Everybody loves a good villain. The kind that gives you chills or makes you curse their name, but you enjoy every second of it. But who is the baddest of the baddies? I've compiled a list of the foulest, most vile and despicable characters from books, movies, and television. I've randomly seeded all 64 of them in order to pit them against one another in a single-elimination tournament to try to crown a victor: the evilest of the evil. Of course, it's worth mentioning that this is all subjective. The initial selection is limited by my knowledge of literature, the big screen, and the small screen. Each round, I will determine the winner of each match-up and announce the remaining contenders (in parallel with the NCAA men's basketball tournament). This is also (obviously) subjective, and that's why I invite anyone who is interested to join in the fun and fill out a bracket of your own and share it if you wish. My only request is that if you share your bracket or comment on my selections, that you be mindful of spoilers. I've done my best to try to hide any spoilers in my write-ups of the villains, including even hiding the names of villains in the case that the character's very presence on this list would spoil something. With that said, let the badness begin!
The Contenders
President Snow (The Hunger Games)
Forcing children to fight to the death was more than enough to earn the ruthless ruler of Panem a spot in the tournament. All the other evil stuff he's done is just icing on the cake.Gollum (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings)
Sometimes I feel torn between wanting to run away from and wanting to hug the disfigured little guy. And then he gets that look in his eyes... "My preciousss..." Yep. Run away. Definitely want to run away.
Sauron (The Lord of the Rings)
Even after his body was destroyed, he was still able to cause plenty of death and destruction across Middle-earth as a big flaming eye-thing.Morgoth (The Silmarillion)
Remember that Sauron guy? Meet his master.Lestat de Lioncourt (The Vampire Chronicles)
Forget about Edward - real vampires don't sparkle. Lestat is a real vampire and a real villain, turning those he loves into vampires.Bill Sikes (Oliver Twist)
Arguably Charles Dickens's cruelest character; there is no crime too big for Sikes.Agent Smith (The Matrix)
"Never send a human to do a machine's job." Especially if that job involves being a cold-hearted killer.Grand High Witch (The Witches)
Her mission: eliminate all children.Emperor Palpatine (Star Wars)
Pure evil. Let the hate flow through you indeed.Michael Myers (Halloween)
Killed his sister when he was only 6. And that was just the beginning.
Capitán Vidal (Pan's Labyrinth)
This guy makes Pale Man, a freakish beast (from the same movie) that tries to devour children, look cute and cuddly.*SPOILER ALERT* (The Shining)
"All work and... *SPOILER ALERT*Frank Underwood (House of Cards)
A power-hungry politician who is willing to do anything to reach the top. What's not to like?Loki (Thor, The Avengers)
This powerful prince of Asgard is so nice, he's willing to rid humans of those pesky freedoms.Gozer / Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (Ghostbusters)
Death by marshmallows. What else needs to be said?
Biff Tannen (Back to the Future)
Super-creep Biff is a jerk in the past, present, and future.Carrie (Carrie)
Just don't piss her off... Trust me.John Doe (Se7en)
"What's in the... *SPOILER ALERT*Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
Don't let her appearance or profession fool you. Ratched is as heartless and cruel as anyone in this tournament.Tywinn Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Head of the despicable Lannister House. You know he's not a good guy.The Queen of Hearts (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)
"Off with their heads!"Hans Gruber (Die Hard)
When terrorism is just a front for your real motives (stealing millions for personal gain), you know you're a bad guy.Samara Morgan (The Ring)
No further explanation necessary.
Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
Keeps kids awake at night like it's his job.The Joker (Batman, The Dark Knight)
This psychotic killer doesn't just "introduce a little anarchy." Whether you prefer Jack Nicholson or Heath Ledger, everyone can agree that this classic Batman villain is as twisted as they come.Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Bitter, cold, and just plain despicable at times.The Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
She tries to murder her stepdaughter because she's now "the fairest in the land". Sounds reasonable.Darth Vader (Star Wars)
It's Darth Vader.
Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th series)
The dude just doesn't die. The same can't be said for those who cross him.
Buffalo Bill (The Silence of the Lambs)
He's the bad guy in a movie that also features Hannibal Lecter. That should tell you everything you need to know.
Jafar (Aladdin)
Just one look and you know the man is evil.
Captain Hook (Peter Pan)
He's the enemy of childhood, adulthood embodied. What could be worse than that?
Severus Snape (Harry Potter)
Sure, in the... *SPOILER ALERT*
Ursula (The Little Mermaid)
Oh, she'll help you (sort of), but if you can't pay, she'll turn you into a polyp and plant you in her garden.
Alex DeLarge (A Clockwork Orange)
He's always up for "a bit of the old ultraviolence".
Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, Red Dragon)
There's just something about him... He can send chills down your spine just by saying something completely ordinary. Also, he eats people.
Emperor Commodus (Gladiator)
He murdered his father so that he could be Emperor and then tried to kill anyone who wouldn't pledge loyalty to him. All in all a nice guy.
Scar (The Lion King)
This classic Disney villain betrays his brother by killing him, so he could claim the throne.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Pride and Prejudice)
Such high class, such meanness.
The White Witch (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
She cast the land of Narnia into an endless winter. It makes me shiver just thinking about it.
Jigsaw (Saw)
He finds creative ways to force people to inflict enormous amounts of pain upon themselves. But don't worry, it will make you better appreciate life... If you live.
*SPOILER ALERT* (Psycho)
Gave a whole... *SPOILER ALERT*
Pazuzu (The Exorcist)
This demon possesses a young girl and does horrible, terrible things.
Magneto (X-Men)
He may play nice with the heroes of the X-Men occasionally, if it suits his purposes. But his ultimate goal is to rid the world of normal humans and anyone else who stands in his way.
*SPOILER ALERT* (Gone Girl) - DO NOT CLICK UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK OR SEEN THE MOVIE
It's not entirely clear who the antagonist is until pretty far into the book. And then it becomes very, very clear. This character is the greatest villain you've never heard of. Unless you've read the book - then you're nodding along, thinking "yes, oh, yes indeed".
Chucky (Child's Play)
A doll that comes to life and kills people? Welcome to the tournament.
Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter)
She seems sweet and proper, but beneath that pink cardigan is a nasty, evil woman.
Terminator (The Terminator)
He's a killing machine, literally.
The Phantom (The Phantom of the Opera)
Kidnapping is OK if done out of love, right? Right???
*SPOILER ALERT* (2001: A Space Odyssey)
Another classic example... *SPOILER ALERT*
T-1000 (Terminator 2)
The upgraded version of the Terminator from the first movie, he's even more brutal and ruthless than the original.
The Wicked Stepmother (Cinderella)
She's mean, just because.
Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
He's actually a pretty nice guy, if you ignore the fact that he's a serial killer.
Petyr Baelish / Littlefinger (Game of Thrones)
Despicable and underhanded, he can't be trusted for a second.
Benjamin Linus (Lost)
Deceit, lies, and murder, all in a day's work for Ben Linus.
Mr. Potter (It's a Wonderful Life)
Greedy and despicably vile. "You're worth more dead than alive."
Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmatians)
How could anyone hurt a cute little puppy? This wretched woman tries to do more than that after kidnapping the dalmatians for their fur.
Count Dracula (Dracula)
The original bloodsucker. "I saw... Count Dracula... with red light of triumph in his eyes, and with a smile that Judas in hell might be proud of."
Vigo the Carpathian (Ghostbusters II)
He's about as charming as a river of slime.
Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)
Ever wonder what would happen if you give a bratty little kid way too much power? Bad things, that's what.
The Governor (The Walking Dead)
The vicious and manipulative Governor knows how to hold a grudge... seriously.
Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter)
Many didn't dare to speak his name, even years after he was believed dead. That's power.
Gustavo Fring (Breaking Bad)
Don't mess with Gus.
The Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz)
Her minions are evil flying monkeys!
Download here (I suggest using landscape orientation if you wish to print a hard copy).
* - denotes a villain's name that was removed to avoid spoilers. To see the real name, find the matching entry in the list of contenders above and click the *SPOILER ALERT* link (only if you've already read or seen the book/movie/show or don't mind spoilers)
The Bracket
Download here (I suggest using landscape orientation if you wish to print a hard copy).
* - denotes a villain's name that was removed to avoid spoilers. To see the real name, find the matching entry in the list of contenders above and click the *SPOILER ALERT* link (only if you've already read or seen the book/movie/show or don't mind spoilers)
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