TOP TEN: Movie Villains
Who's the baddest baddie of them all?
 | The Joker from Batman |
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The number one reason Batman is considered one of the better superhero films ever is due largely in part to Jack Nicholson's performance as The Joker. Aside from the fact that Tim Burton actually got Jack Nicholson to cover his face in white makeup, die his hair green and dance around to Prince this is simply one of the better performances we have seen Jack give. He is evil, he is maniacal and he is, most importantly, convincing. Honestly, if The Joker had ended up winning at the end of Batman would anyone have really complained?
 | Roger 'Verbal' Kint from The Usual Suspects |
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Just look at that face up there. Don't you wanna reach out and give that poor guy a hug? He is being picked on by Dave Kujan throughout the entire film, to the point where he actually starts to cry. I have seen some people call The Usual Suspects an overrated film, but with a villain the likes of "Verbal" I just can't subscribe to that opinion.
Kevin Spacey nails this character and his drab and helpless performance only sucks the audience in that much deeper until the final revelation. It is not only one of the better performances it is certainly one of the best villains of all time.
In case some of you have still not seen this movie (get out from under that rock) I won't spoil it any further, but here is a great scene from the flick. "Hand me the keys you cocksucker, what the fuck?"
 | General Zod from Superman II |
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This guy is just a straight up dick. General Zod has no care or compassion for anyone or anything. He and his hooligans fly to the moon and start picking on the astronauts as if they stole their lunch money. What the hell did those astronauts ever do to these guys?
Then, once on Earth, Zod couldn't be any more nonchalant in his treatment of the people and the destruction he causes. Killing people and starting shit on fire is all in a day's work for this guy.
 | Gordon Gekko from Wall Street |
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Some of you might think this is a stretch, but this guy is a perfect candidate for best villain. Michael Douglas' performance as Gordon Gekko made Wall Street a good movie. Without Douglas all you have is a whiney Charlie Sheen and that is the last thing any of us need.
Gekko is calculating and manipulative and he does it in a way that the victims don't realize what hit 'em until it is too late. Of course, he gets his ass handed to him in the end, but it is just as much fun to watch Gordon fall as it was to watch him rise. Quite simply, "Greed is good."
 | Vincent from Collateral |
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This will probably be the one addition I will get the most shit for, but I think Tom Cruise nailed this character from the very first moment he steps into frame. Under the direction of Michael Mann Cruise was a fucking juggernaut as the hired killer Vincent. The scene featured below says it all, that final gunshot had me sold on this movie and on his character. The way he takes 'em down, grabs his things and fires one last shot gave me the chills.
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Awesome list! There is nothing the people love to see more than the bad guys! And your #1 is right on the money. Kevin Spacey is a great actor and I really don't think any other actor could have pulled off John Doe anywhere near as good as he did. I have two honorable mentions for your list…Robert DeNiro as the "over-seer" from Angel Heart and Sharon Stone's role as that money hungry cheating life ruining tramp from Casino. Women…
I never really thought of Sharon Stone from Casino, but that is a great call! Since I didn't have any women on this list perhaps top ten female villains is in order along with my idea for top ten anti-heroes! Thanks for the comment!
I don't think her character could really be classified as a villain but that bitch sure was crazy!
Great list, but I really ant to dwelve on the psyche of a true villain. What's a villain? "a deliberate scoundrel or criminal" says the dictionary, but I would add that a true villain must also be cunning, heartless and a heartfelt sociopath, and should scare the bejesus right off your skin; you would not want to encounter none of these people in a dark alley. So here goes my list.
1) John Doe "Seven"
2) Anton Chigurh "No Country for Old Men"
3) Hannibal Lecter "Silence of the Lambs"
4) Freddy Krueger "Nightmare on Elm Street"
5) Coronel Vidal "Pan's Laberynth"
6) Jack Torrance "The Shinning"
7) Agent Smith "The Matrix"
8) Alex Forrest "Fatal Attraction"
9) Darth Vader "The Empire Strikes Back) -hard to choose this one. After witnessing the birth of Anakin Skywalker's alter ego played by cute as a buttom Hayden Christensen, it's hard for me to consider him a villain any more.
10) Alien in "Alien"
Keith Ledger – Joker – The Darknight
Margaret Hamiltom – Witch – Wizard of the Oz
Ian McKellen – Magnet – Xmen
Glenn Close – Alex Forrest – Fatal Attraction
That's all in my list.