“The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.”
-- Shylock
-- Shylock
10. Le Chiffré (Casino Royale)
The villain that re-energized the Bond franchise, he actually got the best of James Bond. That alone is enough to land you on this list, but add the torture, the accent, and Mads Mikkelsen's icey glare, and there's no way he's not on it.
Best Quote: "It is the simplest thing to cause more pain than a man can possibly endure."
The villain that re-energized the Bond franchise, he actually got the best of James Bond. That alone is enough to land you on this list, but add the torture, the accent, and Mads Mikkelsen's icey glare, and there's no way he's not on it.
Best Quote: "It is the simplest thing to cause more pain than a man can possibly endure."
9. Ra's al Ghul (Batman Begins)
The man made Batman. I can't stress that enough. He tried to train a sidekick, fell short, and made Batman. When God has a bad day, he creates the platypus. When Ra's al Ghul has a bad day, he creates the answer to the question, "Who could beat everyone on this list?"
Best Quote: "Your training is nothing! Will is everything!"
The man made Batman. I can't stress that enough. He tried to train a sidekick, fell short, and made Batman. When God has a bad day, he creates the platypus. When Ra's al Ghul has a bad day, he creates the answer to the question, "Who could beat everyone on this list?"
Best Quote: "Your training is nothing! Will is everything!"
8. The Operative (Serenity)
"I'm a monster. What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done." -- proof that Joss Whedon should write all the dialogue in every movie. This man unquestioningly follows orders with an almost religious zealotry. There's not much scarier than that.
Best Quote: "If your quarry goes to ground, leave no ground to go to."
"I'm a monster. What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done." -- proof that Joss Whedon should write all the dialogue in every movie. This man unquestioningly follows orders with an almost religious zealotry. There's not much scarier than that.
Best Quote: "If your quarry goes to ground, leave no ground to go to."
7. John Doe (Se7en)
Speaking of religious zealotry, 7th place just feels right for John Doe, but don't take my word for it! In the words of Morgan Freeman, "All we know about him is that he's independently wealthy, well-educated, and completely insane."
Best Quote: "Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you'll notice you've got their strict attention."
Speaking of religious zealotry, 7th place just feels right for John Doe, but don't take my word for it! In the words of Morgan Freeman, "All we know about him is that he's independently wealthy, well-educated, and completely insane."
Best Quote: "Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you'll notice you've got their strict attention."
6. Bane (The Dark Knight Rises)
Say what you want about the movie (I will maintain until my death that that isn't the ending Christopher Nolan wanted), "Do you feel in charge?" is chilling. Bane is physically unstoppable and seemingly without conscience. Bonus points for being the most quoted villain by frat boys.
Best Quote: "When it is done and Gotham is ashes, then you have my permission to die."
Say what you want about the movie (I will maintain until my death that that isn't the ending Christopher Nolan wanted), "Do you feel in charge?" is chilling. Bane is physically unstoppable and seemingly without conscience. Bonus points for being the most quoted villain by frat boys.
Best Quote: "When it is done and Gotham is ashes, then you have my permission to die."
5. Agent Smith (The Matrix Trilogy)
Credit Hugo Weaving for the portrayal, and how for how calm, cool, and collected Agent Smith is at all times. His mix of brain and brawn and the knowledge that, like a horror movie villain, he'll just keep coming back, make him impossible to keep out of the top 5.
Best Quote: "The purpose of life is to end."
Credit Hugo Weaving for the portrayal, and how for how calm, cool, and collected Agent Smith is at all times. His mix of brain and brawn and the knowledge that, like a horror movie villain, he'll just keep coming back, make him impossible to keep out of the top 5.
Best Quote: "The purpose of life is to end."
4. Hannibal Lecter (The Hannibal Lecter Trilogy)
Ignore the terrible fourth movie that tried to be an "origin story" for Hannibal. He works better without one. You can actually include the surprisingly good NBC version if you like (Hi again, Mads!), but this is a movie blog, so the movie version is pictured. The subtlest villain to appear here, he is nothing but intelligent evil.
Best Quote: "On a similar note I must confess to you, I'm giving very serious thought to eating your wife."
Ignore the terrible fourth movie that tried to be an "origin story" for Hannibal. He works better without one. You can actually include the surprisingly good NBC version if you like (Hi again, Mads!), but this is a movie blog, so the movie version is pictured. The subtlest villain to appear here, he is nothing but intelligent evil.
Best Quote: "On a similar note I must confess to you, I'm giving very serious thought to eating your wife."
3. The Xenomorph (Alien Quadrilogy, AvP 1&2, Prometheus... sort of)
We are officially into "I shouldn't have to explain this to you" territory. Every part of this thing is designed to kill, and should you be lucky enough to kill one, they bleed acid. Good luck.
Best Quote: That clicking sound they make. It's pretty much its only quote.
We are officially into "I shouldn't have to explain this to you" territory. Every part of this thing is designed to kill, and should you be lucky enough to kill one, they bleed acid. Good luck.
Best Quote: That clicking sound they make. It's pretty much its only quote.
2. The Joker (The Dark Knight)
With all due respect to Mr. Nicholson, Heath Ledger's Joker was the best and it's not even close. Sinister, genius, and always one step ahead, it speaks to Hollywood's skill that he isn't higher on this list.
Best Quote: "So this is what happens when an unstoppable force meets and immovable object."
With all due respect to Mr. Nicholson, Heath Ledger's Joker was the best and it's not even close. Sinister, genius, and always one step ahead, it speaks to Hollywood's skill that he isn't higher on this list.
Best Quote: "So this is what happens when an unstoppable force meets and immovable object."
1. T-1000 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)
He's liquid metal. He can take any shape and look like anyone. It doesn't get much better than that.
Best Quote: His finger wag.
He's liquid metal. He can take any shape and look like anyone. It doesn't get much better than that.
Best Quote: His finger wag.
0. Darth Vader (Original Star Wars Trilogy)
At 0 because he's untouchable. The greatest that ever was, is, or shall be. I'm not even a Star Wars nerd (Warsie? Is that a thing like Trekkie?), I just don't see how you're ever doing better. He's only vulnerable if Hollywood keeps doing its best to ruin him.
Best Quote: "I find your lack of faith disturbing."
At 0 because he's untouchable. The greatest that ever was, is, or shall be. I'm not even a Star Wars nerd (Warsie? Is that a thing like Trekkie?), I just don't see how you're ever doing better. He's only vulnerable if Hollywood keeps doing its best to ruin him.
Best Quote: "I find your lack of faith disturbing."
Honorable Mentions
The Rage Virus (28 Days Later, 28 Weeks Later)
If you contract it, you have about 10 seconds to make peace with your dear and fluffy lord and say goodbye to your loved ones, before you savagely murder them all. And your entire continent. Missed the list only because it isn't in keeping with the spirit of the villains being people (or at least humanoids).
If you contract it, you have about 10 seconds to make peace with your dear and fluffy lord and say goodbye to your loved ones, before you savagely murder them all. And your entire continent. Missed the list only because it isn't in keeping with the spirit of the villains being people (or at least humanoids).
Venom (Spiderman 3... unfortunately)
The only pre-established villain with the chance to crack this list if he's done right. And sorry Topher Grace, he hasn't been so far.
The only pre-established villain with the chance to crack this list if he's done right. And sorry Topher Grace, he hasn't been so far.
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