30. HADES
James Woods, Hercules
(1997)
Though I’m not that big a fan of this movie, I love this
character. Woods interpreted the dark
lord of the Underworld as a fast-talking schmoozer who still had an explosive
temper and a genuinely evil motive. I also
like the design. I just wish he had a song.
29. R.K. CHESTER ROYALTON
Roger Allam, Speed Racer (2008)
I seem to be one of the few people who love this movie,
and Royalton is one of my favorite parts of it.
A shrewd and powerful businessman who knows how to come off as friendly
and charming until he’s defied. When a
potential business partner doesn’t cooperate, he shows his true colors. He ruthlessly uses criminals to fix races to
go his way and maximize his own profits.
His motivations are summed up by an amusingly loquacious speech in which
he deconstructs Speed’s simple idealism.
I also love Roger Allam’s scene-chewing performance. Wish I could see more of him.
28. URSULA
Pat Carroll, The
Little Mermaid (1989)
Ursula can come off inviting and nonthreatening when
talking Ariel into selling her voice, but she uses her new prize to trick Ariel
out of her crush and steal King Triton’s powers. When she does so, she becomes truly
terrifying. Her plan ultimate control of
the ocean is brilliant and effective until Eric intervenes. She also sings a great song.
27. DOLORES JANE UMBRIDGE
Imelda Staunton, Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Like many people I find Umbridge even more vile the
Voldemort himself. She exercises control
over the children, stunting their ability to defend themselves, and even torturing them all while under the guise
of a simpering moral guardian. When
Voldemort takes over the Ministry of Magic, she’s perfectly happy to persecute
the Muggleborns for him. It's a shame we never get to see her comeuppance at the end of the series.
26. GOLLUM
Andy Serkis, The
Lord of the Rings (2001-3)
In addition to being a groundbreaking use of great acting
in a motion capture CGI character (thanks to Andy Serkis and a great effects
team), Gollum is also a conflicted and pathetic villain. Corrupted by the Ring, he’ll do anything to
get it back from the hobbits until he is show some kindness from Frodo. This inspires conflict between his two split
personalities (Gollum and Smeagol, his original identity), that is cleverly
displayed with a one-person conversation shot at different angles. Although the Rankin-Bass version isn’t as
well-executed, I love his design in it.
25. MAJOR ARNOLD ERNST TOHT
Ronald Lacey, Raiders
of the Lost Ark (1981)
He’s not a particularly potent villain, mind you. He’s weak, cowardly and he dresses
inappropriately for the desert. Still,
he’s as evil as it gets. He tortures
people for the Gestapo and is an obvious sadist. His creepy demeanor makes him one of the
better Peter Lorre wannabes. I also like
how he’s the skeptic of the group. He
acts sardonically dismissive of the Ark mission he’s been assigned to until he
finally sees the power of God…right before it kills him.
24. GENERAL M. BISON
Raul Julia, Street
Fighter (1994)
Street Fighter
may be a cheesy movie, but Bison is a flamboyant and fun antagonist. When Chun-Li confronts him over the death of
her father, Bison utters a line that’s become synonymous with this trope. It would be a better scene if she wasn’t
describing a humiliating defeat of his.
Must happen to him a lot. He’s
still a stylish and amusingly campy megalomaniac.
23. HANNIBAL LECTER
Anthony Hopkins, The
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
I’m not sure there’s much I can contribute to this
one. Hes a classically sophisticated,
yet savage, killer.
22. HANS GRUBER
Alan Rickman, Die
Hard (1988)
Another great sophisticated villain that doesn’t need
much explanation. RIP, Alan Rickman.
21. HARRY LIME
Orson Welles, The
Third Man (1949)
The protagonist thinks he’s a small-time con-man, but
Lime’s fraud has denied multiple children life-saving medicine. He cleverly fakes his death to get the
authorities of his back. He expresses
his complete disregard for human life on the ferris wheel and justifies his
evil by short-selling Switzerland’s contribution to human culture.
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