Top 10 Villains of 2022 (So Far)

Uncovering who is under the Ghostface mask in each “Scream” movie is usually the best part of the film. Fortunately, the 2022 film nailed the big moment by revealing that two of the main character’s allies, Richie and Amber, were the villains. Within the “Scream” universe, the Ghostface attacks are adapted into “Stab” movies. After that franchise started getting worse and worse, superfans Richie and Amber decided to save the series by committing copycat crimes. Their scheme involved slaying franchise favorites and getting close to the heroes to appear innocent. Thanks to the duo’s brilliant and petty plan, these toxic fans will likely be considered to be behind one of the best Ghostface reveals.

During this DC series, we meet a race of butterfly-like aliens that can take over human bodies and have dark plans for Earth. After the anti-hero Peacemaker spends adorable quality time with their leader A.K.A. Goff Butterfly, it steals the body of a police officer. It shockingly decides to spare the human and explain its true motivations. When Goff Butterfly fled its ruined planet for Earth, it wanted to prevent the humans from destroying their home too. It aimed to dominate the planet to save more lives. Goff Butterfly’s sympathetic motivations and connection to the main protagonist made it a compelling villain. In the end, we were just as sad as Peacemaker was that the alien had to lose.

When we’re first introduced to this Viking royal, she is kind to her son and supportive of her king. But we see Queen Gudrún in a new light after her king is murdered by his brother. Years after this incident, she reveals to her son Amleth that she wanted her husband to die. Gudrún set up the king’s death because he forced her to marry him and have a son. This shocking reveal is accompanied by a brilliant turn from Nicole Kidman. During her confession, she goes from coming off as innocent to being menacing in seconds. And Kidman maintains that fierce intensity for the rest of the film. Queen Gudrún ultimately stands as a powerhouse villain we never saw coming.

It was hard to imagine the charming Ethan Hawke could play a sinister man who takes people off the streets. But all doubts were erased once we saw him in action. As the Grabber, he lured his targets in with his charm before capturing them. The villain’s unbalanced nature meant you never knew if he’d laugh or scream at his victims next. Not only does Hawke perfectly portray all the character’s moods, but he’s so expressive we can feel his emotions while he’s wearing his mask. While there have been villains with similar motivations in the horror genre before, an unsettling and fantastic performance made The Grabber stand out as a one-of-a-kind antagonist.

Although Hayden Christensen played Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader before, the tv series brought in stuntmen Dmitrious Bistrevsky and Tom O’ Connnell to portray the villain too. Their presence alongside James Earl Jones’ voice resulted in one new and very intimidating Vader.. While the villain pursues his former mentor Obi-Wan, we’re reminded of how close they once were. But Vader is consumed by a desire to destroy his old friend. It’s absolutely thrilling to watch the two clash on the battlefield. Additionally Hayden Christensen does a remarkable job at portraying a fallen hero. His talents, Jones’ voice and talented stunt work all breathed new life into a classic villain.

After suffering a tremendous amount of loss in a short time, Wanda becomes desperate to be a part of a family again. When she discovers that sacrificing a kid named America could make her dreams come true, the Scarlet Witch stops at nothing to capture the innocent girl. Watching a former heroine break other heroes was terrifying and difficult to watch. However, it was also hard to root against a mother wanting to get back to a version of her kids. Whether audiences supported or feared Wanda, she kept viewers glued to the screen whenever she appeared. Her power and dominating personality commanded everyone’s attention. The enchanting villain ultimately took us on a thrilling journey that ended just as tragically as it began.

Paul Dano unquestionably gave one of the best villainous performances of the year when he played the Riddler. As a young boy, the antagonist watched as powerful people in Gotham took money that could’ve been spent improving the city and helping kids like him. This motivated the villain to torment people as the Riddler while exposing his hometown’s corruption. Dano makes it clear that this antagonist believes his cause is just. However, the actor never lets us forget that the Riddler is more twisted than a question mark. Since the villain doesn’t come face-to-face with Batman until late in the story, their confrontation is electrifying. Dano easily proves why this villain is worthy of being in the dark knight’s rogues gallery.

While Soldier Boy presented himself as a great American hero to the public, he severely mistreated and harmed his teammates and innocent people behind the scenes. He was eventually betrayed by his allies and held hostage. But once Soldier Boy broke free, he went on a violent rampage of revenge against the teammates who turned on him. Despite the villain’s brutality, his politically incorrect personality and no nonsense demeanor kept audiences laughing. And he also showed a surprising amount of vulnerability and pain underneath the surface. It’s unlikely that he’ll ever take his son Homelander’s spot as the main villain of the show. However, Soldier Boy was a great addition that gave his child a run for his money as the top antagonist.

The mind of a young woman named Joy was split across the multiverse after her mother pushed an experiment too far. Unable to cope with the constant noise, she makes it her mission to find a way to end all realities and her suffering. After calling herself Jobu Tapaki, the villain tries to convince another version of her mom to help her find peace. The antagonist’s ability to manipulate the multiverse makes her unique and incredibly fun to watch. And although she commands tons of power, she never stops being relatable. Jobu Tapaki’s story is ultimately about someone needing to reconnect with their mother to feel whole again. This emotional throughline kept us hoping this layered villain would find a nonviolent path to peace.

Years after the sadistic Henry Creel had his powers restricted by an implant, he convinced a girl named Eleven to restore his abilities. But she sends him into another dimension once he reveals how evil he is. After the trip alters his body, Creel discovers he can return to Earth by tormenting and slaying people in horrifying ways. His skin-crawling abilities and connection to 11 made him fascinating and terrifying. Actor Jamie Campbell Bower also received acclaim for being terrifying with or without his Vecna makeup. Additionally, the character became legendary amongst fans after outplaying the heroes. A combination of a great backstory, fan hype for his next move and a brilliant acting performance made Vecna into an instantly iconic villain.