TV & movie villains have a way of stealing the spotlight, and some do it so well that we can’t help but root for them—even as they wreak havoc!
Whether it’s their tragic backstories, wicked charm, or moments of unexpected vulnerability, these unforgettable characters blur the line between love and hate. From Charmed’s tormented Cole Turner to Lost’s manipulative Ben Linus, and many more tv and movie villains who became fan favorites.
Here is a list of my favorite wicked tv and movie villain characters, in no particular order, what made them so endearing, the talented actors who brought them to life, and why these baddies remain etched in our hearts!
Wicked TV & Movie Villains That We Couldn’t Help But Love
These unforgettable villains prove that even the darkest characters can shine the brightest when infused with charm, complexity, and a touch of humanity. Whether it’s through their tragic backstories, sharp wit, or unexpected moments of redemption, they captivated audiences and blurred the lines between hero and villain.
With their charisma and layered portrayals, these antiheroes didn’t just steal the scene—they stole our hearts, leaving a lasting impression as some of the most beloved characters in pop culture history.
Wicked TV & Movie Villains List
The list ranks these tv and movie characters from the most liked to the least liked, based on how much audiences gravitated toward their performances, whether it was due to their charm, complexity, tragic backgrounds, or witty charisma, making them unforgettable villains turned fan favorites.
- Mr. Gold / Rumpelstiltskin – Once Upon a Time
Portrayed by Robert Carlyle, Mr. Gold—also known as Rumpelstiltskin—spins his way into our hearts with equal parts menace and magic. In Once Upon a Time, he’s the ultimate dealmaker: mysterious, cunning, and deeply wounded. With his tragic love story, desperate need for power, and occasional bursts of humanity, Carlyle crafts a layered character who is both the villain you fear and the broken man you pity. Whether he’s weaving dark magic or trying to win Belle’s heart, Mr. Gold reminds us that even fairy tale villains have a past worth understanding.
- Ben Linus – Lost
Michael Emerson’s masterful portrayal of Ben Linus introduced viewers to one of TV’s most enigmatic characters. As the manipulative leader of the Others, Ben’s every move feels like a chess game. But beneath the surface lies a man molded by pain and isolation. Emerson brings a quiet intensity to Ben that makes him simultaneously terrifying and tragically human. You never quite know if you should root for him—or run from him.
- Maleficent – Sleeping Beauty / Maleficent
Once simply the mistress of all evil, Maleficent was reimagined by Angelina Jolie as a layered and misunderstood fairy. Originally voiced by Eleanor Audley in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (1959), Maleficent curses baby Aurora in a fit of vengeance. But Jolie’s Maleficent (2014) dives deeper, revealing betrayal, sorrow, and a complex heart beneath her horns. Whether animated or live-action, Maleficent is the elegant embodiment of dark fantasy.
- Loki – Marvel Cinematic Universe
Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is a scene-stealing god of mischief who evolved from a backstabbing villain to one of the MCU’s most beloved anti-heroes. Motivated by jealousy, a thirst for power, and a deep desire for acceptance, Loki’s charm and snark are irresistible. Whether he’s battling his brother Thor or navigating timelines in his own series (Loki, 2021), fans can’t help but cheer for him—even when he’s causing chaos. Mischief managed, indeed.
- Cole Turner – Charmed
Julian McMahon plays Cole Turner, the tragic half-demon who falls hopelessly in love with witch Phoebe Halliwell. As the human side of Cole fights for love and redemption, his demonic half—Belthazor—fights for power and destruction. This inner conflict, combined with McMahon’s intense, magnetic performance, creates a villain we can’t help but love. His heartbreak, vulnerability, and struggle for control make him one of the most memorable characters in Charmed.
- Hans Landa – Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Christoph Waltz’s portrayal of SS Colonel Hans Landa is like a masterclass in psychological terror. With a warm smile and impeccable manners, he interrogates and destroys with surgical precision. Known chillingly as “The Jew Hunter,” Landa is charming, cultured—and utterly monstrous. Waltz’s Oscar-winning role is unforgettable not because of what he does—but because of how calmly he does it.
- Erik Killmonger – Black Panther (2018)
Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger doesn’t just want power—he wants justice, revenge, and recognition. Raised in oppression and driven by pain, he storms into Wakanda not just as a villain, but as a radical with purpose. His story challenges heroes and audiences alike to question what’s truly fair in a world built on scars. He’s one of the few villains whose death broke hearts.
- Lord Voldemort – Harry Potter Series
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is the ultimate dark wizard—soulless, snake-like, and obsessed with immortality. Ralph Fiennes brings spine-chilling precision to the role, turning Voldemort into the fear that lurks in every shadow. But his biggest flaw isn’t his cruelty—it’s his inability to understand love. And that’s what makes his downfall so satisfying.
- Electo – Spider Man
Jamie Foxx’s Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the kind of villain audiences can’t help but love because he’s equal parts tragic, powerful, and unforgettable. Before becoming a crackling force of destruction, Max Dillon is a lonely, overlooked man who just wants to matter—a relatable vulnerability that makes his fall feel heartbreakingly human. Once transformed into Electro, Foxx blends menace with a magnetic swagger, delivering a visually electric performance that commands every scene. His motives stem from betrayal and isolation rather than pure evil, creating a complex antagonist we empathize with even as he unleashes chaos. It’s that blend of sympathy, style, and sheer screen presence that makes Foxx’s Electro one of the most compelling “wicked” characters fans are drawn to again and again. Jamie Foxx is rumored to be returning as Electro in Spider-Man 3.
- Elphaba – Wicked
Brought to life with fierce vulnerability by Idina Menzel in the musical adaptation—and reimagined on screen by Cynthia Erivo in Wicked and Wicked: For Good—Elphaba shifts from a one-note villain to a misunderstood outsider fighting for justice. Elphaba’s transformation from Oz’s infamous Wicked Witch to a beloved anti-heroine is nothing short of spellbinding. Driven by rejection, resilience, and a deep moral compass, her grit and raw emotion make her impossible not to root for. Whether she’s defying gravity or standing up to the corrupt Wizard himself, fans can’t help but cheer for her—even when the world insists on calling her wicked.
- Hans Gruber – Die Hard (1988)
Alan Rickman delivered a masterclass in villainy with Hans Gruber—cool, composed, and dripping with elegance. He wasn’t your average action-movie bad guy; he quoted philosophy, wore tailored suits, and made terrorism look disturbingly sophisticated. His polite menace made the chaos feel personal. Gruber didn’t just fall from Nakatomi Plaza—he fell into legend.
- Kylo Ren – Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Part tortured soul, part rage-fueled force wielder, Kylo Ren is one of the most emotionally complex villains in the Star Wars universe. Adam Driver channels raw vulnerability into a character torn between legacy and redemption. As Ben Solo, he was born to be a hero; as Kylo, he chose darkness—until love tried to pull him back. His mask may hide his face, but not his pain.
- The Joker – The Dark Knight (2008)
Few villains are as iconic or chilling as the Joker, and Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance in The Dark Knight solidified that status. With smeared makeup, anarchic philosophy, and a haunting laugh, Ledger’s Joker isn’t just a criminal—he’s chaos incarnate. He’s magnetic, terrifying, and impossible to predict. What makes him unforgettable is that beneath the madness lies a disturbingly clear understanding of human nature.
- Thanos – Marvel Cinematic Universe
With a snap of his fingers, Thanos (portrayed by heartthrob Josh Brolin) altered the Marvel universe forever. But unlike many villains, Thanos believes he’s the hero of his own story—seeking balance, not chaos. His philosophical calm, immense power, and twisted sense of righteousness make him far more compelling than your average villain. Watching him forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about sacrifice, power, and morality.
- Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader – Star Wars Saga
From hero to villain, Anakin Skywalker’s fall to Darth Vader is one of cinema’s most tragic transformations. Played by Hayden Christensen and voiced with booming gravitas by James Earl Jones, Vader is a symbol of lost potential, deep regret, and unrelenting power. Though his helmeted presence inspires fear, his backstory invites empathy. The force is strong with this villain, and so is the heartbreak.
- Cruella de Vil – 101 Dalmatians / Cruella
Fashion’s fiercest villain gets a fabulous origin story in Cruella (2021), where Emma Stone transforms the puppy-snatching socialite into a misfit genius driven by grief, vengeance, and bold couture. Glenn Close’s original portrayal in 101 Dalmatians gave us campy evil; Stone gave us a punk rock phoenix. Cruella is style, savagery, and a touch of madness—all stitched into one unforgettable villainess. Other actresses who have played Cruella de Vil were Victoria Smurfit in the show Once Upon a Time and Wendy Raquel Robinson in the movie Descendants.
- Alonzo Harris – Training Day (2001)
Denzel Washington stuns as Detective Alonzo Harris, a man who wears the badge but plays by his own rules. With streetwise swagger and a terrifying command of the law, Alonzo blurs the line between justice and corruption. Washington’s explosive performance earned him an Oscar, turning this villainous cop into a cinematic legend. He’s proof that the most dangerous monsters sometimes wear a badge.
- Magneto – X-Men Series
Both Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender bring gravitas to the role of Magneto, the metal-manipulating mutant with a tragic past. A Holocaust survivor turned revolutionary, Magneto believes in protecting mutantkind at all costs—even if that means becoming the villain. His fierce loyalty and understandable rage make him a complex antagonist. As much a warning as a warrior, Magneto shows us the thin line between justice and vengeance.
- Hannibal Lecter – The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Elegant, eloquent, and utterly terrifying, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony Hopkins) is the most cultured villain you’ll ever meet. A psychiatrist with a taste for human flesh, Lecter is equal parts charming and monstrous. Hopkins’ Oscar-winning performance is chilling in its calmness, forcing viewers to feel both fear and fascination. It’s impossible not to be drawn in by his intelligence—even as you’re repulsed by his deeds.
- Agent Smith – The Matrix Series
The cold, calculated program bent on annihilating humanity, Agent Smith is a digital devil in a black suit. Hugo Weaving’s icy performance is equal parts poetic and menacing. His disdain for human imperfection—and his eerie, controlled speech—make him unforgettable. He’s not just fighting Neo; he’s fighting the very idea of free will.
