Top 10 Most Satisfying DreamWorks Villain Defeats

When we first meet “Madagascar’s” protagonist, Alex, he’s a tame lion and proud of it. He considers himself a New Yorker, prefers his food delivered via Zookeeper and in some circles, his best friends would be considered prey. However, out in the wild, everything is different. At the top of the food chain in Madagascar are the fossa. Unlike Alex, they make no attempt to control their natural urges and revel in terrorizing the lemur population. Alex might despise his inner predator, but it definitely comes in useful. To protect his friends he shows off his savage side and lets the fossa know who the real king of the jungle is.

Don Lino is a big fish in the Southside Reef, and no-one wants to get on his bad side. Except, apparently, for Oscar. The Hawaiian cleaner wrasse makes a name for himself as the “Sharkslayer” after taking credit for the death of Lino’s two sons, Frankie and Lenny. From that moment on, the mob boss is out for revenge. He becomes further enraged when he discovers that Lenny faked his own death with Oscarand is now disguised as a dolphin. A thrilling chase through the reef looks like it might end in tears, but Oscar lures Lino into the Whale Wash where he gets stuck fast. It’s a great sequence and satisfying victory with a comic twist.

The loveable Toothless proves that not all dragons are bad, but the Red Death lives up to its villainous moniker. The enormous dragon is the main cause of all ills in the Viking village of Berk. Its smaller brethren are forced to raid the village to feed Red Deaths’s monstrous appetite and avoid becoming dragon food themselves. When the Vikings attack the dragons’ nest, causing chaos, it’s up to Toothless and Hiccup to outwit the giant reptile and save the day. What follows is an epic chase through the skies and a David and Goliath style showdown. The villagers watch with baited breath below and it’s no less exciting for the viewers at home. A well-placed fireball strikes the final death-knell of this explosive finale.

Tzekel-Kan, elder and high priest of the eponymous lost city, is the villain of “The Road to El Dorado.” He’s a man of dastardly deeds, bewitching statues to chase our heroes and encouraging the practice of human sacrifices. However, he comes closest to causing disaster when attempting to lead the Spanish conquistadors to the gates of El Dorado. Hernán Cortés is the real villain here - or at least the biggest threat to the Aztecs - but being a historical figure he escapes his comeuppance. The movie deals instead with the traitorous high priest, who gets his just desserts for betraying the secrets of his city. In an atmospheric final scene, he’s branded a liar by Cortés and dragged off into the mist.

The scarier the villain, the more satisfying the defeat, and “Antz” antagonist, General Mandible, definitely got what was coming to him. The intimidating army commander sends loyal soldiers to their deaths, slanders his enemies and attempts to destroy any ant who steps out of line. His common catchphrase is “for the good of the colony,” but in reality his actions benefit no one but himself. When his second in command finally stands up to the tyrannical general, Mandible’s downfall is swift and sudden. Lunging for his wayward Colonel, he misses and falls to his death. It’s an inglorious end to one of Dreamworks’ most effective villains.

“Shrek” movies love to turn fairytale tropes on their heads, and the villain of the second movie is a prime example. Prince Charming’s doting mother may look like a sweet old lady, but she’ll do anything to put her darling boy on the throne. With a little bit of manipulation and a dash of blackmail, the Fairy Godmother has everyone just where she wants them. But it’s never sensible to underestimate your opponents. Shrek comes back for Fiona, the fairytale creatures help him out, and King Harold finally makes a stand for the sake of his daughter. The Fairy Godmother is defeated by the King’s sacrifice and her own rebounding spell. She really did bring it on herself.

The stakes are high for our heroes in this DreamWorks collaboration with Aardman Animations. If the titular chickens don’t find a way to escape their life on Tweedy’s farm, they’re fated to become a pie filling. Farmer’s wife, Mrs. Tweedy, is a deliciously evil villain but plucky protagonist, Ginger, is ready to take her on. In a terrifying final faceoff, Mrs. Tweedy does all she can to bring the escapees back down to earth. The enraged villainess clings to the crate, wielding an ax. However, Ginger holds her nerve and keeps her head, while Mrs. Tweedy brings about her own downfall. For an extra bit of poetic justice, she drops headfirst into the pie-making machine. The chickens definitely won this one.

We love to see an underdog triumph and “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” gives us multiple moments to cheer at. The wild stallion faces each new trial with fierce determination and the unconquerable spirit that is his namesake. The very best moments arise when our hero faces up against his arch nemesis, the Colonel. The scene in the corral is perfection: for a moment, we think all is lost, but Spirit refuses to be broken. However, the Colonel won’t let him go that easily. Their battle of wills comes to a head at the Grand Canyon. When Spirit makes a death defying leap of faith, his enemy decides to bow out, conceding defeat to a worthy adversary. That nod is everything.

Is there a more stunning and cinematic finale in the DreamWorks canon than the image of the Red Sea crashing down on the Pharaoh and his soldiers? The Angel of Death has already come for the firstborn Egyptian children and the Hebrew slaves finally have their freedom. They begin to make their long journey out of Egypt - but then the Pharaoh has a change of heart. Time is of the essence as the Red Sea parts and Moses leads his people along the riverbed. The Egyptians give chase and are swept away by the waves. Rameses may survive, but his defeat is total and all encompassing.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Megamind Defeats Titan, “Megamind” (2010)
The Self-Proclaimed Supervillain Is the Hero in this Fight

Turbo Crosses the Finish Line, “Turbo” (2013)
Getting Out-Raced by a Snail Must Really Hurt

“Skadoosh”, “Kung Fu Panda” (2008)
Po Deploys His Winning Move

Eris’s Plan Fails, “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” (2003)
Sinbad Passes the Test & Proves the Goddess Wrong

Victor Gets Dumped, “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” (2005)
Lady Tottington Gives Victor What For

OG “Shrek” villain, Lord Farquaad, is a nasty piece of work. When we first meet the little lord from Duloc he’s busy torturing the Gingerbread Man. He becomes increasingly unpleasant as the story progresses. It was bad enough when he was mocking Shrek for his ogre-ish ways and laying claim to Fiona without putting in any effort. But by the time he’s ordering the death of both our heroes we’re well and truly ready to see him go. To give us that satisfaction, in bursts Donkey and the dragon, and they really know how to make an entrance. The dagon deals with Farquaad with very little ceremony and we’re left to see our story through to its happy ending.