Top 10 Magnificent Bastards in Movies

It’s one thing to be an oblivious bastard, and quite another to be a master manipulator who plays mind games with your children – even if one of them isn’t yours by blood. Look into Royal Tenenbaum’s eyes and ask yourself what you see. Well, he’ll tell you what you see, and you know what? YOU WILL BELIEVE IT, and he’ll probably shame you in the process. He does horrible things like shoot his son with a BB gun on purpose, withhold a divorce from his estranged wife and FAKE CANCER to make his family love him. The funny thing is, it all ultimately works and his family genuinely seems to care for him by the end. Magnificent.

He very nearly dupes the FBI into helping him rob a building of piles of money. If that doesn’t qualify you as a magnificent bastard, we don’t know what does. As John McClane’s original nemesis, Hans Gruber exudes a highbrow demeanor that allows him to infiltrate social circles, and his practical attitude often leads to calculated violence. If you don’t respect his business demands or intelligence, he’ll forget about being a classy gentleman and calmly exterminate you. Hans Gruber’s smarter than most, flashing a smug grin as a reminder. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s incapable of making mistakes.

Has Hollywood ever seen a more magnificent bastard than Frank Sinatra? And who better to take up that mantle than George Clooney? In both cases well-groomed, remarkably dressed and handsome as heck Danny Ocean organizes the ultimate heist. Sure, there are easier ways to impress an ex-wife, but a true magnificent bastard goes all out. We’re talkin’ Vegas, baby. A conman’s dreamland where all it takes is a little charm and intellect to accomplish your goals, along with a team of misfit criminals. Only a “special” man can lead such a crew, and the exceptionally egotistical Danny has just the right amount of crazy to take on the job.

Ah, love and marriage. “Till death do us part.” While Amy Elliott-Dunne from “Gone Girl” has a certain amount of fame, she undoubtedly has beauty and brains as well, along with a look that says “don’t you EVER mess with me.” Even so, her philandering husband can’t seem to keep his benny in his pants and opens up a Pandora’s Box full of surprises. When her marriage vows are broken, this woman offers up a nasty blend of conditional love and revenge. She’s the modern prototype for magnificent female bastards.

This locked-up loony will not only charm your socks off; he might also charm your face off. And by “charm,” we mean he will eat you. When the FBI struggles to hunt down the serial killer “Buffalo Bill,” a young agent finds herself face-to-face with a psychiatrist/serial killer for help. And like the true bastard that he is, Lecter magnificently steals each and every scene with manipulation and tension. He’s undoubtedly one of the greatest movie villains of all-time and certainly one of these most disturbing. He’ll keep you hanging on every word before thoroughly destroying your day.

He’s a frisky Bond villain that was deeply affected by personal betrayals after being served up to the Chinese by his own boss. Unfortunately for Raoul Silva, his emotional scars lead to another traumatic experience that produces scars – both mental and physical. This scheming cyber-terrorist dresses to impress and takes his time carrying out deadly revenge plans. James Bond isn’t necessarily moved by Silva’s poetic musings, but he damn sure respects his magnificent bastardom. This guy will undress you with his eyes and then creep on your computer system. Why? Because he can.

Standing out isn’t easy when your bro’s the crown prince of Asgard. However, this adoptive brother overcomes his deep sadness with hilarious one-liners that not only humiliate his victims, but even make them laugh on occasion. Loki’s verbal warfare compensates for his skinny frame, and his passive-aggressive behavior always keeps opponents on their toes. He demands attention whenever he walks into a room, mainly because nobody’s ever sure if it’s a good Loki day or a bad Loki day. He’s the sad clown of superheroes, and the mad genius of the MCU.

This character is partly truth, partly fiction; a walking contradiction. When police question Roger ‘Verbal’ Kint during a murder investigation, a shadowy figure emerges through a series of disturbing vignettes. While the mythical madman appears only through the words of ‘Verbal,’ the killer’s violent history is revealed as the investigator puts together the pieces. The unassuming Mr. Kint says it best, “the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist,” and just like that, “he was gone.” This magnificent bastard must be seen to be believed.

Brilliantly portrayed by Heath Ledger, this already iconic Batman villain reached a whole new level of magnificent bastard in “The Dark Knight.” With a twisted personal background and an affinity for psychological warfare, The Joker’s warped sense of humor is written across his face. His dialogue conveys a man possessed, yet his performance style of speech keeps people listening…despite the fact that a typical conversation usually ends in bad news. In mind, body and soul, The Joker will forever remain the prototype for future magnificent bastards.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Calvin J. Candie

“Django Unchained” (2012)

- Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto

“X-Men” franchise (2000-)

- Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw

“The Manchurian Candidate” (2004)

- Patrick Bateman

“American Psycho” (2000)

- Daniel Plainview

“There Will Be Blood” (2007)

In one of Quentin Tarantino’s most bastard-filled films, this fictional SS officer manipulates each and every scene to his advantage through a masterful command of several languages. Even though Hans Landa is a complete megalomaniac, he understands that a composed manner of speech will strike fear into the hearts of his enemies or simply confuse them into revealing the truth. He giggles like an adolescent and enjoys the art of deceptive conversation, which makes him a rare type of human scum and undoubtedly the preeminent magnificent bastard of our time.

Do you agree with our list? Who’s your favorite magnificent bastard in film? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.