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Do you like good heroes? What about bad guys you just can’t look away from? We all have those movie villains we love to hate. They have tricky plans, scary personalities, or maybe they just think they’re doing the right thing. Check out our list of the Top 10 Movie Villains – they make us root for the hero but secretly like their badness too!
1. Darth Vadar
The ultimate Movie Villain, the number 1 bad boy ever on the silver screen, Darth Vader’s transformation from Anakin Skywalker is a cinematic masterpiece. Cloaked in black and wielding a crimson lightsaber, Vader’s imposing presence strikes fear throughout the galaxy with his menacing presence. His tragic fall to the dark side create a complex and unforgettable villain. Sometimes in life we make choices which change the course of our lives. Darth Vadar’s story is one for us all to consider in terms of choosing good or evil. The Star Wars franchise has lots of examples which relate to everyday politics and power struggles.
2. The Joker
The Joker is all about chaos! He laughs like a crazy person, wears bright clown makeup, and you never know what he’ll do next. He loves causing trouble and pushing Batman to the edge. The Joker is a scary reminder of how messed up people can be, and that there’s a dark side to everyone.
The late actor Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the character is considered one of the best interpretations and performances of a comic book character in modern cinema and created a standalone movie for the Joker in 2019 which was performed by Joaquin Phoenix to critical acclaim. The Joker 2 is in the works and hopefully we can see a series of movies featuring the colourful Movie Villain.
3. Lord Voldemort
Lord Voldemort, the embodiment of evil magic, casts a long shadow over the wizarding world. Obsessed with immortality and wielding dark spells, he seeks to control the wizarding realm and eliminate anyone who stands in his way, particularly Harry Potter. Voldemort’s chilling name sends shivers down spines, a constant reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition.
4. Thanos
Thanos is a super strong warlord with some strange ideas about saving the universe. He thinks things are out of balance and the only way to fix it is to get rid of half of all living things! With powerful Infinity Stones in his hand, he becomes a huge problem for the Avengers and could mess up everything forever. He was brought to life on the silver screen as an imperious menacing figure but one with a sensitive side unusual for a such a powerful Movie Villain.
5. Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is Superman’s arch-enemy. He’s super smart and runs many businesses, but he’s also kind of sly and mean. Lex is obsessed with being better than Superman, who’s from another planet. Lex uses all his money and brains to come up with crazy plans to take Superman down. He might try to trick him, build giant robots, or just be really sneaky. Either way, Lex is a tough opponent who keeps Superman on his toes.
6. Freddy Kruger
Freddy Krueger is the scary stuff that nightmares are made of. One of the iconic and scariest Hollywood Movie Villain of the 1980’s, he captured the imagination of movie fans with his unique concept. A burned-up ghost of a child killer, he haunts the dreams of teenagers in a town called Springwood. With his razor glove and creepy smile, Freddy loves turning their worst fears into nightmares so real they can be deadly.
7. Killmonger
Killmonger, from the Black Panther film, is a complex and compelling villain. A former U.S. black ops soldier, Killmonger challenges T’Challa’s reign over Wakanda, a technologically advanced African nation. Fuelled by a tragic past and a desire to liberate oppressed people around the world, Killmonger is a unique Movie Villain and his motivations force viewers to question the concept of heroism and villainy.
8. Bane
Man like Bane. This formidable adversary of Batman, was born and raised in the harsh environment of a prison. This experience shaped him into a ruthless leader fuelled by venom-enhanced strength and tactical brilliance. Bane’s imposing physique and unwavering determination make him a physical force to be reckoned with, pushing Batman to his absolute limit. A Movie Villain not to be underestimated.
9. Jaws
Jaws, a recurring villain in the James Bond franchise, is a silent but deadly presence. With his towering stature and signature steel teeth, Jaws is a brutal force who leaves a trail of destruction in his wake. Despite his menacing demeanour, Jaws often injects a touch of dark humour into the franchise, making him a strangely memorable Bond Movie Villain. With his large frame this silent assassin was very, very scary. Quite a few nightmares would have been had by movie buffs around the world, particularly those of a younger age at the time of release.
10. The Wicked Witch of the East
One of the OG’s or should that be the original Hollywood Movie Villain, the wicked witch was just pure evil and relentless in her attempts to create horrors in the Wizard of Oz. While her screen time is brief, the Wicked Witch of the East sets the stage for Dorothy’s fantastical adventure in the Wizard of Oz. With her green skin, pointy hat, and cackling laugh, the Wicked Witch embodies the classic fairy tale villain, serving as a catalyst for Dorothy’s journey of self-discovery.
What do you think of our list? Who is the most evil? Who is the scariest? Who is the baddest?! Did we miss anyone out? Let us know in the comments below.
