A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Perfectly Cast Super Villains

Last week, Reel Speak ranked the perfectly cast superheroes in cinema (read it HERE). Since every great hero needs a great villain, we now come to Reel Speak’s Top 10 Perfectly Cast Super Villains. 

 

When the grandfather of all superhero films, SUPERMAN took flight in 1978, the new film genre had an air of legitimacy by casting actors who were well-regarded in all film circles. That is a tradition that continues into today, with the lineups of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), looking like the call-sheet on Oscar Night; Robert Redford, Cate Blanchett, Michael Douglas…to name a few. The caped and armored genre based on the comic books of decades past has become a go-to for actors and actresses looking to become icons in some form or another, and many of them have taken on the roles of the Big Bad; the villain in the story, the antagonist, the yin to the hero’s yang. The most perfectly casted villains are the ones who made it their own while staying loyal to the comic roots; the ones that became cultural icons while upstaging or nearly stealing the show from the hero. 

To qualify, the actor or actress needs at least one appearance in a live-action, feature film, and be based on a comic book. And a reminder; this list reflects the best pairings of actor and character, and not necessarily a ranking of the best super villains in film...because that is another story. 

 

 

So let’s get nuts…

 

 

 

 

10. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

First Appearance: SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)

SUICIDE SQUAD is by far the most dysfunctional film made in the last 20 years; failing in both concept and execution. But it’s lone bright spot is Margot Robbie in the role of Harley Quinn; the slightly insane super villainess and on-again, off-again lover/partner to the Joker. Robbie captures the character’s playfulness; never taking things too seriously and yet still deadly with a baseball bat or hammer. Her cultural impact can be seen at any Comic-Con or Halloween party, with her now trademark shorts and t-shirt seen by cosplayers everywhere. 

 

 

 

9. Tom Hardy as Bane

First Appearance: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)

Tom Hardy stepped into the role of the masked hulking baddie who remains one of the few who could break The Bat, in Christopher Nolan’s third and final Batman film. Hardy not only put on the muscular pounds for the part, but pulls off a stunning intimidating voice that sends chills. With his face mostly covered, he does a lot of acting with his eyes…which was just as frightening. 

 

 

 

8. Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman

First Appearance: BATMAN RETURNS (1992)

This Blogger doesn’t have a lot of great things to say about the first five Batman films made from 1989 to 1997, but one of the few would be Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Tim Burton’s second film from 1992. Pfeiffer is tasked with playing the role in two forms; the mousy and timid Selina Kyle, and then the vicious and seductive Catwoman. She makes the difficult transition seem flawless, and renders Batman powerless not with muscle but with her feminine side. 

 

 

 

7. Josh Brolin as Thanos

First Appearance: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)

Marvel’s ultimate Big Bad made his first cameo in 2012 at the tail-end of THE AVENGERS, but it wasn’t until 2014 when actor Josh Brolin stepped into his golden armor. Brolin provided the voice and motion-capture for Thanos and perfectly captured the character; a voice that had intelligence behind the menace…one of the few villains whose rationale actually made sense. 

 

 

 

6. Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor

First Appearance: SUPERMAN (1978)

Gene Hackman already had an Oscar under his belt when he took on the role of Superman’s arch-rival Lex Luthor in the still-magnificent SUPERMAN from 1978. Hackman plays the character as a beleaguered CEO; constantly wondering out-loud why he is surrounded by nincompoops while trying to make his dastardly wheels turn. As one of the best screamers in Hollywood, Hackman goes from cool to rage in a breathtaking blink. 

 

 

 

5. Alfred Molina as Dr. Octopus 

First Appearance: SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004)

Alfred Molina takes on the character of Doc Ock, one of Spider-Man’s greatest foes, in Sam Raimi’s often overlooked sequel. What makes Molina so perfect for the role is that he doesn’t really look like a bad guy; even after he has his transformation with his trademark sunglasses, green overcoat, and menacing tentacles. Molina takes the character from a loving husband and mentor to Peter Parker to a formidable threat with ease. 

 

 

 

4. Terence Stamp as General Zod

First Appearance: SUPERMAN (1978)

He made his first appearance in SUPERMAN, but it wasn’t until SUPERMAN II in 1980 where he was able to make the character his own. As one of the few foes who could kick Superman’s ass on his way to ruling Planet Houston, Stamp finds a way to exert fear every time he’s on the screen, and his actions and hubris make us hate him. 

 

 

 

3. Ian McKellen as Magneto

First Appearance: X-MEN (2000)

Ian McKellen was already 61 years old when he stepped into the helmet and cape of the diabolical Magneto; the mutant who could control all metal in Bryan Singer’s X-MEN. As a character who suffered unspeakable trauma during WWII, his judgement against humanity in the way they treat what they fear is understandable, and in a way, we root for him even when he is betraying his own friends. McKellen captures this, and plays the part with a dignity and grace that few actors have been able to put into their villains across four film appearances. 

 

 

 

2. Tom Hiddleston as Loki

First Appearance: THOR (2011)

When Tom Hiddleston first stepped into the role of the God of Mischief, brother to Thor, and wanna-be king of Asgard, we had no idea that he would become the cultural icon that he is today; having played the character in six feature films and a TV series. Loki is an unpredictable character with the ability to be loyal to his brother and friends one second, and stabbing them in the back the next. Hiddleston pulls this off with ease, and with one glance can go from menacing to caring. 

 

 

 

1. Heath Ledger as Joker

First Appearance: THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)

The late great Heath Ledger steps into the role of the Clown Prince of Crime in Christopher Nolan’s grand Batman film, THE DARK KNIGHT from 2008. Where most super villains are out to destroy the world or rule it, this Joker was an agent of chaos; not just for his own ha ha’s  but to educate us in the hard truth that nothing is ever set in place. Ledger plays this stunningly well with a breathtaking performance in voice and a broken walk and stature; invoking fear with humor, threat with intelligence. The Joker is a Batman foe that has no superpowers, but as it’s been stated elsewhere, he has that super-sanity that easily throws Batman’s ideas of law and order. Ledger throws everything we thought we knew about Joker into chaos here, and today people use his ideas as a philosophy for their own lives; a little anarchy into the established order. When Ledger was first announced in the role, many people laughed…but it is his Joker who gets the final ha ha. 

 

Reel Speak's Top 10 Perfectly Cast Super Villains

1. Heath Ledger as Joker
2. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
3. Ian McKellen as Magneto
4. Terence Stamp as General Zod
5. Alfred Molina as Dr. Octopus
6. Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor
7. Josh Brolin as Thanos
8. Michelle Pfieffer as Catwoman
9. Tom Hardy as Bane
10. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn