Top 10 Villains of 2022

“House of the Dragon” (2022-)
Like “Game of Thrones,” “House of the Dragon” is full of characters who toy with our emotions. In an instant, you can go from emphasizing with them to despising them - and vice versa. At first glance, Larys Strong might seem like this show’s Tyrion Lannister, a wise advisor who rises above what some consider a disadvantage. “Clubfoot” instead has more in common with the manipulative Littlefinger, planting the skepticism that drives a wedge between Rhaenyra and Alicent. With a calm manner of speaking, Larys slithers his way into Alicent’s inner circle. Twisting the Queen’s words, he uses this position to kill his father and older brother, furthering his own ambitions. As is often the case, it’s those we underestimate who emerge as the greatest threat.

“Nope” (2022)
Jordan Peele’s “Nope” could just as easily be called “Jaws Meets Close Encounters.” In the spirit of those Steven Spielberg classics, “Nope” keeps its central creature literally clouded in mystery. When we do finally see what’s been pulling people and horses into the air, it looks like a traditional UFO. Peele throws in a twist that makes “Nope” and its villain one of a kind, however. The flying saucer isn’t a flying saucer. It’s a living entity that preys upon smaller beings, digesting them from the heavens above like a bloody rainfall. What initially seems to be made of cold metal takes on a silky, fabric-like aesthetic. That might not sound as intimidating, but like a jellyfish, Jean Jacket proves that appearances can be deceiving.

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022)
One could argue that Wanda was the true villain in “WandaVision,” but we think she was an antihero at most. In “Multiverse of Madness,” Wanda fully breaks bad. This was a startling surprise, as the trailers seemed to be setting up a redemption arc for her. Doctor Strange quickly realizes that Wanda isn’t on his side, and will stop at nothing to see her boys again. Whether you call it grief or love persevering, it fuels Wanda’s madness as she resorts to mass murder and creates a disturbance in the multiverse. It was bold for the MCU to take a character who’s been mostly heroic up until this point and present her in such a villainous light with Elizabeth Olsen turning in a terrifying portrayal.

“Severance” (2022-)
Patricia Arquette has played a few characters who seem warm on the surface, but there’s something darker underneath. With this Emmy-nominated performance, Arquette shapes another two-faced character, but with a few twists. We’re first introduced to Harmony Cobel, a calculating, no-nonsense boss from hell determined to keep her employees under her thumb. As imposing as Cobel is in the office, we see just how manipulative she can be outside of work, posing as the kindly Mrs. Selvig. Due to the company’s severance program, Adam Scot’s Mark doesn’t realize that his boss and neighbor are one and the same. Although Cobel seems to hold all the cards, she can’t foresee everything. When things don’t go according to plan, we see Cobel at her most unnerving.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022)
Like Thanos, Ultron, and Killmonger, Namor is a villain who sees himself as the hero. To an extent, we can understand why. After all, the CIA and SEALs invaded his territory in pursuit of vibranium. Even if the U.S. government had known about Talokan, that probably wouldn’t have stopped them. Namor wants to protect his people, but he takes matters too far. Pinning the blame on Riri Williams, Namor pursues what he considers justice. He’s willing to destroy anyone and anything that stands in his way, including Wakanda. With the demeanor of a god, Namor leaves little room for negotiation or compassion until the Black Panther shows him some. Namor proves himself honorable, but that doesn’t mean world domination isn’t still on his mind.

“The Batman” (2022)
Modern “Batman” movies have reimagined many classic villains, not only making them grittier, but more believable. Paul Dano’s Riddler feels like an evil entity who could exist in the real world, echoing the Zodiac Killer. “The Batman” avoids simply turning Riddler into a Joker clone, however. Riddler also wants to watch the world burn (or we guess sink), but his actions are backed by a carefully calculated political agenda. His trademark riddles translate well into a more grounded environment, using bombs on those who don’t have the right answers. When Riddler is finally unmasked and apprehended, he doesn’t become any less threatening. Even Batman doesn’t seem safe separated by bulletproof glass, which is a testament to Dano’s creepy screen presence that gets under your skin.

“The Boys” (2019-)
Sometimes to defeat a monster, you need to enlist another monster. Of course, this approach can backfire in a number of ways. Betrayed by his allies, Solider Boy goes on a revenge spree upon resurfacing. Our heroes try using this to their advantage in bringing down Homelander, but Soldier Boy might prove even more destructive than his offspring. While cut from the same cloth, Soldier Boy lacks the need for admiration that Homelander longs for, meeting his son’s plea for acceptance with disdain. Jensen Ackles brings humor to Soldier Boy’s stone-faced demeanor, hitting just the right note as a character from another time who should’ve stayed in the past. He’s nostalgia at its deadliest. Never meet your heroes. They may turn out to be villains.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022)
At its core, this year’s definitive sleeper hit is about a mother and daughter’s path to reconciliation. Sometimes to mend bonds, though, you have to reach across the multiverse. As Joy Wang aspires to gain her mother’s acceptance, Evelyn collides with the Alphaverse version of her daughter, Jobu Tupaki. As charismatic as she is forceful, “the great evil” initially feels like the only character who’s in complete control of her surroundings. As we delve deeper, we find that she’s just as lost as everyone else. Stephanie Hsu delivers an arresting performance, shifting between her multiple personas while finding the common ground. For a film that juggles so many complicated ideas, the resolution may seem simple, but love can be the most complex phenomenon of all.

“X” (2022) & “Pearl” (2022)
Pearl is a villain who crept up on us in more ways than one in 2022. Making her first appearance in “X,” Pearl is an old lady longing for youth. She takes out her bitterness on a group of young visitors, including Mia Goth’s Max. In one of the film’s best-kept secrets, it turns out Goth had a dual role, hiding under all that makeup as Pearl. In another surprise, we were treated to a prequel six months later with Goth returning as a young Pearl with big dreams. The dirty 70s aesthetic is traded for a Technicolor nightmare as Pearl’s pursuit of fame leads to jealousy, rejection, and homicide. Pearl sees herself as Dorothy, but she’s truly a Wicked Witch. Hide your scarecrows!

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

Steve/Brendan, “Fresh” (2022)
A Devilish & Delicious Performance from Sebastian Stan

The Predator, “Prey” (2022)
Ya Haven’t Been This Intimidating Since 1987

The Grabber, “The Black Phone” (2021)
The Premise is Supernatural, But This Villain Feels Eerily Real

Queen Gudrún, “The Northman” (2022)
Nicole Kidman Makes You Feel Unclean as a Shakespearan Villain

Sully, “Bones and All” (2022)
Mark Rylance Is Unsettling as an Eccentric Cannibal

“Stranger Things” (2016-)
“Stranger Things” didn’t introduce Vecna until Season 4, but it feels like he’s been a mainstay of the show from the beginning. It’s as if the show had been building towards Vecna all this time without the audience realizing it. When Vecna finally reveals himself, he makes all the enemies that Hawkins faced before seem like amateur hour. Even after Vecna makes his grotesque presence known, he remains an enemy hiding in plain sight, influencing our heroes in ways they don’t know. Whether concealed under prosthetics or taking on a human form, Jamie Campbell Bower makes your skin crawl in the role. He may send you running for (or up) that hill, but an enemy who gets inside your head is hard to fend off.