What does it take to make, not just a good,but agreatvillain? Since the dawn of cinema, there have been memorable depictions of evil that have somehow, despite their villainy, made their way into our hearts and become imprinted on our minds. Their malice extends beyond the boundaries of the scripts that give them life, and in many cases, has become more memorable than the films themselves.
The viewers’ fascination with the characters has transcended the films’ themes as well. It doesn’t even matter if the villains are cold-blooded killers — if they’re interesting, people will celebrate them. After all, a good film is defined by how well its villain is written.
Cosplaying is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to loving villains, as the best ones have become part of pop culture, proving the broad fascination with characters that are truly evil. But they’re loved, beloved, and without them, we wouldn’t have our favorite films.
This list took a dive into the bins and shelves of the 20th century to compile themost beloved Hollywood villainsthat have left a mark on the history of cinema and will always go down as the wicked and lovable antagonists that proved the bad guys could sometimes win, and we’d still applaud.
The following list contains major spoilers
20Hannibal Lecter — The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Silence of the Lambs
Jonathan Demme’s classic thrillerThe Silence of the Lambstells the story of an FBI special agent who gets assigned to interrogate an institutionalized criminal who could help the force find an active serial killer called Bufallo Bill.Hannibal Lecteris a brilliant and terrifying psychologist, imprisoned after he indulged in murder — and cannibalism.
At first, Agent Clarice Starling is creeped out by the man’s ability to read her too well, but then they form a kind ofsymbiotic relationshipthat, yes, will help her catch the killer, but it will also help Lecter escape prison, set free to continue his horrific murder spree.
A Legacy that Speaks for Itself
Without question one of Hollywood’s finest and freshest villains. Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a classic figure of antagonism that people love because he’s simply unlike any other bad guy. In fact, some would say he’s not a villain, because he’s technically not the film’s main antagonist.
But Lecter is evil enough to make you turn on the lights when you go to sleep, as you think of his sordid nature and chef-like skills at cooking human flesh. He was played by Anthony Hopkins in the film (and in most of the adaptations of Thomas Harris' work), a role that would garner him an Oscar in the category of Best Actor, even though he was only on screen for 16 minutes. Now that’s a powerful performance.
Stream The Silence of the Lambs on Max
19Joker — Batman (1989)
You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?
Tim Burton’s 1989 filmBatmantells the story of the caped vigilante as he tries to deal with a chaotic version of Gotham City. Bruce Wayne by day, and Batman by night, the superhero with no powers but a very powerful belt and tools, faces the city’s greatest threat in the film that started an unstoppable trend.
The Joker, formerly known as Jack Napier, is on a rampage of pure revenge to install himself as Gotham’s new crime boss, but Batman thinks otherwise.
The Perfect Balance of Comedy and Horror
The Joker is, by far,Batman’s most important villain. And as good as Heath Ledger’s work was inThe Dark Knight, Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the sociopath with an eternal smile ismuch more appealing from an entertainment perspective.
In Burton’s film, the Joker is an ever-laughing psychopath with a very elaborate plan that includes silly costumes, balloons, and nerve gas. He’s one of the few picks on this list that audiences dreamed of seeing again in a sequel, but it simply wasn’t meant to be. Fortunately, we’ll always have Nicholson’s eerie way of making us laugh as he thinks of exterminating all of Gotham.
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18The Wicked Witch of the West — The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz
TheTechnicolor masterpieceThe Wizard of Oztells the story of teenager Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto as a tornado hits the farm they live on and transports them to the Land of Oz.
Keen on going back to Kansas, Dorothy seeks the help of the Emerald City, where the Wizard lives and will potentially help her return home. However, Dorothy also faces the threat ofthe Wicked Witch of the West, whose only goal is to get her hands on Dorothy’s ruby slippers..
Much More Horrific than You Remember
Played to perfection by Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West is a classic villain that people remember as strongly as they remember this classical Hollywood film (it’s also memorable because of a great horror element present in the performance).
Hamilton’s performance is excellent, and with only a few minutes of screen time, she was able to embody a great design of the witch trope that’s still alive to this day. As great as she was, it feels only appropriate to mention her makeup was copper-based and very poisonous, causing her to be ill for most of the shooting. Her classic line, “I’ll get you, my pretty— and your little dog, too!” is one of Hollywood’s greatest quotes.
Stream The Wizard of Oz on Max
17Norman Bates — Psycho (1960)
We all go a little mad sometimes.
In Alfred Hitchcock’s horror thrillerPsycho, Marion Crane has decided to give her life a fresh start. Unfortunately, it’s not a very honorable start. She gets a hold of a large amount of cash and decides to run away, planning to meet her boyfriend at some point.
Crane drives away from town, but a rainstorm forces her to pull over at a shady motel. The manager isNorman Bates, and there are no other guests checked in.
Related:20 Surprisingly Attractive Movie Villains
The One That Tricked Everyone
Theextremely successful film by Hitchcockbent the rules of horror by getting rid of the formula and making a few changes to what people were used to. From killing its star halfway through the film to shooting a complex murder scene unlike anything we have ever seen to this day, villain rules were also changed, as Hitchcock provided audiences with a kind young man who audiences would never associate with an unspeakable act.
In fact, even after the murder takes place, we have become so enamored with his innocence that we don’t think of him as the main antagonist. Even in the film’s underrated sequel, when we know what he actually did, the legacy of his character allows us to think maybe it’s time to let bygones be bygones.
Rent Psycho on Prime Video
16Betel Geuse Jr. — Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice
Ah. Well. I attended Juilliard. I’m a graduate of Harvard Business School. I traveled quite extensively. I lived through the Black Plague and I had a pretty good time during that. I’ve seen The Exorcist about 167 times! And it keeps getting funnier EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE IT! NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT YOU’RE TALKING TO A DEAD GUY! NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?! You think I’m qualified?
Tim Burton’sBeetlejuicetells the story of Adam and Barbara Maitland, a young couple who sadly perish when driving off a bridge in their small town. However, they don’t accept they’re dead, and they remain in what can only be referred to as a twisted version of the afterlife.
Their home is sold, and obnoxious city people move in. The Maitlands have no choice but to seek the help of a bio-exorcist, the ghost with the most,Beetlejuicehimself.
A Wonderful Approach to Tim Burton’s Concept
This fantasy horror comedy about ghosts having an effect on our realmthrough Harry Belafonte tunesis as unique as it was, at the time, unprecedented. And yes, the character of Beetlejuice (who’s “real” name is Betel Geuse Jr.) is reason enough to get on theBeetlejuicetrain.
With under 20 minutes of screen time, Beetlejuice manages to absolutely steal the show. He’s hilarious, blasphemous, rotten (literally), and thinksThe Exorcistis peak cinema. Honestly, you won’t find a funnier villain than this one on the list.
Rent Beetlejuice on Prime Video
15Chucky — Child’s Play (1988)
Child’s Play
Child’s Playtells the story of Karen Barclay and her six-year-old son Andy, who has become fascinated with a toy called the Good Guy doll. Karen is a widow and doesn’t have the time or money to buy the doll for Andy as a birthday present.
However, she manages to get one from a homeless man, but as it turns out, the spirit of a serial killer has been transferred into it. When Andy opens the box and bodies start dropping, it becomes obvious that the spiritCharles “Chucky” Lee Rayis alive and kicking, and aims to possess Andy, so he can get a real body.
As Adorable as a Doll
The premise ofChild’s Playisn’t very complex, and it is actually repeated throughout the entire franchise. But Chucky, the killer doll, has been instilled in pop culture as a wonderful villain who always has punchlines to deliver and an insane strength to wield knives to kill humans who are much bigger than him.
His legacy as a foul-mouthed doll who needs no batteries to run is still very much alive, thanks to a new TV series that brought him back to modern audiences for their enjoyment.Among the slashers, it’s hard to imagine a world without Chucky.
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14Darth Vader — The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
empire strikes back
I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.
Debuting inStar Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope,Darth Vaderwas the overlord of the Galactic Empire, who always frustrated the plans of the rebellion to defeat their ruthless rulers. However, in thefranchise’s best film,The Empire Strikes Back, Vader gets meaner, badder, and more complex.
Vader starts as a typical villain, the mad dog on the leash of the Emperor. But then, with one of the most famous twists in cinema history, he reveals that he is Luke’s father. Instead of joining the Dark Side of the Force, as Vader requests, Luke decides to throw himself into the void.
A Shocking Cinematic Reveal
The first film is the introduction. InEmpire, after he captures a frozen Han Solo and reveals his true identity to Luke, we ask ourselves, “How could he be worse?” But inReturn of the Jedi, Vader becomes an ambiguous villain who can’t bring himself to kill his own son.
Sometimes, the best villains are not simply and straightforwardly evil. Darth Vader is a beloved villain, one of the most iconic of all time, who didn’t have to extend beyond a mask and an imposing figure to make us understand why Jedis are noble and powerful, regardless of which side of the force they listen to. His backstory in the prequels was never necessary to cement him as one of the greatest and most beloved villains of all time.
Stream The Empire Strikes Back on Disney+
13Annie Wilkes — Misery (1990)
Based on the book of the same name by Stephen King,Miseryis the story of romance novelist Paul Sheldon. Right when he finishes his latest work, one in which he decides to kill off his most popular character by the name of Misery, Sheldon has a horrible car accident.
Fortunately,Annie Wilkespicks him up and takes care of him. What Sheldon doesn’t know is that Wilkes his absolute biggest fan, and won’t be very happy when he tells her what he’s decided to do with Misery. This is, by far,one of the best horror filmsof the 1990s.
The Dark Side of Fandom
Not much has been said about what inspired King to write the character of Wilkes, but it’s pretty obvious. The inspiration is key, but it’s Kathy Bates' performance as the maniac whose obsession will go too far that made her a memorable villain everyone loves to remember.
Wilkes was unstable before Sheldon showed up. It’s strongly hinted in the film that she has killed many times before, when she was a nurse, and keeps a scrap journal to remember each time. Having Sheldon at her mercy reveals her twisted psychopathy more than any previous killing, and he has to be more clever than he’s ever been before to escape her.
Rent Misery on Prime Video
12Nurse Mildred Ratched — One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Miloš Forman’sOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nesttells the story of Randle McMurphy, a young man who cheats the justice system to escape a conviction for a highly problematic crime. Instead of being put in prison, McMurphy gets sent to a mental institution where he thinks he will have a better time.
Unfortunately, the head nurseMildred Ratchedwon’t let him get off that easy. Ratched isa creature so vile, that even a TV series was made based on her character and her ways.
Related:10 Movies Where the Hero and Villain Are Related
The Perfect Definition of Antagonism
Ratched is, without question, one of the best villains in cinema history. With a character motivation that’s basically non-existent, Ratched finds satisfaction in the suffering of everyone in the ward. McMurphy is the piece that tilts her over the scale and makes her stable world crumble, but her agenda is much stronger than his spirit, as the film reveals with its heartbreaking third act.
Nurse Ratched is well-remembered by everyone who likes to think of the most hateful movie characters, and it wouldn’t have been the same without Louise Fletcher’s performance, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nestis one of the three films that have won the Big Five awards (withSilence of the Lambs, also on this list, being another).
Stream One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on Netflix
11Biff Tannen — Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents' meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
InBack to the Future, Marty McFly has a very strange friendship with Doc Brown. He’s a guitar-playing teenager with a good-looking girlfriend who likes to skate everywhere, and he’s friends with a crazy scientist who likes to experiment and invent things.Doc Brown even manages to invent time travel, but when Marty ends up in the ’50s, he causes a disruption in time and threatening his own existence when he interrupts his parents meeting.
The Many Iterations of a Well-Played Villain
Thomas F. Wilson played all the iterations ofBiff Tannenthroughout the different eras and movies, even his great-grandfather Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen in the third film of the franchise. Biff is always a bully and jock in each iteration, who complies with every rule in the book when it comes to bad guys.
The character was so compelling, especially in Part II, that he became such a valued element of the franchise that it couldn’t exist without him. Not even going through the same ridiculous situation three times made us lose our love for a very unfortunate dude who simply got greedy.
