Top 10 TV Villain Performances of the Last Decade

“Mr. Robot” (2015-19)
As an anarchist mastermind, Christian Slater expertly embodies the titular provocateur in USA Network’s lauded dramatic thriller, “Mr. Robot.” Slater’s portrayal of the digital-age specter is as charismatic as it is mysterious – not to mention dangerous. You see, Mr. Robot is a construct within Elliot's mind who takes the representation of his departed dad - Edward. Created to instigate war against E-Corp and bring about major change, Mr. Robot has no issues taking control of Elliot to put his plans into action. And thanks to a performance that blurs lines between reality and illusion, Mr. Robot (through Slater) always kept us on our toes.

“Watchmen” (2019)
HBO’s “Watchmen” takes us many years after the events of the iconic graphic novel and finds Ozymandias paying the price for his warped actions. After saving the world from nuclear extinction by uniting it through fear, Ozymandias is sent to a remote destination where he is nearly driven mad. Acting great Jeremy Irons is effortless in his embodiment of a former superhero who has become disillusioned by his own utopian dreams. The performance can perhaps best be described as a masterclass in vanity laced with regret. Afterall, we are talking about a character who’s described as the smartest man on Earth. It’s lucky, then, that we got one of the greatest actors on the planet to portray him!

“Invincible” (2021-)
When Amazon launched its adult animated superhero series “Invincible,” J.K Simmons wowed audiences as the voice of Omni-Man, Earth’s most powerful hero. Well, a hero who harbors many dark secrets beneath his cape - namely the fact that he killed the Guardians of the Globe in an effort to kick off his plan to weaken Earth's defenses so his alien race, the Viltrumites, could take over. You know, no biggie. However, thanks to a season 2 redemption, and Simmons’ commanding voice work, Omni-Man also embodies plenty of paternal warmth. Of course, he can switch to terrifying rage in an instant. As far as villainous reads go, we’d say this one is definitely our “tempo.”

“Daredevil” (2015-18)
Towering over Hell's Kitchen both physically and figuratively, Vincent D'Onofrio brings chilling depth to iconic Marvel baddie Wilson Fisk, AKA the Kingpin. D’Onofrio won over audiences by presenting Fisk as both a cultured art lover and brutal crime lord in the celebrated Netflix series “Daredevil.” He’s a man whose love for his city is matched only by his ruthlessness in controlling it. And with D’Onofrio’s presence proving especially pitch perfect, he was brought back to reprise the role for Disney+’s “Hawkeye” and “Echo.” It won’t be long for this Kingpin to face off against his horned nemesis once more though, as D’Onofrio’s villain is set to return for the highly anticipated “Daredevil: Born Again.”

“Succession” (2018-23)
Some actors are seemingly born to play compelling villains. Brian Cox is one of them! As family patriarch and media mogul Logan Roy in "Succession," Cox dominates every scene he’s in. Heck, his portrayal reverberates in scenes he’s not in. The character is constantly playing human chess with those around him - family included - and he does so with calculated malice. Or is it tough love? One thing’s for sure, nobody, and we mean nobody, is safe from his vocal wrath. Beyond the cutting dialogue, Cox expertly showcases the vulnerability behind Logan’s tyrannical façade. And thanks to this exceptional portrayal, audiences are left hanging onto every word he growls out.

“The Walking Dead” (2010-22)
Armed with twisted charm and his trusty baseball bat Lucille, Negan burst onto the scene in “The Walking Dead” by ruling through widespread fear. Yet, the deadly leader of the Saviours exuded inexplicable magnetism, making him impossible not to watch. And thanks to Jefferey Dean Morgan’s layered portrayal, Negan became the definition of a character that you can’t help “love to hate.” Of course, “The Walking Dead” has seen its share of other standout villains. David Morrissey’s turn as the heinous Governor especially stands as a celebrated page-to-screen depiction. Yep, when it comes to antagonists on “The Walking Dead,” zombie hordes will always take a backseat to the living, breathing maniacs around.

“Game of Thrones” (2011-19)
When it comes to memorable small screen villains, perhaps no show can match the impressive output of “Game of Thrones.” From the downright hated King Joffrey to the categorically despised Cersei Lannister, the series, and its actors, always delivered exceptionally evil characters. However, it’s Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Snow—later Bolton—who stands out the most among Westeros’ rogues gallery. With sheer cruelty masked by eerie charm, Rheon personifies sadistic glee so convincingly, that it sends shivers down collective spines whenever he’s onscreen. To say that the equal parts enthralling and horrifying portrayal is unforgettable, would be a major understatement.

“Stranger Things” (2016-25)
With a sensational season 4 unveiling, Vecna immediately turned the world of “Stranger Things,” well, upside down. The ominous and grotesque character became an overnight sensation, unleashing terrors never before seen in the series. In fact, he made all the other threats the residents of Hawkin’s faced seem like child’s play. And whether he’s covered under Freddy Krueger-esque prosthetics, or taking on the human form of Henry Creel, Jamie Campbell Bower mesmerizes in the role. Bower's hauntingly serene delivery juxtaposed against all the nightmarish visuals is more than enough to make your skin crawl. If this villain doesn’t send you running up that hill, then we don't know what will.

“Better Call Saul” (2015-22)
Bringing new dimensions to an already iconic character, Giancarlo Esposito reprised his role as drug lord Gustavo “Gus” Fring on the “Breaking Bad” prequel series, "Better Call Saul.” The character is a relentless and cunning businessman who is meticulous in his calculations, viewing the world’s inhabitants as pieces on a chess board. Esposito plays Fring with icy precision. He’s a convincingly courteous businessman on one side, but a calculative killer on another - mastering duality like few others can. It’s in large part thanks to Giancarlo’s brilliant performance that Gus has been immortalized as one of TV’s all-time great villains. We’d be remiss if we didn’t also tip our hat to Tony Dalton as Lalo Salamanca – a true standout antagonist in the series!

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

Arquette’s controlled demeanor perfectly masks Harmony’s sinister intentions.

Thornton imbues Malvo with a calm, philosophical detachment from morality.

Watrson makes Magneto’s motives understandable, even if his methods are extreme.

Hahn’s captivating performance balances cheeky humor with genuine threats.

Kove captures the essence of a man stuck in the past, driven by a "no mercy” belief.

“The Boys” (2019-)
In a show that fiercely satirizes the superhero genre, Homelander serves as an extremely violent Superman-like figure. With exceedingly sociopathic tendencies, this God among men stands as one of the most dangerous characters in all of pop culture. And what can we say, as the laser-eyed leader of The Seven, Antony Star is as impressive as he is terrifying. Starr portrays America’s mightiest hero turned celebrity psycho with bone-chilling brilliance. He delivers instant GIF-worthy smiles for the cameras all while hiding monstrous impulses behind those big blue eyes. It's a high-flying act balancing public adoration against private instability, and it all culminates into one heck of an explosive performance of TV villainy!