Watching an Action film is a surefire way to spark adrenaline: car chases, fight scenes, and big theatrical explosions are all perfectly timed for the heroes to look as cool and powerful as possible. Yet there cannot be a hero if there’s no villain. Over the years, audiences have witnessed evil geniuses, disingenuous billionaires, and strong fighters who wreak havoc on unsuspecting cities across the world. Some fade away into oblivion as soon as they are defeated, but others have stood the test of time.
A-list actors have often expressed that playing the bad guy is more fun and challenging. In order to deliver a compelling on-screen villain, it’s important to dig into their motivations and discover what makes them tick. When they manage to steal a scene and become the character that audiences are most drawn to, then it’s clear they’ve done their dastardly job well.
Here are the top 10 most iconic on-screen villains:
10. Cyrus Grisson (John Malkovich) – Con Air (1997)
9. Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith) – RoboCop (1987)
8. Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman) – Leon: The Professional (1994)
7. Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
6. Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) – The Matrix (1999)
5. Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) – Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
4. Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) – Speed (1994)
3. Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) – Spectre (2015)
2. Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage & John Travolta) – Face/Off (1997)
1. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) – Die Hard (1988)
These villains have all managed to steal the spotlight and become the characters that audiences are most drawn to. With their cunning plans, ruthless tactics, and memorable performances, they have cemented their place in the annals of action cinema.
