Top 10 Greatest Supervillain Movies Ever Made
#10: “Brightburn” (2019)
What if Superman was a psychopath? That is the premise behind the James Gunn produced “Brightburn.” Though the film was critically panned and not exactly a box office smash, it presents an interesting premise. Comic book fans would recognize the setup: an alien spaceship crash lands on a Kansas farm, and the baby inside is raised by a childless couple. Unlike Clark Kent, Brandon Breyer exhibits violent tendencies as his super powers develop. Hiding his face behind a creepy red mask, he commits one atrocity after another. When his parents try to stop him, Brandon takes them both out. At the very least, the film makes Lex Luthor seem much more sympathetic in retrospect.
#9: “Chronicle” (2012)
This one was a surprise dark horse hit from director Josh Trank. In it, three average teens from Seattle develop telekinetic powers after discovering an alien object in the woods. At first, it seems like a fun story. The three boys use their powers like any teenagers would: for pranks and for fun. Things take a dark turn when Dane DeHaan’s Andrew, a victim of bullying, uses his powers to fight back. After he seemingly kills one of the others by accident, Andrew’s mind seems to crack. He gets more and more violent and sadistic, using his powers to punish, steal, and eventually kill. It’s a cautionary tale, and feels a bit like a thinly veiled allegory for school shootings.
#8: “Megamind” (2010)
Will Ferrell stars as one of two superpowered aliens sent to earth. While his nemesis, Metro Man, goes on to become the world’s greatest superhero, Megamind was raised in a prison. He is a victim of circumstance who takes his frustrations out on the world. That is, until, a relationship with reporter Roxanne Ritchi helps turn Megamind’s life around. When his erstwhile apprentice turns against him, Megamind is forced to become a hero and save the day. The decidedly silly film is actually a surprisingly poignant reminder that the way we choose to treat people has great bearing on how they turn out.
#7: “Venom” (2018)
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Over the years, this Marvel character has played many roles: he’s been a sadistic villain, an anti-hero, and a dark protector of San Francisco. When the alien symbiote finally got his own movie in 2018, Sony chose to go with all of the above. When down-on-his-luck reporter Eddie Brock comes in contact with alien goo, he transforms into an almost invincible monster and runs rampant, happily eating any criminal stupid enough to get in his way. Venom is more than willing to kill anyone, having been part of an alien mission to invade the earth. His time with Eddie mellows Venom out, as he eventually agrees to only eat the wicked.
#6: “Split” (2016)
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M. Night Shyamalan’s movies can be hit or miss, but audiences seem to appreciate his psychological thriller “Split.” James McAvoy stars as Kevin, a victim of child abuse who developed dissociative identity disorder as a result. McAvoy’s acting chops were stretched to their limits, portraying 23 separate personalities. While some experts were disappointed with Shyamalan’s unrealistic version of D.I.D., the writer and director had a purpose for the strange direction he chose. Kevin’s version of D.I.D. isn’t just a psychological condition: it’s supernatural. When he unleashes his most violent alter, the Beast, he gains superhuman strength and durability. As it turned out, he shared a universe with Shyamalan’s 2000 film “Unbreakable,” which had previously proved that superheroes were real.
#5: “V For Vendetta” (2006)
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Adapting Alan Moore’s classic works to film is no small undertaking, but this movie is one of the more successful examples. “V For Vendetta” tells the story of a dystopian Britain where fascists took control of the government after a false flag biological attack. The eponymous “V” is a faceless terrorist in a Guy Fawkes mask who uses bombs and murder to undermine the regime. In the current era of rising right-wing nationalism, fascism, and bigotry, its message is arguably even more relevant now than it was when it was released.
#4: “Despicable Me” franchise (2010-)
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This film series started with a simple animated movie and exploded into a worldwide phenomenon. It features Gru, a supervillain, and his bug-eyed yellow Minions. After adopting three orphan girls in the first film, he gives up the supervillain life to become a secret agent instead. The remaining sequels and prequels flesh out both Gru and his minions, portraying deeply empathetic villains you actually root for. It doesn’t hurt that, even as a supervillain, Gru is at odds with other bad guys more often than not. From facing down the Vicious 6 as a child supervillain-in-training, to taking on evil former child stars and luchadors, Steve Carrell’s Gru won the audience over from his very first scene in 2010.
#3: “X-Men: First Class” (2011)
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In 2011, Fox decided to try a reboot of the X-Men. While it’s an X-Men film in name, "First Class" is also the origin story of one of Marvel’s greatest villains: Magneto. A victim of the Holocaust, Erik Lehnsherr uses his powers as a Nazi hunter, taking revenge on those who hurt his people. His rage is put to a purpose when he meets Charles Xavier, as he finds a community of other mutants. As the film progresses, the audience gets to bear witness to the schism between the two friends. While Charles believes in Mutants and humans living side-by-side, Erik becomes convinced that humans cannot be trusted. It’s beautiful and tragic, and sets the stage for one of Marvel’s greatest frenemy relationships.
#2: “The Suicide Squad” (2021)
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After the flop of 2016’s “Suicide Squad,” Warner Bros. brought in James Gunn to try his hand at a sequel. His movie brings in an absolutely massive team of bad guys – most of whom are instantly killed – to defeat a giant alien threat in a fictional Latin American country. It includes a few of the first film’s fan favorites, particularly Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. Between films, Harley got her own spinoff, “Birds of Prey,” an absolutely wild and hilarious girl power romp. Harley maintains her brand of insane “heroism” in “The Suicide Squad.” Like Harley, the film is reckless, bonkers, and an absolute delight. These terrible people follow their small thread of conscience to do the right thing: as violently as possible.
#1: “Joker” (2019)
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Starring Joaquin Phoenix, this film stands out as one of the best supervillain movies of all time. Todd Phillips helms this dark but compelling portrayal of Arthur Fleck's descent into madness. "Joker" delves deep into Arthur's psyche and perspective. A failed comedian, Arthur transforms into a deranged version of the iconic Batman villain throughout the film. Phoenix is at once mesmerizing, vulnerable, sad, and rageful. The world of the film is both dark and difficult, and madness almost feels like a logical response. “Joker” isn't just a comic book film: it is a character study, exploring themes of mental illness, societal neglect, and the consequences of a broken system. Which supervillain do you think deserves their own franchise? Let us know in the comments below.
