The Top 5 Movie Villians of All-Time

Villains are often the best character in any movie. They’re scary, threatening, and often leave us with nightmares for weeks. They lack a sense of morality, leading them to bend and break the rules, creating some of the most interesting scenes in history. Sometimes you can’t help but root for them, but as people want good to prevail, they are destined to lose. In honor of Halloween, I have compiled a list of my top 5 villains of all-time.

5) The Terminator, The Terminator

The terminator is a ridiculously scary killing machine that has not been programmed to understand the meaning of the word, “stop.” Arnold Schwarzengger is great as the titular killing machine. He’s got the imposing body as well as robotic body language and he seems to be an insurmountable threat. I know if a robot or human that’s 6’2” and 240 pounds comes at me, I’m getting out of the way. 

4) Hannibal Lector, The Silence of the Lambs

Anthony Hopkins stars as the incredibly eerie and creepy Dr. Lector. Hopkins does actually not have that much time in the film, but his presence is felt in every second he’s on screen. He went on to win an Oscar for his performance, was knighted by Queen of England, and became one of Hollywood’s creepiest actors of all time.

3) Hans Landa, Inglorious Basterds

Christoph Waltz went from unknown to a household name over night with his take as Hans Landa. In a movie filled with ridiculous scenes and dialogue, Waltz steals the show with a brilliant performance, seeming to truly enjoy hunting jewish people. You never once question his motives nor his passion for his job. He was rewarded with an Academy Award for his role and pretty much a spot in any future Quentin Tarrantino movie. 

2) Darth Vader, Star Wars IV-VI

Possibly the most intimated voice in cinematic history, Darth Vader is one of the greatest villains of all-time. Incredibly powerful and ruthless, Darth Vader commands the screen compared to the much smaller Luke Skywalker. Although his legacy was slightly tainted by poor performances  by Hayden Christensen and Jake Lloyd in the prequels, Darth Vader will forever be remembered for striking fear into the hearts of Star Wars geeks everywhere. Disney just bought Lucas Films yesterday and has green-lit Star Wars 7. I'm hoping, as are many, that Darth Vader and the Star Wars legacy is not further tarnished.

1) The Joker, The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker was truly extraordinary. Ledger went to great lengths that most actors never do, locking himself in a hotel room for weeks developing the voice and walk of the character. Most people are unaware that Ledger helped create the character and design the make up. The Joker was his creation and he gave quite an unforgettable performance. It surprised no one that he won the Oscar for best supporting actor, despite being part of a comic book movie. His legacy will forever be remembered. 

Honorable Mention: Bane, The Dark Knight Rises

I may be a bit biased towards Batman, but it's because the movies were so well done. Menacing and powerful, Tom Hardy is electrifying as bane. Throughout the film, his physical prowess and fighting ability is tremendous. Although Hardy is small in stature, he made Bane appear to be a giant through an incredible use of body language. Batman’s physical strength is clearly no match for Bane, but his mental strength allows him to persevere.