20) Lex Luthor (Superman) - Gene Hackman
1978 - Batman has the Joker. Spider-Man has the Green Goblin. Superman has Lex Luthor. As the Man of Steel’s arch nemesis, Luthor is charming, intelligent and devious all rolled into one. To make a fortune in real estate, Luthor plans on buying large amounts of desert land and then divert a nuclear missel test flight to the San Andreas Fault. The missel would in turn sink California, making Lex’s land the new U.S. West Coast, thereby increasing its value. Academy Award winner Gene Hackman was perfectly cast as Superman’s nemesis, striking just the right tone of both cockiness and terror in the iconic role. When hearing that one missel is heading to Hackensack, New Jersey, Lex's girlfriend, Miss Teschmacher, mentions to Lex that her mother lives in Hackensack. All you need to see is Luthor look down at his watch, then back at Teschmacher, shaking his head no to realize under that smile, this man is as ruthless as they come.
1978 - Batman has the Joker. Spider-Man has the Green Goblin. Superman has Lex Luthor. As the Man of Steel’s arch nemesis, Luthor is charming, intelligent and devious all rolled into one. To make a fortune in real estate, Luthor plans on buying large amounts of desert land and then divert a nuclear missel test flight to the San Andreas Fault. The missel would in turn sink California, making Lex’s land the new U.S. West Coast, thereby increasing its value. Academy Award winner Gene Hackman was perfectly cast as Superman’s nemesis, striking just the right tone of both cockiness and terror in the iconic role. When hearing that one missel is heading to Hackensack, New Jersey, Lex's girlfriend, Miss Teschmacher, mentions to Lex that her mother lives in Hackensack. All you need to see is Luthor look down at his watch, then back at Teschmacher, shaking his head no to realize under that smile, this man is as ruthless as they come.
SPOILER ALERT: In the highly unlikely - I'm hoping - event you have not seen the original Star Wars trilogy, the next clip contains some major plot spoilers within the dialogue.
19) Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine (Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi) - Ian McDiarmid
1983 - Of course, everyone knows the main villain of the Star Wars franchise to be Darth Vader. That being said, sometimes even the greatest of villains have a puppet master. The way he has manipulated Darth Vader for years under his command is the stuff of pure evil. On top of that, he then gives film protagonist Luke Skywalker the choice to either join his side or... well, die. Ian McDiarmid is perfect as the slithery emperor. Even little things like his insidious chuckle before uttering, “Good... Your hate has made you powerful.” add much more to his dark persona.
18) Count Dracula (Dracula) - Bela Lugosi
1931 - Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 film Bram Stoker’s Dracula may have been more faithful to the original novel, but there’s no doubt that Bela Lugosi’s Dracula is by far the definitive depiction of the legendary vampire. Everything from his presence to the slow and deliberate pacing of his dialogue - “I bid you... welcome!” - was captured with such powerful perfection by the Hungarian Legosi. Even in the moments where he says not a single word, Legosi comes off just as frightening with that icy, cold stare of his that stays with you long after you’ve seen it. It’s unfortunate that this role ended up being such a double edged sword for Legosi. As famous as the role made him, it also brought upon him the curse of typecasting following this film. That still doesn’t take away the fact that 1931's Dracula is one of the greatest works of horror to ever grace the silver screen.
1931 - Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 film Bram Stoker’s Dracula may have been more faithful to the original novel, but there’s no doubt that Bela Lugosi’s Dracula is by far the definitive depiction of the legendary vampire. Everything from his presence to the slow and deliberate pacing of his dialogue - “I bid you... welcome!” - was captured with such powerful perfection by the Hungarian Legosi. Even in the moments where he says not a single word, Legosi comes off just as frightening with that icy, cold stare of his that stays with you long after you’ve seen it. It’s unfortunate that this role ended up being such a double edged sword for Legosi. As famous as the role made him, it also brought upon him the curse of typecasting following this film. That still doesn’t take away the fact that 1931's Dracula is one of the greatest works of horror to ever grace the silver screen.
17) Count Orlok (Nosferatu) - Max Schreck
1922 - If a movie with no spoken dialogue can still manage to either move you, make you laugh, or send a chill down your spine, you know you have a masterpiece in the making. That is the case with Nosferatu, the classic German silent film from the early twenties. Max Schreck’s Count Orlok is easily the most unsettling of all the vampire depictions. One of the most unforgettable images ever is the shadow of Count Orlok slowly creeping up the staircase. Is this “scary” by what today’s horror films define as scary? No, but Nosferatu still manages to haunt you. Count Orlok’s not the type of villain that jumps out at you screaming “Boo!” with a blood drenched machete in his hand. He’s the type of monster that slowly creeps up behind you and breathes on the back of your neck causing the goose bumps on your arms to rise, and in some ways you could argue that's even worse.
1922 - If a movie with no spoken dialogue can still manage to either move you, make you laugh, or send a chill down your spine, you know you have a masterpiece in the making. That is the case with Nosferatu, the classic German silent film from the early twenties. Max Schreck’s Count Orlok is easily the most unsettling of all the vampire depictions. One of the most unforgettable images ever is the shadow of Count Orlok slowly creeping up the staircase. Is this “scary” by what today’s horror films define as scary? No, but Nosferatu still manages to haunt you. Count Orlok’s not the type of villain that jumps out at you screaming “Boo!” with a blood drenched machete in his hand. He’s the type of monster that slowly creeps up behind you and breathes on the back of your neck causing the goose bumps on your arms to rise, and in some ways you could argue that's even worse.
16) Max Cady (Cape Fear) - Robert Mitchum
1962 - I apologize for the subtitles and advertisement distractions. This was the only clip I could find and I was hoping to find the "I'm gonna do something to you and your family that you ain't neva' gonna forget." scene. Anyway, with all due respect to the great Martin Scorsese, his 1991 remake is far and away inferior to the original starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum as the perverted rapist, Max Cady. Holding Georgia lawyer Sam Bowden (Peck) personally responsible for his conviction, Cady - upon his release - begins stalking Bowden’s family, particularly his wife and 14 year old daughter. What makes Max Cady such a perfectly disgusting villain is not just his behavior, but how easy it is for him to basically get away with murder. Every time Bowden tries to pin down Cady with the police, it seems the authorities can’t find the evidence proving Cady’s wrongdoing. Having studied law while in prison, he knows how to be one step ahead. It’s that type of frustrating, make your skin crawl, foil for Bowden that makes Robert Mitchum one hell of a nasty villain.
1962 - I apologize for the subtitles and advertisement distractions. This was the only clip I could find and I was hoping to find the "I'm gonna do something to you and your family that you ain't neva' gonna forget." scene. Anyway, with all due respect to the great Martin Scorsese, his 1991 remake is far and away inferior to the original starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum as the perverted rapist, Max Cady. Holding Georgia lawyer Sam Bowden (Peck) personally responsible for his conviction, Cady - upon his release - begins stalking Bowden’s family, particularly his wife and 14 year old daughter. What makes Max Cady such a perfectly disgusting villain is not just his behavior, but how easy it is for him to basically get away with murder. Every time Bowden tries to pin down Cady with the police, it seems the authorities can’t find the evidence proving Cady’s wrongdoing. Having studied law while in prison, he knows how to be one step ahead. It’s that type of frustrating, make your skin crawl, foil for Bowden that makes Robert Mitchum one hell of a nasty villain.
15) The Shark (Jaws) - “Bruce”
1975 - A modern day version of “Moby Dick”, Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough hit Jaws, proved you could have a “villain” that’s just as monstrous as the rest of them without being seen onscreen. For most of the film, you don’t see the shark even when it’s attacking its victims. That’s the beauty of Jaws and the genius of Spielberg. When we do finally see the shark, the wait makes the reveal all the more worth it leading up to Roy Scheider’s classic line, “... We’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Whether it’s Spielberg’s ability to create suspense out of an unseen monster, the late, great Robert Shaw’s depiction of the shark during the town hall scene or John Williams’s phenomenally perfect musical score, there’s a reason people were afraid to go into the water in the seventies.
1975 - A modern day version of “Moby Dick”, Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough hit Jaws, proved you could have a “villain” that’s just as monstrous as the rest of them without being seen onscreen. For most of the film, you don’t see the shark even when it’s attacking its victims. That’s the beauty of Jaws and the genius of Spielberg. When we do finally see the shark, the wait makes the reveal all the more worth it leading up to Roy Scheider’s classic line, “... We’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Whether it’s Spielberg’s ability to create suspense out of an unseen monster, the late, great Robert Shaw’s depiction of the shark during the town hall scene or John Williams’s phenomenally perfect musical score, there’s a reason people were afraid to go into the water in the seventies.
14) Annie Wilkes (Misery) - Kathy Bates
1990 - It is my sincere hope that I never attract a reader like Annie Wilkes. Kathy Bates won an Oscar for Best Actress for her chilling portrayal of the obsessively psychotic Wilkes. A die-hard fan of famed novelist Paul Sheldon, Annie ends up taking care of Sheldon after he is involved in a nearby auto accident. What seems to be a dream come true for her ends up being a nightmare for him when he starts to realize she takes his writings a little bit too seriously... not enough of an understatement at that too. It’s her ability to always be one step ahead of Paul whenever he tries to break free that makes her so convincingly terrifying. It’s when she looks back on Paul and utters, “God, I love you.” after breaking his ankles of course, when you realize just how bat-shit crazy this woman really is.
1990 - It is my sincere hope that I never attract a reader like Annie Wilkes. Kathy Bates won an Oscar for Best Actress for her chilling portrayal of the obsessively psychotic Wilkes. A die-hard fan of famed novelist Paul Sheldon, Annie ends up taking care of Sheldon after he is involved in a nearby auto accident. What seems to be a dream come true for her ends up being a nightmare for him when he starts to realize she takes his writings a little bit too seriously... not enough of an understatement at that too. It’s her ability to always be one step ahead of Paul whenever he tries to break free that makes her so convincingly terrifying. It’s when she looks back on Paul and utters, “God, I love you.” after breaking his ankles of course, when you realize just how bat-shit crazy this woman really is.
13) Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) - Ricardo Montalban
1982 - Revenge. Khan or “Khaaaaaaaan!” is all about revenge. Once exiled by Captain James T. Kirk and then blaming Kirk for the death of his wife, Khan vows to avenge her. His plan is to activate the Genesis Device - a torpedo that is capable of both reorganizing matter to create habitable worlds and destroying planets. The scene in which he uses his mind controlling eels - “pets” as he calls them - to gain control of the USS Reliant is just as disturbing to watch nowadays as it was for me when I was just three years old. Nightmares naturally followed back then.
1982 - Revenge. Khan or “Khaaaaaaaan!” is all about revenge. Once exiled by Captain James T. Kirk and then blaming Kirk for the death of his wife, Khan vows to avenge her. His plan is to activate the Genesis Device - a torpedo that is capable of both reorganizing matter to create habitable worlds and destroying planets. The scene in which he uses his mind controlling eels - “pets” as he calls them - to gain control of the USS Reliant is just as disturbing to watch nowadays as it was for me when I was just three years old. Nightmares naturally followed back then.
12) The Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) - voiced by Lucille La Verne
1937 - The first of Walt Disney’s feature length productions also happens to be my personal favorite of all the Disney animated films. It also contains the most wicked of all the Disney villains - the Queen. This woman has no black heart or heart of stone. No, those with a black heart or heart of stone at least have a heart. Vain and jealous are just the tip of the iceberg with this icy bitch. Upon finding out that she’s no longer the “fairest in the land” but her step-daughter, Snow White, is, she orders a huntsman to take Snow White out into the woods and kill her. Of course, she’s gonna need proof that Snow White is dead so she also wants her heart cut out and placed in a jeweled box. Consider it a memento. When you see the Queen’s true ugliness in the form of that old witch, and then see Snow White responding back with that sweet voice and demeanor of hers, you just wanna choke the old, bitter hag for how she could ever find it in herself to kill such an innocent girl.
1937 - The first of Walt Disney’s feature length productions also happens to be my personal favorite of all the Disney animated films. It also contains the most wicked of all the Disney villains - the Queen. This woman has no black heart or heart of stone. No, those with a black heart or heart of stone at least have a heart. Vain and jealous are just the tip of the iceberg with this icy bitch. Upon finding out that she’s no longer the “fairest in the land” but her step-daughter, Snow White, is, she orders a huntsman to take Snow White out into the woods and kill her. Of course, she’s gonna need proof that Snow White is dead so she also wants her heart cut out and placed in a jeweled box. Consider it a memento. When you see the Queen’s true ugliness in the form of that old witch, and then see Snow White responding back with that sweet voice and demeanor of hers, you just wanna choke the old, bitter hag for how she could ever find it in herself to kill such an innocent girl.
11) The Joker (The Dark Knight) - Heath Ledger
2008 - Don’t get me wrong. Jack Nicholson’s performance in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman was terrific, but Heath Ledger’s was even better. While Nicholson’s was more an ode to Cesar Romero’s campy Joker from the sixties, Ledger’s was dark, sadistic, demented, anarchic, and surprisingly intelligent as well. As Batman’s rival arch-nemesis, the Joker was the one villain that was able to get under Batman’s skin and inside his head the most. No one could bring Batman closer to breaking his “one rule” - not to kill anyone - more than the Joker. Plus, if you’ve seen the final installment, The Dark Knight Rises, in the clip I showed, you realize he’s eerily prophetic. “They’ll cast you out like a leper... You just watch. When the chips are down, these civilized people will eat each other alive... See, I'm not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.” It’s a beautifully twisted performance and it earned Ledger a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - one he deserved regardless of whether he was dead or alive, by the way.
2008 - Don’t get me wrong. Jack Nicholson’s performance in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman was terrific, but Heath Ledger’s was even better. While Nicholson’s was more an ode to Cesar Romero’s campy Joker from the sixties, Ledger’s was dark, sadistic, demented, anarchic, and surprisingly intelligent as well. As Batman’s rival arch-nemesis, the Joker was the one villain that was able to get under Batman’s skin and inside his head the most. No one could bring Batman closer to breaking his “one rule” - not to kill anyone - more than the Joker. Plus, if you’ve seen the final installment, The Dark Knight Rises, in the clip I showed, you realize he’s eerily prophetic. “They’ll cast you out like a leper... You just watch. When the chips are down, these civilized people will eat each other alive... See, I'm not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.” It’s a beautifully twisted performance and it earned Ledger a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - one he deserved regardless of whether he was dead or alive, by the way.
That's all for the first half of the top 20. Next week, I'll have the best of the best with the top 10 greatest villains to ever appear on the silver screen.
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