Top 5 Villains of Fiction (Best, not Favorite)

[Warhammer]

I got this idea from listening to the radio on my lunch break today. It was a segment where they were debating the Top 5 best villains in all of fiction. They applied many elements into deciding who the Top 5 best villains are. Not only was it just how evil the villain was, but how many different mediums the villain existed in, how popular the villain was, and how significant the villain influenced pop culture.

Rules:

The rules are simple. Do not post your favorite villains. That means do not put down Mr. Freeze or Mysterio down as a choice, because they damn well don't fit any of the qualifications to deem the title "Best Villain of Fiction." This is a thread for who you believe is the best villain, with all bias aside. That means that just because you don't like Star Wars, you automatically do not take Darth Vader into consideration, etc. Do not merely list five villains and be done with the thread. At least put down a sentence or so, highlighting and emphasizing why you believe your choice should be considered the best villain in all of fiction.

In conclusion, remember, this is a debate. In the end, it's all in good fun. This is for ALL of fiction. That means it can be a comic book villain, a movie villain, a television villain, a literary villain, etc. Do not merely list, but plead a case for your choice.

 

[Drizzle]

Darth Vader
The Joker
Dracula
Lord Voldemort
Hannibal Lecter

 

[Ziggyman]

Darth Vader
The Joker
Dracula
Lord Voldemort
Hannibal Lecter

I agree...But The Joker first since Darth is a softie...And switch Hannibal with Voldie...

The Joker
Darth Vader
Dracula/Hannibal Lecter
Hannibal Lecter/Dracula
Lord Voldemort

...Although my opinion could change at anytime...t:

 

[[A]]

I agree...But The Joker first since Darth is a softie...And switch Hannibal with Voldie...

First time in years of forums wandering that I don't feel alone on this: Vader is a whiny-sorry-ass!!!t:

 

[Ziggyman]

First time in years of forums wandering that I don't feel alone on this: Vader is a whiny-sorry-ass!!!t:

Oh nice...Any villain that turns to good in the end...No matter how evil...Is pretty soft!t:

 

[TheCardPlayer]

Dracula:

One of the most written about vampires in fiction and one of the most well known, movie and literrature villain of all time. He's just got to be on my list.

Hannibal Lecter:

Anthony Hopkins most well known role, as well as being generally considered one of the greatest movie villains in history. I just love his performance.

Darth Vader:

A true pop culture icon and the face of an entire franchise. And not just any franchise, but one of the biggest franchises in science-fiction history and one of the most recognizable and beloved villains ever.


Freddy Krueger:

The face of the slasher film. At the height of his popularity, he had rap songs, toys, figures, board games, everything that most slasher movies villains never had. Why? I don't know. I think it's all about the crazy personality and dialogue.

The Joker

One of the most well known characters in the comic book universe. Jack Nicholson made him immortal on the big screen and now Heath Ledger's amazing performance will push him even farther as a legendary icon.

 

[Drizzle]

Just so you know, I didn't put mine in order. I just kind of listed them off the cuff.

 

[Ziggyman]

Dracula:

One of the most written about vampires in fiction and one of the most well known, movie and literrature villain of all time. He's just got to be on my list.

Hannibal Lecter:

Anthony Hopkins most well known role, as well as being generally considered one of the greatest movie villains in history. I just love his performance.

Darth Vader:

A true pop culture icon and the face of an entire franchise. And not just any franchise, but one of the biggest franchises in science-fiction history and one of the most recognizable and beloved villains ever.


Freddy Krueger:

The face of the slasher film. At the height of his popularity, he had rap songs, toys, figures, board games, everything that most slasher movies villains never had. Why? I don't know. I think it's all about the crazy personality and dialogue.

The Joker

One of the most well known characters in the comic book universe. Jack Nicholson made him immortal on the big screen and now Heath Ledger's amazing performance will push him even farther as a legendary icon.

Don't get me wrong...Freddy is pretty crazy...But I think Jason is more bad ass than Freddy...And therefore a badder villain.

...But better...I don't know...I think so...

 

[Ziggyman]

Just so you know, I didn't put mine in order. I just kind of listed them off the cuff.

Oh...Alright...Didn't mean to cramp your style...Just thought it was in order...What would be your order...?

 

[TheCardPlayer]

Don't get me wrong...Freddy is pretty crazy...But I think Jason is more bad ass than Freddy...And therefore a badder villain.

...But better...I don't know...I think so...

I also prefer Jason. But this is not about opinion, remember.

 

[Ziggyman]

I also prefer Jason. But this is not about opinion, remember.

Ah yes...My bad...Apologies for the biased opinion...

It's a debate...So I was just posting my opinion on your opinion...You know.

 

[Drizzle]

Oh...Alright...Didn't mean to cramp your style...Just thought it was in order...What would be your order...?

In order from most to least evil?

1. The Joker
2. Voldemort
3. Hannibal Lecter
4. Dracula
5. Darth Vader

 

[Episode29]

Wicked Witch Of The West
Goldfinger
Blofeld
Nosferatu (I guess it's sorta Dracula... But whatever!)
Norman Bates
Queen from Snow White
Cruella DeVille
Hans Gruber

 

[Spider-Vader]

Darth Vader
Hannibal Lecter
Hans Gruber
Joker
Mola Ram

 

[Speedball]

The Joker
Khan
Darth Vader
Voldemort
The White Witch

 

[biolumen]

In no particular order

HAL 9000 (of Kubrick's movie '2001: A Space Odyssey')
Randall Flagg (of King's unabridged novel 'The Stand')
Pennywise (of King's novel 'It')
Darth Vader (of Lucas' Star Wars Ep. 4, 5 & 6)
Norman Bates (of Hitchcock's 'Psycho')

I'm sure tomorrow I'll think of another 5 equivalents.

 

[The Joker]

1. The Joker - The Dark Knight
2. Annie Wilkes - Misery
3. Michael Myers - Halloween
4. Auric Goldfinger - Goldfinger
5. Hans Gruber - Die Hard

 

[Asteroid-Man]

1. The Dark Lord Voldemort
2. Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith
3. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter
4. Dracula, the Human Impaler
5. The Joker, Agent of Chaos

 

[bullets]

5 Freddy Krueger
4 Jason Vorhees
3 Hannibal Lector
2 Darth Vader
1 Dracula



honorable mention , the mob boss.

 

[Iron_Stark]

1. Darth Vader - Empire Strikes Back
2. Joker - The Dark Knight
3. Predator - Predator 1
4. Micheal Myers - Halloween
5. Dracula

 

[Warhammer]

Top 5:

1. Dracula

The whole legend/mythology of vampires starts and ends with Dracula. Dracula is apart of pop culture around the world. Everybody knows who he is. He is quite possibly the most legendary villain of all-time, and paved the way for countless other villains after him.

2. Darth Vader

Darth Vader was apart of the largest film franchise in history. His contribution to pop culture really has no limits. Everybody knows who he is, what films he is from, the lightsaber, the suit, the breathing, and that he is Luke Skywalker's father. People who have never even watched a Star Wars film know all of that. There is a reason why he is on countless villain lists in (at least) the top 5. People who don't even like Star Wars can admire what Vader has done for villains before and after his creation.

3. The Joker

The Joker is the most notable/well-known villain that has come from the comics. He has influenced pop culture since his first creation, and is still on top today. He has been protrayed by Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger in two of not only the most successful Batman films, but two of the most successful films, period. The Joker is Batman's counterpart in terms of iconic. That line that says "the hero is only as good as the villain" fits this case. The Joker has been in so many mediums (comics, film, television) and has had so many incarnations, it is near impossible for somebody not to know who he is.

4. Lord Voldemort

Even though I am not a big Harry Potter fan, and I have not read the books, it is hard to not consider Lord Voldemort has Top 5 material. Though this may be a premature choice, I think that Voldemort will be on many villains lists in the years to come. Harry Potter is one of the largest franchises of all-time. The books and films have generated so much revenue, so there are many people that know who Lord Voldemort is. In the years to come, he may be near Vader levels of notability and acclaim.

5. Magneto

This is the wildcard choice. I say this because even though Magneto is widely known by the comics, the cartoons, and the films, he may not exactly come to mind when you think Top 5. I think Magneto deserves a spot on here because of his rich backstory. He is the Malcolm X to Professor Xavier's Martin Luther King Jr. His motivations for his actions stems back to being persecuted by the Nazis during the Halocaust. From his point of view (or from anybody's point of view that shared his same experience), his motivation for his actions are heroic and valient. He is tired of the persecution of mutants because they are different, and he wants the mutants to rise above the persecution by homo sapiens.

Until I really thought of Magneto, Hannibal Lecter would have been #5. However, had there only been one film instead of 4, he would have been a sure bet. But with Hannibal and Hannibal Rising, it really did kill apart of the villain we loved from The Silence of the Lambs. That put Lecter down to #6, had this list went all the way to #10.

 

[Bim]

For me, the best villains are the following, although i cant rank 1 and 2, because i'm always switching back and forth between Lecter and Vader:

- Hannibal Lecter: who wouldnt be frightened to death of a man that will take a bite out of you?
- Darth Vader: this is possibly one of the first villains some of us remember from our childhood, and with that suit, the breathing and the deep voice Vader is someone you dont want to run into in a dark alley
3) Normal Bates, first you think his mom is evil, but in the end u realize he's nothing but a crazed bastard.
4) The Terminator: an enemy that will stop at nothing until it destroys u? he gets my vote!
5) Annie Wilkes: talk about a scary fan that no one wants to have

 

[Lord]

I think the idea in this thread is quite interesting, so i'm sorry for the necro.

I haven't watched or read enough fiction to know of the best all time villains, so i'll just put in the best ones i've seen in no particular order.

-Griffith (Berserk): Read that manga from the beginning to end and you'll be shocked by this character's behavior, while he'll do whatever he can to achieve his goals, it still feels like a deep betrayal when he puts these above his oun comrades.

-Joker (Batman Comics): I count with every single one of his incarnations, for me he's the same character, no matter how many times he's reinvented. There's not much to say about him in here, everyone almost unanimously loves him.

-El Indio (For a Few Dollars More): The most underrated villain of the ones i've seen, rarely appears in best villain lists, in his crazyness he feels genuine, both as a threat and as a character. A little act among his long life of sins was pretty much killing him inside, with the perfect portrayal for the role, every time he puts his little sound box i get chills.

-Gus Fring (Breaking Bad): Maybe a preference, but i found him to be a realy interesting character where his mystery kept him more interesting.

-Michael Corleone (The Godfather Trilogy): This is kind of cheating, as i think he was more of a tragic figure, but since he's generaly considered a villain by many i decided to put him in here. His father was honestly a more interesting presence to see around, but Michael's story was better developed, and he truly became a force not to be reckoned with.

I like villains like Voldemort, Palpatine, Davy Jones and Darth Vader, but i don't think they're nearly in the same league, though Voldemort's backstory does have potential for that, and Darth Vader's dragged down by Prequels that didn't develop him enough, and even i only counted his appearance in the original Trilogy, i don't think he's near as good as the ones i posted.

 

[Schlosser85]

Hannibal Lecter

Darth Vader

The Joker

Lord Voldemort

Not sure about the last one...maybe Magneto, though I consider him more of an anti-hero.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

In no particular order
- Emperor Palpatine : evil as evil can be
- Joffrey Baratheon : sickier than Marquis of Sade, makes you hate him on sight
- Dr Doom : intelligent : charismatic, power angry yet noble, master in both science and magic
- Baron Vladimir Harkonnen ( book is best but film not that bad either ) : gross, pervert and ruthless, he is just disgusting
- I have no 5th, too many options from HAL9000 to Hans Landa, Joker or Skynet