Magneto
Ivan Drago
Green Goblin
Rene Belloq
Syndrome
Killmonger
Yubaba
Adenoid Hynkel
Antonio Salieri
The Shark from Jaws
Death from The Seventh Seal
Scottie from Vertigo (arguably)

[Tim]

I think the Queen from Snow White was fine where she was before, tbh. I'd move Darth Vader up to #2 since he's arguably the most iconic figure on this list.

Concur.

[Tim]

What AI has to say

Ranking the greatest movie villains is subjective and can vary based on personal preferences, cultural impact, and the criteria used (e.g., menace, complexity, influence on pop culture). However, here’s a list of 10 iconic movie villains widely regarded as some of the greatest, based on their lasting impact and memorability:

---

1. Darth Vader (Star Wars series)

- The epitome of a tragic yet terrifying villain, with his imposing presence, deep voice, and iconic breathing. His redemption arc adds depth to his character.

2. The Joker (The Dark Knight)

- Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the chaotic, anarchic Joker is unforgettable. His unpredictability and philosophical menace make him a standout villain.

3. Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs)

- Anthony Hopkins’ chilling performance as the brilliant, cannibalistic psychiatrist is both terrifying and mesmerizing.

4. Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men)

- Javier Bardem’s portrayal of this cold, methodical hitman is haunting, with his eerie calmness and twisted sense of fate.

5. Norman Bates (Psycho)

- Anthony Perkins’ performance as the disturbed motel owner redefined horror villains, blending vulnerability with shocking violence.

6. Hans Gruber (Die Hard)

- Alan Rickman’s sophisticated and cunning terrorist set the standard for charismatic and intelligent villains in action films.

7. Voldemort (Harry Potter series)

- The embodiment of evil in the wizarding world, Voldemort’s quest for power and immortality makes him a compelling and fearsome antagonist.

8. Sauron (The Lord of the Rings series)

- While mostly an unseen force, Sauron’s overwhelming presence as the dark lord seeking dominion over Middle-earth is deeply menacing.

9. Thanos (Avengers series)

- Josh Brolin’s portrayal of the Mad Titan adds complexity to a villain driven by a twisted sense of purpose, making him one of the MCU’s most memorable antagonists.

10. Michael Myers (Halloween)

- The embodiment of pure evil, Michael Myers’ silent, relentless pursuit of his victims has made him a horror icon.

---

Honorable Mentions:

- The Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz)
- Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
- The Terminator (T-800) (The Terminator)
- Loki (Thor and Avengers series)
- Amon Goeth (Schindler’s List)

These villains stand out for their unique traits, cultural impact, and the performances behind them. Who’s your favorite?

[Dubrow555]

Some others who could be on the list
Voldemort
Predator
Xenomorph
Loki
Magneto
Ivan Drago
Green Goblin
Rene Belloq
Syndrome
Killmonger
Yubaba
Adenoid Hynkel
Antonio Salieri
The Shark from Jaws
Death from The Seventh Seal
Scottie from Vertigo (arguably)

A lot of good picks here we have all overlooked. I've often struggled whether or not to include The Xenomorph or The Shark (as in they are not really played by actors?). Where would we draw the lines between "characters vs. monsters?" Should we include the "Zombies" from Night of the Living Dead as one villain??

[Dubrow555]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, so maybe?:

1. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) - Psycho (1960)
2. Darth Vader (David Prowse / James Earl Jones - voice) - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3. Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) - The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
4. The Wicked Witch Of The West (Margaret Hamilton) - The Wizard of OZ (1939)
5. HAL 9000 (Douglas Rain - voice) - 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
6. Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre) - M (1931)
7. Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) - It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
8. The Queen (Lucille LaVerne - voice) - Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
9. Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) - Schindler's List (1993)
10. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) - The Godfather Part II (1974)

11. The Joker (Heath Ledger) - The Dark Knight (2008)
12. Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) - No Country For Old Men (2007)
13. Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
14. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) - Inglourious Basterds (2009)
15. Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) - A Clockwork Orange (1971)
16. Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) - Misery (1990)
17. Regan MacNeil/Pazuzu (Linda Blair) - The Exorcist (1973)
18. Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) - Fatal Attraction (1987)
19. Michael Myers (Nick Castle) - Halloween (1978)
20. Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) - Double Indemnity (1944)

*Is everyone cool with HAL being bumped up one spot from the OG list?

BTW - just realized that after 15+ years of seeing this list, someone misspelled "The Godfather"

[Dubrow555]

And though he's more of a dark omnipresence than a traditional villain, I can't help but consider Sauron from LotR.

Another notable evil-incarnate is Darkness from Legend.

Some might disagree, but I would be open to including Gollum, Sauron, and Saruman the White honestly...

[Zach]

A nitpick, but the demon in The Excorcist is named Pazuzu and not actually Satan, even though the demon says that he's the devil in one scene.

[Dubrow555]

I'll change it, good catch.