More often than not, movies are an extension of the human mind and heart. The duality of human urge balances the good and bad in equal measure. And to see it portrayed on the big screen makes us feel like it’s not only the protagonists we need to relate to. While the good guys bestow us with inspiration, it’s the bad guys who have fun with the premise. Even then, the audience regards movie villains as a prop to help the hero win. However, there are villains who are more than just their destructive tendencies – some are simply too clever and maniacal to ignore. They are crime lords who scheme the most intricate fabrications of lies and deceit in their hunger for power. From over-obsessively planning to meticulously executing, these villains are the true masterminds of the movie. These smart villains aren’t just capable of manipulating the protagonist, but they also leave the audience conflicted on whether or not to root for them.
Their cunning behavior is paired with a brilliant flair that leaves us stunned. Of course, they’ll sometimes beoutsmarted by the heroand sometimes get away unscathed, but in all sincerity, they manage to show how genius paired with animosity can lead to frightful outcomes. This list is a fun glorification of the smarts of the villains who devise plans so amazing that you’ll be begrudgingly thrilled at every step of the story. From physical prowess to master manipulation, from professional hitmen to deceitful artists, these villains are diverse in their field. It almost makes us think how they’d get a different ending had they chosen good over anything else. But then, how good would a movie with two antagonists with the same goal and no fight to win look like? Pretty bland, right? So, without wasting any time, let’s explore the minds of some criminal masterminds who’d put the smartest heroes to shame.
Updated on October 14th, 2023, by Anushree Banerjee:This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
18Lee Woo-jin
Oldboy’sLee Woo-jinis the very definition of problematic behavior from a villain. Thankfully for him, he is a mastermind and planning a person’s life out for him for the sake of vengeance. Following a series of encounters with the man who was responsible for his sister’s death, Woo-jin decides to punish him by getting him imprisoned for fifteen years and mentally torturing him the entire time through hypnosis.
He even orchestrates a release from prison only to carry out his revenge for a little longer. Woo-jin portrays his grief neatly wrapped around the atrocious madness in a stylish manner, making him peculiarly understandable. Yoo Ji-tae, the actor who plays Lee Woo-jin, fills the room with a soul-stirring air asa hunter who’d never leave a prey.
17Auric Goldfinger
Goldfinger
There are a lot of villains from the James Bond movies that deserve a special mention, however,Auric Goldfinger, even among them holds a legendary place. What makes him so noteworthy is not only is unquenchable thirst for wealth, but also the ways he adopts to accumulate said wealth while trying to get rid of his enemies. Going as far as trying to contaminate the supply of gold at Fort Knox by detonating a radioactive bomb, he makes his name known for another thing he is very fond of other than savagery. That is, of course, his affinity for theatrics.
As a result, it is no wonder he tries to evade Bond in any way possible rather than falling for his traps, which is quite a feat in itself. However, things obviously do not go according to his plans, and Bond eventually gets one over him. Even so, his name is still mentioned in the franchise due to his sheer cunning and all the creative ways he came up with to get rid of his enemies, creating a legacy that is hard to match.
16John ‘Jigsaw’ Kramer
A serial killer who has zero kills and no blood on his hands? That’s got to be some impressive scheming. In his head, Jigsaw, also known asJohn Kramer, is a trickster, and an entertainer. He put people in life-threatening ‘games’ to test their fight-or-flight responses. Kramer was originally an engineer, but anear-death experience brought him a new appreciation for life.
However, like every villain on our list, he’s wired differently. Jigsaw is a detached survivor with a penchant for inflicting pain on others and calling it redemption. His influence, while seen as borderline psychopathic, was so intense that even after death, his disturbing legacy wascarried on by his followers, with each new entry in theSawfranchise bringing exciting new twists to the brutality.
15Hans Gruber
TheDie Hardfranchise is all about the heroes being stylish, clever, and loveable. But it is the villain of the first film,Hans Gruber, a contemporary thief with big brains, that outshines all. A hostage situation on Christmas is something onlythe smartest villain in the roomcould think of. In the said situation, we see Gruber in his attempts to steal billions of dollars in bearer bonds, pretending to be a terrorist, and staging a hostage scene at an LA skyscraper.
The New York City cop John McClane, who is always chill, matches the energy of Gruber. Gruber’s improvisation strategies and his ability to think on his feet make him the perfect combination of clever and cruel. McClane and Gruber’s rivalry is enhanced by their personal flair, snarky comebacks, and desire to win.
14Voldemort
TheHarry PotterFranchise
The popular nemesis of Harry Potter himself,Voldemorthad infused such a terror in the minds of people in and out of the wizarding world that he was known as You-Know-Who orHe-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Voldemort is as villainous as they come. He is obsessed with power and immortality and paired with his magical genius; he’s basically unstoppable.
The later movies show Voldemort’s past, his time at Hogwarts, and Tom Riddle, the prodigy-turned-evil. His hatred for everyone leads him to resort to the power of fear and violence. The only obstacle in his path towards invincible glory is The Boy Who Lived. Ralph Fiennes brings out the sinister and serpentine nature of Lord Voldemort with such precision it’s almost bone-chilling.
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13Lex Luthor
TheSupermanfranchise
The mention of theSupermanfranchise is practically incomplete without the mention of his arch nemesisLex Luthor. Now, an otherworldly superhero like Superman obviously needs someone equally overwhelming to keep him on his toes, and the mad inventor fills out that job description perfectly.
Luthor’s intimidating intelligence, impressive inventions, and the means to achieve everything he could ever want through his endless connections due to being the CEO of his own tech company could have seriously helped people if he was so inclined. However, his motives became anything but helpful, and that resulted inone of the most legendary villains of the franchise, who keeps giving Superman a run for his money at every turn.
12Tom Ripley
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Tom Ripleyis a calm and collected, an (almost) charming new guy in town who wouldn’t draw too much attention towards himself. With his self-effacing personality, he scrutinizes the neighborhood, and once he’s aware of the stakes, he gets on with the mission of convincing Dickie to return to the US. In the first act ofThe Talented Mr. Ripley, you wouldn’t suspect Tom Ripley as an imposter and a stony-hearted sociopath.
Matt Damon portrays Ripley as a likable, insensitive, disarming man. His easygoing decency hides all the dangerous thoughts running through his mind. With his smartness, Ripley manages to get away from his crimes, but there is turmoil, an everlasting paranoia of your past catching up to you. The film is an excellent metaphor for villains mingling among the crowd, silently and unknowingly dwelling in the world.
11Verbal Kint
The Usual Suspects
On the surface,Verbal KintfromThe Usual Suspectsseems like a small-time con man with cerebral palsy, brought in to speak of the murder of his comrades, who were being manipulated by a crime lord named Keyser Söze. No one would suspect him to even hurt a fly. Not until he’s revealed as being Keyser Söze. Another remarkable villain played by Kevin Spacey, Kint/Söze, weaves an intricate web of lies to mislead the interrogators of the truth of his menacing actions.
With anonlinear cinematic approach, the story shows Kint as a meek, rather naive person incapable of carrying out a well-thought-out plan. But in reality, his sheer inclination towards crime and strategizing wins when he gets out scot-free, having fooled everyone.
Collateral
Seeing the heroic action superstar Tom Cruise play an ominous and foreboding villain does make your stomach churn. InCollateral, Cruise playsVincent, a hitman who captures a cab driver and orders him to drive around as he kills five people in one night.
Cruise brings a frostiness to the sociopathic character of Vincent, who considers people as mere targets blocking his path. Vincent is a smooth talker, highly skilled in combat, and never loses his cool. But at one point, Vincent meets his equal who makes him realize all his wrongdoings, resulting in a chase that unleashes his inner darkness.
9Anton Chigurh
No Country for Old Men
Another unforgiving professional hitman,Anton ChigurhfromNo Country for Old Menis someone who works solo and kills people for personal motives. Javier Bardem plays Anton Chirugh as the most convincing villain of all time. The invincible killer follows a moral code that weighs life and death with a coin toss.
Chirugh is devoid of any emotion, playing with the fate of his victim without as much as a flicker in his eyes, making him an apt hitman. The story denies us the purgation of his actions, leaving us with a sense of dread and futility when it comes to the idea of existence.
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