Every narrative requires conflict, and, when it comes to blockbuster movies, that requirement is best filled by a scene-stealing villain. Some villains are foes that powerful superheroes battle, while others are characters hellbent on harming as many people as possible.
It's obvious that a villain has outshined the hero when they're more talked about in the media. In movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street, few can recall the names of the teens, but everyone knows of Freddy Kreuger. Other movie franchises, such as Halloween, have a recurring hero such as Laurie Strode, but it's clear that fans are far more interested in the backstory of Michael Myers. Other than horror movies, there's plenty of villains who fans love almost more than the hero.
10 The Joker (The Dark Knight)
The Dark Knight may be a film about Batman, but there's no denying that The Joker absolutely stole the show. Chaotic and predictable, he always seems to be one step ahead of Gotham's protector, and he's far more engaging than the film's gravely-voiced incarnation of DC's famous hero.
Many fans have acknowledged that the Joker is the best Batman villain in the Christopher Nolan trilogy. Heath Ledger's performance as the character was reckless and a tough villain for Batman to battle. In superhero movies, it's nice to see when the villain poses a real threat to the hero since protagonists often seem overpowered.
9 Kylo Ren (Star Wars)
The new Star Wars trilogy focuses on Rey, a new character introduced to the universe, as she discovers that she has a strong connection to the Force. Rey finds herself joining the Resistance, a team of rebels, against The First Order, led by Star Wars' dangerous sith lord-wannabe Kylo Ren.
In the first two films, it's unclear where Rey comes from. All details of her history and parentage remained a mystery. On the other hand, Kylo Ren was immediately revealed to be the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. Kylo, being the grandson of the infamous Darth Vader, was far more interesting than Rey.
8 Loki (Thor)
After Thor is banished from Asgard and sent to Earth, his brother, Loki, gains the throne. Thor's friends travel to Earth in order for Thor to return and put a stop to Loki's villainous ruling.
Thor is the typical charismatic hero, but Loki's story has more depth to it. In the movie, Loki learns that he was adopted and profoundly unlike the rest of his family. His anger and jealousy of Thor lead him to be an unforgettable villain, causing the formation of The Avengers and the creation of the iconic character he is now.
7 Voldemort (Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone)
Harry Potter's entire story revolves around the fact that his parents were murdered by a powerful wizard named Lord Voldemort. After Voldemort was unable to cast a killing curse on Harry Potter, the two remained connected.
While Harry Potter is the hero of the story, he doesn't have as much history as Voldemort does, being only 11 years old in the first movie. There's a lot of mystery to Voldemort, and, throughout the series, viewers only get to see fragments of Voldemort's past and learn how he chose a dark path in life. Without Voldemort, Harry Potter wouldn't have been anywhere near as significant in the wizarding world.
6 John Doe (Seven)
Se7en is about two detectives working together to find a killer who's murdering people based on one of the seven deadly sins. In the movie, the killer is referred to as John Doe, as his identity is a mystery for the majority of the movie.
Even though this movie mostly focuses on the detectives, the mysterious serial killer is far more interesting than the two leads. His unique murders and clues that he leaves keep the viewers engaged, almost as if they're also trying to solve the puzzles of the killer.
5 The Wicked Witch Of The West (Wizard Of Oz)
The Wizard of Oz follows a young girl named Dorothy as she's swept away during a tornado to the magical land of Oz. It's in Oz that she meats a lion, a scarecrow, and a tin man who are all on a journey to retrieve the Wicked Witches broom in order to receive a gift from a mysterious wizard.
The Wicked Witch is iconic when it comes to interpretations of witches, with many future movies and shows portraying witches as having green skin just like in the Wizard of Oz. In the film, she constantly tries to get revenge on Dorothy, who accidentally killed her sister upon entering Oz. With Dorothy being an outsider to Oz, the witch is far more interesting, as she grew up there. There has even been a successful broadway show titled Wicked which created an immersive backstory for the Wicked Witch.
4 Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmatians)
101 Dalmations is an animated Disney movie about 101 puppies that are trying to escape the grasp of Cruella De Vil. Cruella intends to use the puppy's fur to make a new coat. In this movie, the heroes are the owners of the puppies, Roger and Anita.
Even though this movie focuses on adorable puppies, many viewers hardly remember the names of the dogs and heroic people in this film. Cruella De Vil is an iconic movie villain for her signature sense of style and personality. Despite being a villain, she now even has her own solo movie, and, as per Collider, there are rumors that a sequel is in the making.
3 Dr. Evil (Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery)
Austin Powers is about a spy from the 1960s that agreed to be cryogenically frozen just like his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil, in order to battle him in the future if needed. After Dr. Evil awakens in the 90s, the British ministry unfreezes Austin Powers so that he can stop his plans of taking over the world.
Even though Austin Powers is a 90s movie, it's still well-known for its unique characters, and Dr. Evil is one of the funniest evil scientists in any movie. It's clear that Dr. Evil was inspired by villains from James Bond movies, which is probably why the character has a lot of depth to him. He's a parody of many other villains, but his unique look and characterization make him iconic in his own right.
2 T-800 (The Terminator)
The Terminator is about a cyborg that travels back in time to kill a woman named Sarah Connor before she gives birth to a child that will start a revolution against cyborgs in the future. In this movie, Sarah Connor is protected by a man named Kyle Reese as the two try to escape the T-800.
It's no surprise that the T-800 is the most significant character in the film, considering this movie was named after its villain. While much of the spotlight is cast on Sarah Connor, the T-800 steals the show. In its sequel, the Terminator does become a hero, but that almost always happens to villains that the viewers love—Terminator, Loki, and even Cruella are popular villains that later had heroic moments in movies.
1 Annie Wilkes (Misery)
Misery follows an author as he returns home after finishing a novel, but he suddenly ends up in a car accident. He's rescued by Annie Wilkes and is welcomed into her home. Eventually, he realizes that he's not there as a guest when he discovers she's a huge fan that has actually abducted him.
It's obvious that a villain has become prominent in pop culture when their character has been adapted yet again in future movies, which is exactly what happened with Annie Wilkes. Other than her adventures in the movie Misery, she was also given a backstory on the show Castle Rock.
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