Villains are arguably the most important part of a story. They often kickstart the action with their devious plans or, at the very least, keep it going so that the hero can have something to do. The new millennium has produced many incredible villains who have become outright icons,from Oscar-winning villainslikeHeath Ledger’s Joker andChristoph Waltz’s Hans Landa to blockbuster baddies likeHenry Cavill’s August Walker andCate Blanchett’s Hela.
However,the 21st century has also delivered many overlooked antagonistswho don’t get half the recognition they deserve. Perhaps their movies underperformed or got lost amid the ever-competitive entertainment industry. Maybe they were overshadowed by other baddies within their movies, or maybe they received less to do than other characters. Whatever the reason,these are among the most underappreciated villains in the modern age.
10Sabine Moreau (Léa Seydoux)
‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’ (2011)
Acclaimed French actressLéa Seydouxhas been quietly stealing focus since the early 2010s, and her scene-stealing performance inMission: Impossible - Ghost Protocolproves it. The versatile and alluring actress plays Sabine Moreau, a professional assassin working with the film’s main antagonist, terrorist Kurt Hendricks.
Sabine is a prototypical femme fatale. Beautiful, resourceful, and lethal, she is near infallible, carrying out her plans with precision and ruthlessness. Sabine exits the film in the second act, where she shares a memorably hectic and thrilling fight scene with the equally underappreciatedPaula Patton. Despite the limited screen time, Seydoux’s striking performance leaves a strong impression on audiences. And in a franchise full of standout villains, that’s no small feat.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
9Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain)
‘Crimson Peak’ (2015)
Academy Award winnerJessica ChastainjoinedGuillermo del Toro’s fascinating movie worldfor the 2015 Gothic horror romanceCrimson Peak. The plot follows Edith Cushing, a young woman who quickly marries the handsome Thomas Sharpe and moves to his dilapidated manor, Allerdale Hall, where he meets Lucille, his mysterious sister.
Chastain is at her deranged best playing Lucille. Guided by del Toro’s grand guignol-esque approach, Chastain delivers a deliciously wicked and unhinged performance that ranks among her best and most underappreciated efforts. The actress loses herself in the role, resulting in a powerful, almost operatic villainess that perfectly fits withinCrimson Peak’s heightened, gory, and horrifically melancholic world.
Crimson Peak
8Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton)
‘Suspiria’ (2018)
Academy Award winnerTilda Swintonis among her generation’s best and most accomplished performers. A master of disguise, Swinton is a chameleon, effortlessly disappearing into her roles and experimenting with numerous genres. The Oscar-winning actress stars inLuca Guadagnino’s 2018 supernatural horror filmSuspiria, about a coven of witches terrorizing a dance academy.
As the film’s main villain, Madame Blanc,Swinton is spellbinding a macabre. The role makes the most out of Swinton’s ability to craft the uncanny, resulting in a collection of odd and disturbing characters that enhance the film’s already off-putting themes. Such a challenging and uncompromising movie needs an equally unapologetic villain, and Swinton delivers on all fronts.
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7Victoria Vinciguerra (Elizabeth Debicki)
‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ (2015)
Guy Ritchie’sThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.is amongthe best spy comedies of the 21st century, and it’s a shame it didn’t receive the attention it deserved. Set in the Cold War, the plot centers on an American CIA operative and a Soviet KGB agent who team up to stop an Italian Nazi sympathizer from using nuclear weapons.
The strikingly beautifulElizabeth Debickiantagonizes the film as Victoria Vinciguerra, the wife of a wealthy Italian playboy and a ruthless Nazi sympathizer. Debicki is a vision in the role, with a stunning wardrobe representing the best of 1960s fashion. Moreover,her performance is calculating yet endlessly entertaining, with the Emmy-nominated actress stealing every scene she’s in. Her chemistry with Henry Cavill is perfect, as is her delivery of some of the film’s most deliciously vicious lines.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
6Lamia (Michelle Pfeiffer)
‘Stardust’ (2007)
The mightyMichelle Pfeifferreturned to acting after a five-year hiatus with two movies that have become modern classics. InMatthew Vaughn’s fantasy adventureStardust, the three-time Oscar nominee plays Lamia, the queen of the witches obsessed with capturing a fallen star to recover her lost youth.
Lamia is a fabulously despicable character, brought to life with wicked gusto by one of Hollywood’s last genuine movie stars. Pfeiffer is all-in on the role, with an exaggerated English accent and an effortless ability to chew scenery left and right. Embracing classic tropes from the fantasy genre and seamlessly adapting to Vaughn’s campy sensibilities,Pfeiffer creates an unforgettable character worthy of the title “queen of the witches.”
5Norman Spencer (Harrison Ford)
‘What Lies Beneath’ (2000)
Robert Zemeckis' 2000 supernatural thrillerWhat Lies Beneathstars Michelle Pfeiffer andHarrison Fordas Claire and Norman Spencer, a married couple haunted by a ghostly presence in their lake house. As Claire looks into the mystery of the haunting, dark secrets from his past come to light, threatening to destroy their marriage and lives.
What Lies Beneathfeatures the rare villainous Ford performance, and boy does he deliver.Ford’s Norman Spencer is a woman’s worst nightmare, a wolf hiding in sheep’s clothing, cunning and cold, selfishly destroying lives to stay on top. The role makes excellent use of Ford’s stoic charm, fooling the audience into falling under his spell.What Lies Beneathremains divisive today, but critics and fans agree that Ford’s villain is among the most pleasantly surprising turns from his late career.
What Lies Beneath
In What Lies Beneath, Claire Spencer begins experiencing eerie occurrences in her home, leading her to suspect that a supernatural presence is attempting to communicate with her. As her scientist husband dismisses her fears, Claire embarks on a quest for the truth, uncovering hidden secrets that challenge her reality.
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4Alma Coin (Julianne Moore)
‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2’ (2015)
The Hunger Gamesfranchisespawned many memorable characters beyondJennifer Lawrence’s stoic heroine, Katniss Everdeen. Among the many figures, the saga’s enemies are among the most striking.Donald Sutherland’s Coriolanus Snow often gets most of the attention in the villain department, butJulianne Moore’s chilling Alma Coin is just as worthy of praise.
The Oscar-winning actress plays Coin with detached precision; nearly everyone can see she’s evil from a mile away, but few can anticipate just how wicked she truly is.Moore’s performance is subtle and controlled, representing the patient, methodic, Machiavelian evil that strikes from the shadows when least expected. It’s a brilliant performance and the reason whyThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2is such a worthy ending to the thrilling and game-changing series.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
3Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong)
‘Kick-Ass’ (2010)
Mark Stronghas made a career out of playing baddies. Fromiconic comic book villainsto criminals and even an angry prince, Strong is the go-to British Thespian when looking for a great villain. The actor is at his most unrestrained in Matthew Vaughn’s 2010 R-rated superhero filmKick-Ass, playing the violent and cunning crime boss Frank D’Amico.
Kick-Ass' R-rating allows Strong to make D’Amico as despicable and fearsome as possible. The actor embraces the film’s violence and gore, delivering a profane and intimidating portrayal that considerably ups the film’s wow factor.Strong is in his element, creating one of his best villains, a truly shocking and detestable criminal who deserves a place among the best villains in the genre, especially considering the many run-of-the-mill baddies from Marvel and DC.
2Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson)
‘Doctor Sleep’ (2019)
Rebecca Fergusonis among the most successful actresses right now. After years of playing supporting roles that never quite earned her the acclaim she deserved, Ferguson finally reached the peak of stardom thanks to her roles in theMission: ImpossibleandDunefranchises.
The Swedish actress gives one of her most chilling performances in the underrated supernatural horror filmDoctor Sleep. Playing Rose the Hat,Ferguson is discomforting and outright terrifying, utilizing her striking beauty as a weapon to craft an off-putting villain that embodies all the qualities fans expect from aStephen Kingcreation.Doctor Sleepis an underappreciated gem, one of the manyStephen King adaptations on their way to becoming classics, largely thanks to Ferguson’s stellar villain.
Doctor Sleep
1Captain Vidal (Sergi López)
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)
Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning dark fantasy filmPan’s Labyrinthis often considered a modern masterpiece. The plot centers on a young girl who seeks refuge from the brutality of Falangist Spain by escaping into a dark fantasy world with unexpected dangers lurking in every corner guided by a mysterious faun.
When discussingPan’s Labyrinth, most attention goes to del Toro’s famous monsters and the film’s stunning production values. However, the villain,the sadistic Captain Vidal, is a creation of pure evil. Spanish actorSergi Lópezis utterly terrifying in the role, portraying the psychopathic and intimidating captain with uninhibited rage and brutality. Vidal is a vessel for del Toro’s ideas about fascism and the incredible ease with which humanity can lose its empathy. The result is a chilling and unforgettable character who deserves a place among cinema’s all-time best villains.
