AFI’s Top 50 Movie Villains of All Time

AFI’s Top 50 Movie Villains of All Time

The American Film Institute recently gave us a countdown of the top fifty movie villains in film history. While some were expected to make an appearance, others were a bit of a surprise. The names of the fifty villains can be found below along with the movie they starred in as well as the actor/actress that made the character memorable.

50. Alonzo Harris

Not only did Denzel Washington portray Alonzo Harris, a veteran detective with the LAPD who had questionable methods, in the 2001 drama “Training Day”, he also won the Oscar for Best Actor because of the role.

49. Auric Goldfinger

James Bond has had his share of villains. The 1964 film “Goldfinger” had Gerte Frobe as Auric Goldfinger, a villainous dealer who had more than gold on his mind.

48. Verbal Kent

Kevin Spacey won a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role as Verbal Kent, a small time conman who is much more than he seems, in 1995’s “The Usual Suspects”.

47. Tony Camonte

Although most people are more familiar with the 1983 version of “Scarface” with Al Pacino playing Tony Montana, the 1932 original starred Paul Muni as Tony Camonte. In this film, Camonte’s rise to power is due to his work with the mob.

46. Hans Gruber

Before taking on roles in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” and the “Harry Potter” series, Alan Rickman’s first major film role was that of Hans Gruber in “Die Hard”. In this 1988 film, terrorists lead by Gruber take over the Nakatomi building during a Christmas party to steal millions of dollars in bonds.

45. Joker

Jack Nicholson took on a slightly less serious role in the 1989 film “Batman”. Formerly Jack Napier, the Joker rose to power after falling into a vault of acid that left him disfigured and homicidal.

44. Baby Jane Hudson

Screen legend Bette Davis received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role in the 1962 film “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane”. Davis played Baby Jane Hudson, a former child star who has fallen from the limelight while her sister Blanche (Joan Crawford) has remained a favorite in Hollywood. Although deeply resentful of her sister, Baby Jane is left to take care of her following a crippling automobile accident.

43. Regina Giddens

Bette Davis reappears on the villains countdown for her role as Regina Giddens in “The Little Foxes”. In this 1941 film, a woman is determined to go into business with her brothers and will allow no one to get in her way. Davis received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for this role.

42. Tom Powers

The 1931 film “The Public Enemy” starred James Cagney as Tom Powers. During the era of prohibition, crime is on the upswing and Tom Powers was a part of it. He decides to take revenge when a friend, Matt Doyle (Edward Woods) is killed.

41. Joan Crawford

The glitz and glamour of Hollywood isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be. This is especially true in the 1981 movie “Mommie Dearest”. Faye Dunaway portrayed screen legend Joan Crawford in a story told by Christina, Crawford’s adopted daughter. The film brought a whole new meaning to the phrase “No Wire Hangers”!

40. Freddy Krueger

In 1984’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, Robert Englund donned the makeup to transform himself into one of cinema’s favorite horror icons, Freddy Krueger, who stalked his victims in their dreams. Freddy would go on to appear in a total of seven movies, including the 2003 flick “Freddy vs. Jason” as well as a TV show in the late 1980s.

39. Cruella De Vil

Whether being voiced in the 1961 animated version by Betty Lou Gerson or being portrayed by Glenn Close in the 1996 live action film, Cruella De Vil was a villain to be reckoned with in “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”. Cruella had evil intentions when she abducted Dalmatian puppies for ultimate fashion purposes.

38. Caesar Enrico Bandello

The 1931 film “Little Caesar” starred Edward G. Robinson as Caesar “Rico” Bandello. Rico becomes a member of a gang and will do anything to reach the pinnacle of success.

37. Harry Lime

Legendary actor Orson Welles appeared in the 1949 movie “The Third Man”. The character Harry Lime supposedly died in a mysterious automobile accident. However, a friend finds out there is more to Harry than meets the eye.

36. Frank Booth

A seemingly innocent town is actually a corrupt place to live in the movie “Blue Velvet”. Dennis Hopper starred as Frank Booth, a sinister drug dealer and blackmailer, in this 1986 film.

35. J.J. Hunsecker

Burt Lancaster appeared in the 1957 movie “Sweet Smell of Success” as J.J. Hunsecker. Hunsecker was a powerful newspaper columnist who would stop at nothing to prevent his sister from marrying a jazz musician.

34. Dr. Szell

The late Sir Laurence Olivier received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role as Dr. Szell in 1976’s “Marathon Man”. Also known as “The White Angel”, Szell was a demented doctor trying to smuggle diamonds into the United States.

33. Count Dracula

Although many actors have played him, Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of the Count in 1931’s “Dracula” is probably the most memorable.

32. Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker

When talking about these bank robbers from the 1920s, you can’t mention Bonnie Parker without Clyde Barrow and vice versa. The two made it to the big screen in 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde”. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway both received Best Acting nominations for their portrayal of the infamous pair.

31. Mrs. Danvers

Hitchcock’s 1940 film “Rebecca” showed us how one woman’s obsession with her employer’s dead first wife can have disastrous ramifications. Judith Anderson received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Mrs. Danvers.

30. Travis Bickle

Film icon Robert De Niro has shown his versatility in a number of films. This is especially true of his 1976 Oscar nominated performance in “Taxi Driver”. Travis Bickle is a New York cab driver who is disgusted by corrupt people and slowly falls into the depths of his own paranoia and isolation.

29. Reverend Harry Powell

In 1955’s “The Night of the Hunter”, Robert Mitchum plays Reverend Harry Powell, a man who is released from prison. However, Powell decides to find the money hidden by his former cellmate and is determined that no one will get in his way.

28. Max Cady

Although most people are familiar with De Niro’s portrayal of Max Cady in the 1991 version of “Cape Fear”, it was Robert Mitchum’s work in the 1962 original version that made the character a true villain. In the film, Cady stalks and terrorizes the lawyer that put him away as well as his family.

27. Martians

Recently remade into a 2005 version starring Tom Cruise, the original 1953 “War of the Worlds” was based on the novel by H.G. Wells. Martians land on Earth and begin to annihilate cities throughout the world. Nothing seems to be able to stop them. Or can it?

26. Arthur “Cody” Jarrett

Screen legend James Cagney starred in 1949’s “White Heat” as Cody Jarrett. Cody is a gang leader who breaks out of prison and plans to make the largest heist of his career.

25. Jack Torrance

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Considered to be one of the greatest horror movies of all time, 1980’s “The Shining” was based on the novel by Stephen King. Jack Nicholson starred as Jack Torrance, a writer who slowly goes insane when he and his family are isolated in a remote (and haunted) hotel in winter.

24. Gordon Gekko

Michael Douglas won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in 1987’s “Wall Street”. Gekko shows the shady side of stock trading by being motivated by greed and his “take no prisoners” attitude.

23. Eve Harrington

Eve Harrington is an ambitious actress who becomes an assistant to her idol, Margo Channing (Bette Davis). Eve then schemes her way into Broadway stardom. Anne Baxter received a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal of the title character in the 1950 film “All About Eve”.

22. Terminator

“I’ll be back”. Everyone knows these famous words first uttered by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1984 film “Terminator”. In the film, a cyborg is sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), the future mother of the resistance leader.

21. Mrs. John Iselin

The 1962 version of “The Manchurian Candidate” starred Angela Landsbury as Mrs. John Iselin. The actress received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the politically motivated Senator’s wife.

20. Man

The animated classic “Bambi” was released in 1942. The movie’s top villain is considered to be the man who killed Bambi’s mother, leaving the tiny deer an orphan.

19. Captain William Bligh

Although the film “Mutiny on the Bounty” has been remade into different versions, it’s the 1935 movie that is one of the most memorable. Captain Bligh (Charles Laughton) is a brutal sea captain whose crew decides to mutiny.

18. The Shark

Steven Spielberg’s 1975 movie “Jaws” revealed a killer Great White shark that terrorizes Amity Island, a small beachside community.

17. Annie Wilkes

Kathy Bates won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes in the 1990 movie “Misery”. The film, based on a Stephen King novel, told the story of Annie, a fan of novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan). But her obsession turns deadly when the author is isolated at her home with no escape in sight.

16. Noah Cross

1974’s “Chinatown” starred John Huston as Noah Cross. In the film, Cross plots to sell land that is almost worthless for millions of dollars.

15. Amon Goeth

One of Steven Spielberg’s most moving and haunting movies is the 1993 Best Picture award winning film “Schindler’s List”. Ralph Fiennes received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Amon Goeth, a commandant of a concentration camp who kills indiscriminately.

14. The Alien

Starring Sigourney Weaver, the 1979 film “Alien” found a space crew in dire straits when they respond to a signal for help on a distant planet. A sinister creature boards their ship and tries to take out the crew one by one.

13. Hal 9000

Voiced by Douglas Rain, Hal 9000 appeared in the 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Hal 9000 was the superior, intelligent computer on board the spacecraft that turns deadly when he endangers the lives of the crew.

12. Alex De Large

To shorten his jail sentence, Alex De Large (Malcolm McDowell) in the 1971 movie “Clockwork Orange” agrees to undergo a revolutionary new therapy. But, the new “aversion therapy” doesn’t produce the results expected.

11. Michael Corleone

Just a little shy of the top 10 is Al Pacino’s Oscar nominated portrayal of Michael Corleone in 1974’s “The Godfather: Part II”. Michael tries to “expand” the crime syndicate.

10. The Queen

Everyone knows the story of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The 1937 animated version featured Lucille La Verne as the voice of the evil Queen who was obsessively jealous of Snow White’s beauty.

9. Regan MacNeil

1973’s “The Exorcist” is considered to be one of the scariest movies of all time. Linda Blair received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Regan MacNeil, a possessed girl whose only hope is to undergo an exorcism.

8. Phyllis Dietrichson

Legendary actress Barbara Stanwyck portrayed Phyllis Dietrichson in the 1944 movie “Double Indemnity”. Stanwyck received a Best Actress nomination for her role as a wife who concocts a scheme to kill her husband for his life insurance.

7. Alex Forrest

A woman stalks Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) after a having a one night stand in 1987’s “Fatal Attraction”. Best Actress nominee Glenn Close portrayed Alex Forrest, the scorned woman who stalks Dan and his family.

6. Mr. Potter

Lionel Barrymore portrayed Mr. Potter in the 1946 film “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Potter was the tyrant millionaire who was the thorn in George Bailey’s (James Stewart) side. When Potter threatens to take over the family business as well as throw George in jail, George is forced to rethink different aspects of his life.

5. Nurse Ratched

The 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” featured Best Actress winner Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched. Nurse Ratched ran a mental asylum with an iron fist and was out to stop the shenanigans of Randall McMurphy (Jack Nicholson).

4. The Wicked Witch of the West

Dorothy’s trip to Oz wouldn’t have been the same without the Wicked Witch of the West. Margaret Hamilton portrayed the green and evil witch in the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz”.

3. Darth Vader

Darth Vader (David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones) is a favorite in George Lucas’ “Star Wars” series. The movie “The Empire Strikes Back” found Darth Vader pursuing Luke Skywalker’s (Mark Hamill) friends which culminated in a battle between the two as well as a dark secret being revealed.

2. Norman Bates

Who will ever forget the infamous shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film “Psycho”? Anthony Perkins portrayed Norman Bates, a troubled young man who has an unhealthy fixation with his mother.

1. Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Anthony Hopkins received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his work in 1991’s “The Silence of the Lambs”. Hopkins played Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant but psychotic doctor in prison for eating his victims who is called upon by the FBI to help track down a killer.

For additional information on the American Film Institute, please visit there website!

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