Top 20 Most HATED Movie Villains

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most despicable, irredeemable, or delightfully evil cinematic antagonists. We’ll only be looking at live-action films here because, honestly, this list was hard enough to rank.

#20: Prince Humperdinck

“The Princess Bride” (1987)

Love is hard. Especially when your beloved is hung up on their ex. But, seriously, it’s like Prince Humperdinck is trying to make Princess Buttercup hate him. To summarize, he forces her to marry him in exchange for Westley’s safety, but then tortures the Man in Black instead, and later lies about searching for him. Of course, he didn’t kill Westley like the deplorable Count Rugen did to Inigo Montoya’s father. But, Westley’s time in the pit of despair is arguably worse. What’s more, Humperdinck doesn’t even have the courage to face the consequences of his actions. He grovels on the ground rather than dueling Westley; a fitting end for a horrible man.

#19: Shooter McGavin

“Happy Gilmore” (1996)

Scoring a hole-in-one in the jerk department, Shooter McGavin is a stuck-up, insecure manchild who throws a temper tantrum any time he loses. Naturally, he doesn’t appreciate Happy Gilmore’s, well, happier approach to golf. So, McGavin proceeds to sabotage his nemesis any way he can: hiring hecklers, using Grandma Gilmore’s foreclosing house as collateral, and even running him over with a freaking car. All because of a game of golf. The sheer pettiness behind McGavin’s every move makes it all the sweeter when he finally gets his comeuppance on the green. A game-winning putt has never been so satisfying.

#18: Mr. Potter

“It's a Wonderful Life” (1946)

This crotchety old man has almost every business in Bedford Falls in his pocket. Emphasis on “almost.” George Bailey, honorable to the end, refuses to sell out, and boy does that make Mr. Potter angry. He only has eyes on dollar signs, and the so-called “slums” the Bailey’s loan to don’t fit that mold. So, what does he do? Make George’s life as difficult as possible, that’s what. It’s more than demeaning meetings and shady deals, though. Potter goes as far as destroying George’s own honeymoon by instigating a maliciously-timed stock buyout. Not even the Christmas spirit is enough to forgive Mr. Potter for being the perennial Scrooge of Bedford Falls.

17: The High Evolutionary

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023)

It takes a certain kind of sick person to experiment on an adorable, baby raccoon. Although, calling the High Evolutionary a person in the first place is already a stretch. The things he put Rocket through are so degrading, we can’t even put them into words. And, the worst part is Rocket wasn’t the only one. The High Evolutionary had a whole prison of experimental pets he treated like dirt. Then, as if that’s not bad enough, he later openly mocked Rocket for daring to care about his cellmates. Yeah, this guy totally deserved what was coming to him.

#16: The Wicked Witch of the West

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939)

Green with envy and evil, this witch takes the “wicked” part of her name extremely seriously. She makes that clear as early as her very first scene. After Dorothy's abrupt landing in Oz flattens the witch’s sister, the fiend lays all the blame on the Kansan girl - and her little dog, too. Partly for revenge, and partly for a pair of ruby slippers, the wicked foe hunts Dorothy down with utter abandon. Monkeys, spells, insults, and more. The Wicked Witch of the West has absolutely no redeeming qualities, and if you take it from us, that’s part of the charm. After all, Margaret Hamilton’s evil cackle is legendary for a reason.

#15: Li’l Zé

“City of God” (2002)

As a kid, Li’l Dice stole, lied, and yes, even killed for a few precious dollar bills. Ten years later, his exploits became so well-known he had to shed his name entirely. From then on, he was Li’l Zé, a merciless drug lord who ruled the Brazilian downtown with an iron fist and a steel gun. With no one to question his tyrannical rule, Li’l Zé became judge, jury, and executioner. No matter if they were his former friends or not. Then, just when you think Zé can’t sink any lower, he finds a way. He may be a protagonist, but Li’l Ze is as far apart from a hero as you can get.

#14: John Doe

“Seven” (1995)

All things considered, a handful of victims doesn’t sound like a lot. But, it’s not John Doe’s body count that’s so chilling, it’s the how behind them. Namely, that he committed unspeakably horrific murders each representing one of the seven deadly sins. Oh, and his last victim? It’s none other than Mills, a detective on the case who’s forced to become the epitome of wrath. John Doe’s disturbing methods are only surpassed by his inherent mystique. We don’t even know his real name! The only thing we can say for sure is that John Doe has way more than just seven sins, and it’s not even close.

#13: Colonel Nathan Jessep

“A Few Good Men” (1992)

Manipulation. Perjury. Gross misuse of power. Yeah, it may be called a “code red,” but there’s no gray area in this crime scene. When a lagging Marine threatens his unit’s performance, Colonel Nathan Jessep orders a swift and violent wake-up call. Sadly, the victim never ends up waking up at all. Rather than accepting his role in the scandal, Jessep pins the blame on two of his recruits, even lying on the stand about it. His complete lack of remorse is appalling. Especially since he was more than willing to ruin two other lives to save his own skin. If anyone can’t handle the truth around here, it’s Jessep.

#12: The Armitage Family

“Get Out” (2017)

Meeting the in-laws is hard enough even when they aren’t sadistic, body-swapping elitists. But, that’s what makes the Armitage’s one of the most disturbing families in horror history. And there’s been a lot of them. Put aside the constant microaggressions and underhanded comments, when these guys get under your skin, they do it literally. That’s right, the Armitage’s steal the bodies of unsuspecting black people. The metaphor there is as obvious as you can get. Even worse, this isn’t a one-off occurrence. As Rose proves time and time again, this is basically the family business - one that’s been proudly owned and operated for way too long.

#11: Denethor II

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003)

Parents always say they can’t pick a favorite kid. Denethor bucks that trend. He essentially worships his eldest son, which leaves little love for his youngest, Faramir. He even sends the booksmart kid on a hopeless mission for no other reason than to get him out of the picture. Afterwards, Denethor’s absolute power over Gondor ends up corrupting him absolutely. Then again, the overconfident steward never needed any help in the madness department, anyways. Vile to the end, Denethor tries to go out in a somewhat literal blaze of glory, but all it does is underscore how obsessed he is with his own pride. Against this guy, Sauron is positively tame in comparison.

#10: The Tannen Family

“Back to the Future” franchise (1985-90)

Past or future, old or young, at school or work, you should always cross the street when you see a Tannen coming your way. Using petty insults and the occasional stint of time travel, they’ve been a thorn in our heroes’ side for generations. Don’t be fooled by kids or the elderly, either. All Tannen's are built the same - selfish, egotistical, and willing to do anything to get what they want. Even if it means pulling out a gun. While each generation of Tannen is amusinly played by the same actor, they’re each uniquely awful in their own, special ways. Although, for our money, Biff’s the biggest “buthead” of them all.

#9: Immortan Joe

“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015)

This villain goes by many names. Colonel Joe Moore. Immortan Joe. Sadistic cult leader. Take your pick; Joe’s coming for you either way. He controls the gang’s water supply, and as a result, he’s basically a God amongst men. But, with one look at his terrifying mask, it’s obvious that Immortan Joe won’t be using that power for good. In his attempts to create the perfect offspring, he impregnates just about any woman he can get his hands on. No matter if they consent or not. If our options are living with him or braving the apocalyptic wasteland, we’d take the sand dunes every single time.

#8: Agent Smith

“The Matrix” (1999)

When people say artificial intelligence is dangerous, they’re talking about Agent Smith. He’s motivated by a singular goal to protect the Matrix from threats. For example, Neo. But, in a twist of fate, Neo wins their first fight, freeing Smith from his programming and giving him a chance at redemption. How does he decide to spend his new lease on life? With more murder, of course. His unstoppable army of clones decide the world would be better off without any kind of sentient life at all. You can’t blame Smith too much, though. Clearly, being a menace to society is just in his blood. Or, rather, his code.

#7: Mrs. Carmody

“The Mist” (2007)

At a certain point, it’s hard to decide which is scarier: being trapped outside with man-eating monsters, or spending the rest of your days with Mrs. Carmody. The religious zealot manipulates her way into something of a messiah to the survivors, and she uses her power to exile anyone who threatens her rule. Children included. She’s utterly reprehensible, especially since she has the gall to turn around and start criticizing everyone else’s sins. Though, to be fair, that’s just how Stephen King rolls. From Margaret White’s unorthodox parenting to Annie Wilkes’ obsessive hobbies, the horror extraordinaire really knows how to make you loathe a character. Carmody most of all.

#6: Emperor Palpatine a.k.a. Darth Sidious

“Star Wars” Franchise (1977-)

With a name like that, it really shouldn’t come as a shock that Darth Sidious is just plain evil. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. There’s just no way he can come back from executing Order 66, which nearly wiped out the Jedi altogether. Although, something tells us Sidious doesn’t want to be redeemed, anyways. After all, he willingly infiltrated the Jedi Order just to make his eventual betrayal sting even more. Oh, and don’t even get us started on all the emotional duress he put on young Anakin. No matter which corner of the galaxy you look, every shred of evil leads back to Darth Sidious.

#5: Captain Vidal

“Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)

“Sociopath” is too nice of a word for someone like Captain Vidal. “Barbaric monster” is much more fitting. He mercilessly disposes of anyone he even suspects of being a rebel. Their deaths aren’t quick, either, with Vidal opting for all things cruel and unusual. And, to top it off, he’s Ofelia’s new stepfather. It would’ve been better for her if he was neglectful. But, instead, Vidal goes out of his way to torment the ten-year-old in every vile way imaginable. Eventually, he even puts her in the ground, permanently. Vidal’s horrific actions will leave you seeing red, but at the very least, he gets what’s coming to him.

#4: Commodus

“Gladiator” (2000)

There’s no honor in this colosseum. At least, not while Commodus is in charge. If you want proof, just remember that Commodus’ own father deemed him unfit to rule. Then, to prove him wrong, Commodus murdered him in cold blood and took the throne by force. All things considered, that’s a pretty good indicator of how he rules: with fear, violence, and a whole lot of unearned hubris. It’s ironic since the power-hungry crybaby can’t even win a rigged fight. When Commodus finally steps into the ring, he sabotages Maximus with an underhanded strike, and still ends up on the wrong side of history. But, believe us, no one’s shedding tears for Commodus.

#3: Nurse Ratched

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (1975)

Don’t be fooled; this isn’t a mental institution. It’s a prison. And the warden goes by the name of Nurse Ratched. She’s a callous, unforgiving woman who relishes asserting dominance over her patients. If they dare question her authority, Ratched lets them know who’s boss by withholding their food, toiletries, entertainment, and even medication. Her disgraceful treatment of others is irredeemable no matter how you look at it, let alone the fact that these people are at a mental health facility. In fact, it gets so bad, one patient even decides to end it all. After witnessing something like that, there’s no question why Nurse Ratched is considered one of cinema’s finest villains.

#2: “Monsieur” Calvin Candie

“Django Unchained” (2012)

For running a place called “Candyland,” Calvin J. Candie is anything but sweet. Not only does he enslave black people, not only does he force them to perform back-breaking labor, but he also makes the men fight for his own twisted enjoyment. Oh, and he sells tickets, too, just in case Candie wasn’t repugnant enough already. Don’t think female slaves get a pass. They’re spared the violence, but are used in other, more “intimate” ways, if you catch our drift. Quentin Tarantino is known for writing unhinged antagonists - “Kill Bill” didn’t get its name for nothing - but even against all that, Calvin Candie is just something else.

#1: Dolores Umbridge

“Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)

Whoever let this woman around children needs to reevaluate their priorities, ASAP. Umbridge is supposedly a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Magic. But, you wouldn’t be able to tell based on her teaching methods, which include everything from public humiliation to genuine corporal punishment. Harry still has the scars to prove it. It’s not like the Wizarding World needed more insidious villains, either. Bellatrix Lestrange, anyone? Or, how about Voldemort, a wizard so evil, most people don’t even say his name aloud? Honestly, it’s kind of impressive that “Harry Potter” leaves you hating a school headmaster more than a so-called Dark Lord. Umbridge is just that bad.


What’s a villain you love to hate? Let us know in the comments below!