Top 10 Disney Channel Villains (Live-Action)
#10: Lord of Da Bling “Let It Shine” (2012)
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While musicals are nothing new for Disney, ones focusing on hip-hop are another story entirely. "Let It Shine" is a surprisingly effective tale about believing in oneself amidst a backdrop of clashing cultures and generations, as the shy Cyrus finally finds the confidence to embrace his love for rap and also defeat the boisterous Lord of Da Bling in a rap battle. Besides having solid basic skills, Lord of Da Bling is not exactly the deepest of characters, but the taxi driver makes for a memorable final boss for Cyrus to overcome. Like Cyrus, Lord of Da Bling is also living a double life, albeit one masked by overconfidence.
#9: Thantos DuBaer “Twitches” franchise (2005-07)
Like many other power-hungry villains inspired by sibling jealousy, Thantos walks a fine-line between being incredibly threatening and also kind of pathetic. An accomplished sorcerer, Thantos fuels a destructive force called the Darkness to take out his brother, the King of Coventry, and his twin nieces. Although the villain's powers are impressive, Thantos shines the brightest as a manipulative little weasel who masks his villainous nature under a guise of compassion, warmth, and dashing clothes. Thantos' goal to rule Coventry might not be the most unique, but "Twitches's" antagonist makes the most out of a tired trope.
#8: Kalabar “Halloweentown” (1998)
A certain amount of cheese can be expected from most Disney Channel Original Movies, but some films use that to their advantage. Introduced as Halloweentown's charming mayor, Kalabar is eventually exposed as the Shadow Creature, a nightmarish entity responsible for the disappearance of many of the town's citizens. Once unmasked, Kalabar plays the part of a borderline-pantomime villain to perfection. The antagonist's motives are easy to understand as he is primarily fueled by an inferiority complex arising from a time when he was dumped for a human. Kalabar was such a blast that "Halloweentown 2" tried to keep the magic going by bringing in the villain's son, Kal.
#7: Jackal Johnson “The Cheetah Girls” (2003)
A lover of spiky blond hair and wearing shades indoors, Jackal Johnson very much feels like a made-for-TV antagonist from 2003. Following four teenage girls who stumble into a record deal after auditioning for a talent show, "The Cheetah Girls" is fundamentally about staying true to oneself even in the face of great external pressure; or, in this case, a record producer who wants to strip the Cheetah Girls of any authenticity and make them just another faceless group. Even with that familiar Disney Channel family-friendly shine, Jackal still manages to come across like a real villain who is firmly rooted in reality.
#6: Parker Wyndham & Mr. Lutz “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century” (1999)
In the far distant future of 2049, Zenon - a girl who lives on a space station - is sent to Earth as punishment, where she finds true friendship, learns to appreciate Earthly customs, and stops a dastardly ploy to crash the space station. Parker Wyndham - the space station's owner - and his assistant, Mr. Lutz, make for a wonderful villainous duo, as the pair undermine their James Bond-level sinister plan with goofy but endearing personalities. Despite playing second fiddle, Mr. Lutz steals the show as a bumbling henchman who keeps on getting outwitted by 13-year-olds.
#5: P.A.T. “Smart House” (1999)
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Sci-fi and the dangers of AI go hand in hand, but Pat - the program behind the computerized Smart House - turns the trope on its head by making the antagonist care too much about the human characters rather than too little. Portrayed expertly but all too briefly by Katey Sagal, Pat only begins to go haywire when Ben reprograms the computer to act as a replacement for his deceased mother. While the antagonist's uncanny attempts to mimic human behavior is kind of unsettling, what makes Pat truly special is that she is a villain only by circumstance, basically serving as a physical manifestation of Ben's grief.
#4: Jennifer Stone “Cadet Kelly” (2002)
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When Hilary Duff's Kelly is forced to attend military school, she instantly gets on the wrong side of Christy Carlson Romano's Jennifer Stone, a cadet captain who is closer to a high school bully than Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket." Jenny would be a pretty forgettable villain if she never graduated from calling people "maggots" and stepping on blankets, but the cadet captain develops something of a bond with Kelly, with the two even performing a special routine at a drill competition during the film's climax. Even though her run as a villain is short-lived, Stone is entertaining regardless of whether she is mocking or dancing with Kelly.
#3: Tess Tyler “Camp Rock” franchise (2008-10)
Disney Channel movie franchises have a habit of redeeming their villains in sequels; in some instances, an antagonist ends up going through more growth than the protagonist. In "Camp Rock," Tess Tyler is the arrogant "It" girl, a singer who refuses to allow anyone else to hog the limelight. The arrival of the talented Mitchie sends Tess's manipulative and competitive nature into overdrive, which is underpinned by an undercurrent of mommy issues. By the end of the first movie, Tyler learns the errors of her ways and becomes a better person because of it; before all that, Tess plays the role of the "mean girl" so well, even Regina George would be impressed.
#2: Sharpay Evans “High School Musical” franchise (2006-)
When it comes to high school bullies in Disney Channel Original Movies, Sharpay Evans sits smugly at the top of the mountain. An antagonist so popular, she earned her own spin-off movie, Sharpay has dominated the East High drama scene since forever and will do anything to maintain the status quo. Sharpay's scheming and self-serving nature makes her the perfect foil for the more reserved Gabriella, while the Thespian's larger-than-life persona is befitting of an aspiring superstar. Even as a villain, Sharpay demonstrates a clear passion for acting that stems from years of dedication to the craft rather than just unfounded entitlement. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Yan-Lo “Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior” (2006) Dimitri Denato “Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire” (2000) Seamus McTiernan “The Luck of the Irish” (2001) Miles McDermott “The Even Stevens Movie” (2003) Val “Brink!” (1998)
#1: Uma “Descendants 2” (2017)
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In a series centering around the children of famous Disney villains who mostly turn their backs on evil, Uma is comfortably the most fun character to straight-up play the role of an antagonist. Following in the footsteps of her mother Ursula, Uma is a charismatic Sea Witch who can sing with the best of them, fight on a level playing field with a dragon, and look fabulous while doing it. Even before returning in "Descendants 3" as a secondary character rather than a villain, Uma's actions are primarily driven by a desire to protect her crew and the Isle of the Lost's inhabitants, making her one sympathetic pirate.
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