Top 10 Most Underrated Disney Villains
#10: Percival C. McLeach “The Rescuers Down Under” (1990)
"The Rescuers" movies are underrated all-around, and that goes double for their villains. Madame Medusa from the 1977 film is a solid enough antagonist, but the sequel ramps things up with a villain who's a refreshing mix of viciousness and realism. A poacher looking for that next big bounty, Percival is an unflinchingly cruel person driven primarily by profit. He also genuinely enjoys treating animals cruelly. As the movie goes along, Percival seems to rather quickly embrace the prospect of harming any human who stands in his way too. Intimidating and sinister in a chillingly human way, Percival makes for a great villain that should be more well-known.
#9: Professor Ratigan “The Great Mouse Detective” (1986)
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The world's greatest mouse detective needs a rival of equal cunning and notoriety. Voiced by the legendary Vincent Price, Ratigan is a towering criminal with the intelligence and ambition to push Basil to his limit. Relentlessly evil and unapologetically showy, Ratigan has an ego the size of a blimp and the charisma to sell schemes involving robots and Big Ben. Debuting in an era where Disney animated films weren’t doing that well, he didn’t reach the level of acclaim as other notable villains. But Ratigan's unpredictability made him an extremely memorable antagonist. His sophisticated demeanor seems to always be on the verge of collapsing, giving way to a fit of intense rage and sharp teeth.
#8: William Clayton “Tarzan” (1999)
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A descent into pure villainy can be a lot of fun to behold. "Tarzan's" Clayton is never an especially likable fellow, but the hunter is amiable enough in the film's initial stages. Only once Clayton completely stops playing nice with the Porters do his true intentions come out. He actually wants to capture and sell gorillas to make a fortune. As Tarzan becomes more in touch with his humanity, Clayton becomes progressively more violent and uncaring, eventually losing any semblance of self-control. His engaging character arc definitely deserves more credit. Overall, Clayton makes for a strong and fearless opponent for Tarzan to overcome.
#7: Horned King “The Black Cauldron” (1985)
Disney villains are not typically known for their subtlety, but the Horned King wears his evilness out in the open for everyone to see. "The Black Cauldron" is at least a contender for Disney's darkest animated film, and a lot of that comes down to its chilling antagonist. The Horned King has no time for flair, theatrics, humor, or petty schemes; this Monarch wants to rule the world and has no patience for nonsense. In some ways, the Horned King is the most honest Disney villain, as no attempt is made to soften his wickedness. Since the movie didn’t do great at the box office, The Horned King hasn’t gotten the attention he deserves.
#6: The Coachman “Pinocchio” (1940)
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Things are about to get uncomfortably real. Through the promise of an adult-free zone that offers endless entertainment, boys are lured into The Coachman's namesake ride. It’s basically "Pinocchio's" equivalent of a windowless van. The children are then taken to Pleasure Island, an amusement park that makes donkeys out of its visitors. The Coachman entices his young victims with the promise of freedom, takes them away from their homes, and sells them into endless servitude. Somehow the absolutely terrifying Coachman isn’t even the main villain of "Pinocchio." He definitely has the motivation and intimidation factor to be the big bad of his own film.
#5: Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001)
Greed is a powerful motivator. "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" follows an expedition to the legendary city, with Commander Rourke steering the ship. First coming across as a stern but honest pragmatist, Rourke eventually reveals himself to be someone far more cunning and devilish. Seeking riches at the expense of the Atlanteans, Rourke only played along so he could get himself into the Lost Empire. Once there, the Commander only seeks to acquire his fortune. Rourke proves to be rather heartless and calculating, even going as far as to harm a helpless king. The disappointing box office haul meant this villain was kept out of the spotlight. But anyone who loves this movie knows that Rourke isn’t to be messed with.
#4: Mother Gothel “Tangled” (2010)
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In the pursuit of endless youth and the flower taken from her, Gothel kidnaps a baby with magic hair and pretends to be her mother for 18 years. Mother Gothel proves to be a talented actress and storyteller willing to play a long con to ensure that Rapunzel fears the outside world. While performing the part of a protective parent, Gothel manipulates Rapunzel by constantly attacking her self-esteem. She even sings peppy tunes with dark underlying messages. Driven by selfishness and fear of death, Gothel is a complex villain. But her malicious ways and the movie were overshadowed by “Toy Story 3” that year. However, we think Mother Goethel knows best about being a good villain.
#3: Hades “Hercules” (1997)
Disney's ruler of the Underworld might be unabashedly evil, but this god is an absolute riot. Hades oozes personality out of every fiber of his being. A smooth-talking salesman with a killer pitch, Hades matches a fiery temper with a twisted sense of humor that could even impress the Genie. As this deity is surrounded by plenty of strong Greek figures, Hades relies on his mind to pull off his schemes. This villain is definitely the underdog in the world and his family. Many "Hercules" fans feel like the movie is still underappreciated. But that's certainly no fault of Hades, who gives a fiery performance.
#2: Yzma “The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000)
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An energetic villain with lofty ambitions, Yzma is a delight and perhaps the best part of a generally good cult film. Voiced by the iconic Eartha Kitt, Yzma's madness manages to match "The Emperor's New Groove's" manic pace, and the villain is an expert at coming up with creatively complex plans. Forming an entertaining duo with Kronk, Yzma is ultimately a comedic character whose grand schemes basically end up being thwarted by shenanigans and slapstick. While perhaps not the most threatening character in Disney history, Yzma is so incredibly entertaining that she should be held up as one of the best villains the mouse house ever created. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Edgar Balthazar, “The Aristocats” (1970) Losing a Fortune to a Cat Is a Believable Motive That Needs More Attention William “Bill” Sykes, “Oliver & Company” (1988) This Brutal Loan Shark Is Underappreciated in an Underrated Movie Dr. Facilier, “The Princess and the Frog” (2009) His Viciousness & Charm Make Him Deserving of Much More Praise Madam Mim, “The Sword in the Stone” (1963) This Witch Is a Blast in a Movie That Got a Mixed Reception John Silver, “Treasure Planet” (2002) This Half-Robot Cook with a Touch of Humanity Was in an Underrated Movie
#1: Judge Claude Frollo “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)
This judge introduces himself by attacking an innocent woman and nearly harming a baby. Somehow Frollo only gets worse from here. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" tends to be a polarizing film, but the cartoon's main villain stands among the vilest and most hateable in Disney history. Frollo abuses his position of power while believing that he holds the moral high ground. An infatuation with Esmeralda sends Frollo completely off the rails, a descent immortalized in the fantastic "Hellfire" sequence. When it comes to Disney's animated films, few villains are as realistic as Frollo, which just makes him all that more intense and deserving to be the top Disney villain here.
