Guess who got the number one spot.
Villains are the darkness that helps the light of our heroes shine brighter, so despite their usually nefarious nature, viewers can't help but admire them. Whether it's for their astounding powers, cool gizmos, or relatable background stories, these antagonists have captured the attention and admiration of the viewers. Ranker has put a list of villains for the community to vote, and as of April 2, 2021, here are the antiheroes that made it to the top 10 of the Greatest Movie Villains Of All Time.
Hans "The Jew Hunter" Landa is a ruthless SS officer and is the central villain of the 2009 Quentin Tarantino film, Inglourious Basterds, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. He is cunning and clever and one of the most dynamically complex characters ever created. He is willing to betray his own country and men if that's what it takes to stay alive, and he wouldn't even feel sorry about it.
The iconic villain from 'Friday the 13th' film series, Jason Voorhees, will never make you feel alone, but not in a good way. This stalker and killer first appeared as the young son of camp cook-turned-killer Mrs. Voorhees in the 1980 'Friday the 13th'. He appeared again as an adult on the 1981 sequel 'Friday the 13th Part 2' to exact revenge on Alice after decapitating his mother in the first film. This murderous character won't hesitate to bludgeon anyone to death, but his love for his mom is undeniably adorable.
Tom Hiddleston plays the trickster god in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has the ability to change his shape and sex and often uses this power to his advantage or sometimes to simply amuse himself. He caused a lot of mischief and trouble, and his motives are often only based on how funny the outcome of his actions would be. He might be scared to get the wrath of his brother, Thor, but just like any siblings, that wouldn't stop him from playing his jokes.
The dancing clown that feeds on fear, Pennywise is the main antagonist in Stephen King's 1986 horror novel 'It.' He has a variety of powers, which include shapeshifting, manipulating reality, and going unnoticed by adults. He often targets young children, as their fears are easier to interpret, and they are easier to scare.
The master manipulator and "phantom menace" of the 'Star Wars' franchise, Palpatine can effectively hide his true cruel intentions with charisma. He appears to be a good senator and supporter of democracy before becoming emperor, but in reality, Palpatine is Darth Sidious. He is the dark lord of the Sith, a cult of practitioners of the dark side of the Force. 
Sauron is the main evil force in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. He hated disorder. So when Melkor enticed him to have the power to "effect his designs quickly and masterfully," he grabbed the opportunity. His all-seeing eye makes him a truly dreadful nemesis.
Blood is thicker than water, but Scar doesn't care. The antagonist of Disney's 'The Lion King' franchise will not think twice to shed his own brother's blood and blame it on his nephew just to clear his way to the throne. Scar is a cunning and ruthless leader who will value power more than his own family.
The only villain to have "broken the bat" with his brute strength and exceptional intelligence, Bane has proven himself the worthy adversary of Batman. He spent most of his childhood in prison after a corrupt politician decreed that he should serve his father's life sentence. Inside the prison walls, Bane trained his mind and body using the limited resources he could get. The unfair justice system created such a powerful monster, and honestly, it's hard to blame him.
The supervillain of Marvel, Thanos, is responsible for one of the most heartbreaking scenes in cinematic history. He uses the gauntlet made of six Infinity Gems to decimate half of the universe's population, including many of its heroes. Thanos believes that life is expanding outward unchecked, which could lead to ultimate ruin. He chooses to wipe half of the population so that the remaining half could live a better life.
Joker is another archenemy of the superhero Batman. Joker is already considered an iconic figure in pop culture, but Joaquin Phoenix's performance in 'Joker' (2019) has undeniably launched the character to an even higher pedestal. In the 2019 film, Joker is not just a psychotic villain. He was the face of revolution, a symbol of courage for the oppressed, and inspiration to the marginalized.
Results are accurate as of April 2, 2021. Want to cast your vote on the Greatest Movie Villains of All Time, too? Click here.
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