Throughout the cinematic history of the DC UniverseA handful of movie villains stand out as some of the best to ever grace the big screen. Long before the movies of the DCEU, DC characters were shaping the comic book genre in theaters around the world. Although heroes tend to get the attention of the majority of audiences, no protagonist is complete without an opposing force to overcome. In essence, that’s why every good superhero movie needs a great villain.
Throughout the DC movie timeline, many villains have been adapted to the big screen, with mixed results. For example, some Batman villains have not been justified by certain cinematic incarnations, while others have been considered groundbreaking or have won incredible plaudits. But, in many senses, the good outweighs the bad, and so here are the 10 best DC movie villains of all time, ranked.
10
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck
First Appearance: Joker (2019)
One of the most celebrated performances in a modern superhero movie took place in 2019 Jokerwhich saw Joaquin Phoenix play Batman’s iconic nemesis. The origin story portrays the character in a slightly more sympathetic light, exploring his decline in mental health as he slowly embraces his new persona as the titular character. Although he is not depicted as an outright villain, the character he is based on is completely reprehensible, cementing him as more of an antagonist than anything else.
Phoenix’s performance as Arthur Fleck was widely celebrated, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The character is written in a surprisingly sensitive manner, and offers a fascinatingly innovative perspective of a villain whose origins are traditionally shrouded in mystery. The depth and complexity of Todd Phillips’ version of the Joker makes him one of the most interesting DC movie villains Of all time, despite not being written as an out-and-out antagonist.
9
Aaron Eckhart as two faces
First Appearance: The Dark Knight (2008)
The movies of Christopher Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy adapted many Batman villains to the big screen, taking a more grounded approach to the hero’s mythos. The Dark Knight Introduce Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent, who, over the course of the movie, goes from one of Gotham’s most celebrated champions of justice to the villain Two-Face. As well as Nolan’s interesting and realistic spin on the character, The Dark KnightTwo-Face is excellent in the depth of the tragedy that prompts his villainous turn.
In capturing the inherent pathos of the character’s inner turmoil, Nolan made Two-Phase truly outstanding, despite only being the secondary antagonist of the film. Having the audience grow attached to the charming and idealistic DA only to show him falling from grace to embrace his dualistic alter ego was a brilliant way to adapt the character. By making Two-Face’s story so emotional and meaningful, Nolan also made him a truly believable DC movie villain..
8
Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor
First Appearance: Superman (1978)
Of all the actors to play Lex Luthor in live action, one continues to stand out as the most iconic. Gene Hackman’s turn as the villain in 1978’s Superman was groundbreaking, especially as it came at a time when superhero cinema was all but non-existent. Hackman reprized the role in many sequels, making his face forever synonymous with Luthor’s.
What makes Hackman’s Luthor so great is just how influential his portrayal of the villain was. He was able to convey the character’s devious intelligence and his unbridled hatred of Superman, all while maintaining a relatively light and family-friendly tone. In doing so, Hackman set a benchmark for the character that all other iterations have been trying to live up to in the years sinceMaking him one of the most iconic iterations of an already iconic character in DC movie history.
7
Cillian Murphy as Scarecrow
First appearance: Batman Begins (2005)
The wicked of the Dark Knight Trilogy may be many in number, but that does nothing to diminish their individual quality. Another of the trilogy’s secondary antagonists stands out as a particularly captivating DC movie villain, again down to the perfect combination of writer, director and actor. Nolan’s vision for the character combined with the talents of Cillian Murphy to create a Scarecrow that truly made the best of the source material while still feeling completely unique.
Murphy’s performance as Jonathan Crane is detached and emotional, making him seem incredibly unnerving even before he puts on his iconic mask. The horrifying design of Scarecrow’s now-iconic mask made him seem more like a horror movie monster than a comic book movie villainAnd, combined with Cillian Murphy’s creepy portrayal, he continues to stand out as an excellent antagonist. In fact, he even overshadowed Batman Begins’ main villain, further demonstrating the quality of Murphy’s Scarecrow.
6
Terence Stump as General Zod
First Appearance: Superman (1978)
After the success of 1978 SupermanThe 1980 sequel shattered expectations with a film of arguably even greater quality. Another landmark in superhero cinema, Superman II The villain General Zod was formally introduced to live-action after a brief cameo in the original movie. Terence Stamp’s take on the Kryptonian warlord remains well-respected even more than four decades after the film’s release, outlining just how great a villain he is.
While the design may now look decidedly dated, Stump’s performance is what really makes Zod such a commanding figure. His cold, alien demeanor perfectly encapsulates everything Zod should be, helping to shape the character’s future on-screen and in the comics. Considering the groundbreaking nature of the movie and its villain, it’s safe to say that Stump’s chilling portrayal of General Zod makes him one of the best DC movie villains of all time.
5
Tom Hardy as Bone
First appearance: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Even though The Dark Knight Rises Considered by some to be the weakest entry in Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy, his depiction of Bane still stands out as a great example of a superhero movie villain. Bane’s design is innovative, giving him a fresh look that’s more in line with Nolan’s realistic Gotham. What’s more, Tom Hardy’s affected performance is as memorable as it is unsettling, marking his Bane as a decidedly dark antagonist.
what makes The Dark Knight Rises‘ Train such a good villain is relatively simple. Instead of simply embracing the character’s obvious strength, care was also taken to convey the depth of his tactical expertise, with the villain outsmarting Batman on several levels. In doing so, Nolan created an iteration of Bane that possessed all the best traits of the character from the comicsWhile also feeling fresh and original.
4
Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman
First Appearance: Batman Returns (1992)
One of the most obvious elements of Tim Burton’s Batman movies is that they are much more than simple adaptations of the comics. They are quirky and dark, and imaginatively depict Burton’s unique take on Gotham City. 1992s Batman Returns Saw Burton introduce Catwoman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Although she is not depicted as a true villain, her role as an anti-hero and tertiary antagonist qualifies her as such.
What makes Pfeiffer’s Catwoman so great is how perfectly she fits into Burton’s world. Despite a bit of comic accuracy, she’s just as weird and wonderful as the other aspects of Burton’s Batman movies. Her story is dark and tragic, and her now-iconic costume only furthered her continued popularity. Considering how she embodies the dark and twisted spirit of Burton’s Gotham, Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman continues to stand out as an excellent DC movie villain.
3
Jack Nicholson as the Joker
First Appearance: Batman (1989)
Another of Tim Burton’s movie characters deserves recognition as one of the great DC movie villains of all time. As the main antagonist of 1989’s BatmanJack Nicholson’s turn as the Joker remains a firm contender for one of the most faithful adaptations of the character as he exists in the source material. Nicholson’s entire Joker story plays out in a single movie, giving him a beginning and end that help cement him as an iconic movie villain.
Nicholson’s dark and deeply maniacal take on the Joker combines comic accuracy with Burton’s singular style. He’s just as twisted and dangerous as the Joker should be, with a look that firmly reminisces the villain’s traditional comic book garb. In terms of fidelity to the source material and how well Nicholson embraced the role, his Joker remains one of the best.
2
Paul Dano as the Riddler
First Appearance: The Batman (2022)
As the main antagonist in the cast of The BatmanPaul Dano’s Riddler played a unique role in the character’s reinvention. Whereas previous live-action adaptations of The Riddler sought to embrace its quirkiness and flamboyance, Matt Reeves’ Riddler The Batman was a much darker and more mysterious figure. In this, Dano’s turn as the Riddler saw him become one of the scariest DC movie villains of all time.
The reimagining of the character as a disillusioned citizen who sought to expose corruption through acts of domestic terrorism was a stark reminder of one of the darker aspects of modern society. The Riddler’s use of the Internet to gather a loyal following and his plot to kill high-profile Gotham figures was absolutely horrifying, especially presented as it was in such a dark manner. Dano’s troubled performance and limited screentime helped his Riddler Become one of the most memorable villains in modern superhero cinema.
1
Heath Ledger as the Joker
First Appearance: The Dark Knight (2008)
Arguably not only one of the best DC movie villains, but perhaps the greatest movie antagonist of all time, Heath Ledger’s Joker continues to stand out above all others. The Dark Knights villain took an instantly recognizable character and made him truly terrifying in the most distinct way imaginable. Ledger’s Joker helped redefine not only the character, but the entire superhero genre in the modern era.
Heath Ledger’s performance manages to simultaneously terrify and mesmerize, making his Joker one of the most magnetic and disturbing figures in cinema. His ever-changing backstory, restless mannerisms, and endlessly quotable dialogue all contribute heavily to the character’s twisted charm. Giving the character a redesign and an added focus on inciting chaos helped cement him as one of the best movie villains not only from the DC UniverseBut across all of the film.
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