Top 10 Side Characters HATED More Than The Villain

“Ghostbusters” (1984)

Despite the plethora of dangerous ghosts, the true villain in “Ghostbusters” is bureaucracy. Released in 1984 during the great Reaganite deregulation boom, one of the movie’s antagonists is actually the Environmental Protection Agency. While he may sound perfectly reasonable to the modern viewer, EPA inspector Walter Peck was reviled for years. He shows up to the Ghostbusters’ firehouse, demanding information about their dangerous technology. When they refuse to comply, he eventually gets a court order to shut them down, releasing hundreds of dangerous ghosts onto the streets of New York. His smugness in the face of their expertise totally warrants this placement. In 2024’s “Frozen Empire,” Peck returns as the mayor of New York City, still harboring his distaste for the Ghostbusters.

“Jaws” (1975)

Audiences may respond positively to a villain if they are competent, charismatic, or if their goals hold to coherent internal logic. Conversely, there are certain character traits that immediately set movie-goers on edge. One of those - greed - is perfectly encapsulated in Mayor Larry Vaughn from “Jaws.” At first, the mayor of Amity makes some solid sense: he’s trying to balance public safety with the economic boom provided by beach-going tourists. Unfortunately, he alienates us all when that balance tips towards money over safety. Despite signs that lives are at stake, the mayor chooses to be deliberately obtuse and leaves the beaches open. That poor decision eventually causes panic as a great white shark claims many lives.

“Kill Bill” Duology (2003-04)

Bill, the leader of a band of assassins in the “Kill Bill” movies, has barely any screen time. Instead, Beatrix Kiddo, the Bride, spends most of the two films wading through his minions. Some of those characters are even more odious than the king of killers. His brother Budd, for example, is a ruthless sexist. He comes closer than anyone to killing off his erstwhile colleague. But, in two films filled to the brim with bad guys, Elle Driver takes the evil cake. Jealous of Beatrix’s place in Bill’s heart, she lets her personal animus color her actions. She is sadistic and twisted, deriving utmost pleasure from making her victims suffer.

“The Princess Bride” (1987)

The manipulative Prince Humperdinck may be the Big Bad Evil Guy in “The Princess Bride,” but he doesn’t hold a candle to the six-fingered man. As our hero, Westley, makes his way through the countryside to save his former girlfriend, he meets Inigo Montoya. Montoya is a charismatic swordsman hunting for the man who murdered his father. That man was Count Rugen, Humperdinck’s advisor and torture enthusiast. Comedian Christopher Guest plays Rugen with a downplayed malicious gusto, and he reads as cold and merciless. He tortures Westley and taunts Montoya about his father’s death. Montoya’s eventual triumph over Rugen stands as one of the all-time most satisfying moments in cinema history.

“John Wick” (2014)

Over four films, Keanu Reeves’ John Wick killed more than 400 people. His journey began back in 2014 because of the arrogant son of a Russian mob boss. Upon meeting Wick - who he mistook for a civilian - Iosef Tarasov was insulted when Wick refused to sell him his car. He and his boys roll up on Wick’s house, beating him and murdering his puppy - a final gift from Wick’s deceased wife. Iosef is a rich, spoiled, and entitled criminal. He is also the epitome of the phrase, “F around and find out.” His sadism and lack of self-control unleashed a wave of death and destruction that would ultimately shake the very foundations of the criminal world under the High Table.

“RoboCop” (1987)

“RoboCop” may be an action series, but the first few films were also meant to be a satire about capitalist dehumanization. The ultimate baddy in those installments was the Old Man, CEO of evil megacorporation OCP. However, it’s Clarence J. Boddicker who truly embodies the worst of humanity in the first film. He and his gang of sadists are responsible for turning police officer Alex Murphy into RoboCop. Boddicker is a Joker-esque character, motivated by chaos as opposed to greed. He is vicious, reveling in the suffering of his victims. He does what he wants when he wants, and what he usually wants is to steal and kill. Like many 80s villains, Boddicker is one-dimensional, with no redeeming characteristics whatsoever.

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

In many ways, Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, is a tragic figure. He was born to rule the human nation of Gondor, but was slowly tainted by the influence of Sauron. Denethor arrogantly thought to use a Palantir - one of the lost seeing stones - to observe the comings and goings of Middle Earth. Through that connection, Sauron played on his fear and paranoia. The death of his favorite son Boromir tipped Denethor fully over the edge, his judgment utterly clouded by grief. At the end of his reign, Denethor made every wrong decision possible. He takes his pain out on his remaining son, Faramir, who he foolishly sends out to certain death. Instead of defending the city, Denethor falls into despair.

“Aliens” (1986)

The “Alien” franchise has crossed into many genres over the years. While the first film was more of a psychological thriller, subsequent installments have leaned into action, or even horror. One consistent theme throughout, however, has been the perpetual threat of corporate greed. Time and again, the Weyland-Yutani corporation was more than willing to prioritize profit over lives. In the first film, for example, it was the android Ash who was tasked with recovering a live Xenomorph. Comedian Paul Reiser was expertly cast as Carter Burke, the face of the corporation in the second film “Aliens.” He is introduced to our heroine, Ripley, as an ally. However, as the film progresses, we quickly learn that Burke is a double-crossing corporate shill.

“The Matrix” (1999)

There is a reason why Dante reserves the last circle of hell for betrayers in his book, "L'Inferno." Traitors must first earn someone's trust in order to then betray it. “Cypher” from the first “Matrix” film is one of the worst betrayers in movie history. Worn out by the war against the machines - and jealous of Neo’s relationship with Trinity - Cypher wants to be plugged back into the Matrix. While that motivation may be understandable, the cost isn’t: not only must Cypher betray and kill his crew, he has to give over his captain to the machines. Through their interrogation of Morpheus, they can gain the entry codes to Zion, thereby wiping all of free humanity off the earth.

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

Carlo Rizzi, “The Godfather” (1972)
A Serial Philanderer, Carlo Crosses a Final Line When He Sets Sonny up to Be Killed

Major Arnold Toht, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)
The Only Thing Worse than a Nazi Is a Gross, Creepy Nazi

Captain Byron Hadley, “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
This Sadistic, Murderous Prison Guard Is the Bane of Shawshank’s Prisoners

“Harry Potter” franchise (2001-11)

The “Harry Potter” books and films are filled to the gills with evil monsters and terrible people. The Malfoys are cruel, selfish bigots. Voldemort is a wizard-supremacist and mass murderer, while Bellatrix Lestrange - his favorite weapon - is a psychotic killer who delights in the pain of others. (xref) None, however, are as universally reviled as Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge is the perfect representation of many real-life, petty people drawn to bureaucratic positions of power. She uses her position to enforce her rigid ideology through psychological punishment, physical torture, and the infliction of suffering, but manages to hide her sadism behind her bubbly, pink facade. Umbridge represents institutional cruelty at its worst, which is why she is one of the most hated fictional characters ever.


Do you agree with our list or hate it as much as we hate these side characters? Let us know in the comments below!