Flickreel’s 10 Greatest Villains
Whether you want to call them the worst of the best, the best of the worst, or the worst of the worst, these villains have all solidified their place in film history as some of the all time greats. Throughout this countdown, we’re honoring why these characters are so evil, as well as why we love/despise them for it.
10 HAL 9000: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Why He’s So Evil: A super computer that aids the Discovery One on a mission to Jupiter, HAL 9000 is incapable of error. Of course this turns out to be his greatest flaw. HAL 9000 is so dedicated to his mission that he’ll do anything to guarantee it’s a success, even if it means manipulating and murdering the crew.
Why We Love/Despise Him: As horrifying as HAL’s actions are, the blame truly stems from his creators. After all, if mankind hadn’t designed him to be foolproof, he wouldn’t have gone to such extremes. HAL holds a mirror up to society, forcing us to take a long hard look at the state of humanity and the state of technology.
His Definitive Line: “Just what do you think you’re doing, Dave?”
9 Annie Wilkes: Misery
Why She’s So Evil: Upon discovering her idol after a car crash, she keeps him prisoner in her house and eventually breaks his ankles to guarantee he doesn’t escape. Even before this ordeal, though, Annie had a nasty habit of murdering innocent people. It’s just her way of expressing her love.
Why We Love/Despise Her: Even to this date, Kathy Bates’ Oscar-winning performance continues to chill us to the core. In an age where people often take their fandoms to the extreme, Misery is just as relevant today as it was back in 1990.
Her Definitive Line: “It’s for the best.”
8 Hans Gruber: Die Hard
Why He’s So Evil: He’s a German terrorist that takes a building full of people hostage, and on Christmas Eve no less.
Why We Love/Despise Him: In what could’ve been a straightforward villain role, Alan Rickman brought class, humor, and a legitimately threatening presence to Gruber, perfectly complementing Bruce Willis’ John McClane. The fact that this was Rickman’s first film role is an added bonus.
His Definitive Line: “I’m going to count to three, there will not be a four.”
7 Colonel Hans Landa: Inglourious Basterds
Why He’s So Evil: From one Hans to another, this Nazi relishes in every life he takes, whether he’s ordering his men to murder an entire family or choking the life out of a woman with his bare hands.
Why We Love/Despise Him: For starters, the character launched Christoph Waltz into he mainstream. With his Oscar-winning role, Waltz gave us a villain that’s as sophisticated as he is spine-chilling.
His Definitive Line: “Oooh, that’s a bingo!”
6 Maleficent: Sleeping Beauty
Why She’s So Evil: She cursed a baby and commends her death. Why? Because she wasn’t invited to a birthday party. How petty.
Why We Love/Despise Her: When people think of Disney villains, Maleficent immediately comes to mind. From her devilish design to Eleanor Audley’s elegant voice, she solidifies her place as the Mistress of All Evil. Let’s just pretend that Angelina Jolie movie never happened.
Her Definitive Line: “The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know her. But before the sun sets on her 16th birthday, she shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel… and Die!”
5 The Wicked Witch of the West: The Wizard of Oz
Why She’s So Evil: She plans to murder a girl and her little dog just because of some ruby slippers. Plus, anyone that commands a legion of flying monkeys is sketchy to say the least.
Why We Love/Despise Her: Outside of the Disney realm, the Wicked Witch of the West was the first villain most of us were introduced to. She remains a fixture of our childhoods and chances are she inspired numerous other unforgettable villains. She’s the definition of beautiful wickedness.
Her Definitive Line: “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!”
4 The Joker: The Dark Knight
Why He’s So Evil: In short, he just wants to watch the world burn.
Why We Love/Despise Him: From Cesar Romero, to Mark Hamill, to Jack Nicholson, several actors have given a unique take on the Clown Prince of Crime. The late Heath Ledger evolved this iconic character to another level or terror, however, creating a Joker that could seemingly exist in the real world. His Oscar-winning performance remains one for the ages.
His Definitive Line: “Why so serious?”
3 Hannibal Lecter: The Silence of the Lambs
Why He’s So Evil: He’s a serial killer that delights in eating his victims. Whether he’s eating your brains or psychoanalyzing you, he knows how to get inside your inside.
Why We Love/Despise Him: It’s hard to believe that Anthony Hopkins is actually only on screen for 24 minutes in The Silence of the Lambs. What’s more, he spends a majority of that runtime incarcerated. With every second he’s given, though, Hopkins overwhelms the audience with a delectable sense of dread.
His Definitive Line: “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.”
2 Darth Vader: Star Wars Saga
Why He’s So Evil: He betrays the Jedi Order, causes mass chaos across the galaxy, and cuts off his own son’s hand.
Why We Love/Despise Him: Darth Vader’s appearance alone is enough to tell the audience is bad news and James Earl Jones’ voice only adds another layer of intimidation. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty when he has to either. Vader’s massacre at the end of Rogue One in particular just might be his most mind-blowing moment on screen to date. Well, except for maybe his first duel with Luke Skywalker.
His Definitive Line: “I am your father.”
1 Norman Bates: Psycho
Why He’s So Evil: Well, it’s kind of hard to explain why without giving away the twist ending. Let’s just that if you check into the Bates Motel, don’t plan on checking out.
Why We Love/Despise Him: What makes Norman Bates such a great villain is that the audience can’t figure him out for a majority of the movie. Is he a lonely man that’s just gotten himself into a bad situation or is something more menacing lurking behind the curtain. It isn’t until the final minutes that everything becomes clear. Even then, though, the audience isn’t sure if they should fear Norman or empathize with him. Either way, few villains are as fascinating as him.
His Definitive Line: “She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven’t you?”