10 Best DC Movie Villains Of All Time, Ranked

Across the cinematic history of the DC Universe, a 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. Though heroes tend to receive the majority of audiences’ attention, no protagonist is complete without an opposing force to overcome. In essence, that’s why every good superhero movie needs a great villain.

Across DC’s movie timeline, many villains have been adapted to the big screen, with mixed results. For example, several Batman villains have not been done justice by certain cinematic incarnations, whereas others have been considered groundbreaking or have won incredible plaudits. However, in many senses, the good far outweigh 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 came in 2019’s Joker, which saw Joaquin Phoenix play Batman’s iconic nemesis. The origin story portrayed 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. Though he’s not depicted as an outright villain, the character he’s based on is entirely reprehensible, cementing him as more an antagonist than anything else.

Phoenix’s performance as Arthur Fleck was widely celebrated, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The character was written in a surprisingly sensitive manner, offering 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-Face

First appearance: The Dark Knight (2008)

The movies of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy adapted many Batman villains to the big screen, taking a more grounded approach to the hero’s mythos. The Dark Knight introduced 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 Knight’s Two-Face is excellent in the depth of the tragedy that prompts his villain turn.

In capturing the inherent pathos of the character’s inner turmoil, Nolan made Two-Face truly outstanding, despite only being the film’s secondary antagonist. 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 incredible 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, particularly as it came at a time when superhero cinema was all but non-existent. Hackman went on to reprise the role in numerous 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 communicate 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 since, making 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 villains of the Dark Knight trilogy might be many in number, but that does nothing to lessen their individual quality. Another of the trilogy’s secondary antagonists stands out as an especially 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 utterly unique.

Murphy’s performance as Jonathan Crane is detached and emotionless, 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 villain, and, 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 Stamp As General Zod

First appearance: Superman (1978)

Following the success of 1978’s Superman, the 1980 sequel shattered expectations with a film of arguably even greater quality. Another landmark in superhero cinema, Superman II formally introduced the villain General Zod 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.

Though the design might now look decidedly dated, Stamp’s performance is what truly makes Zod such a commanding figure. His cold, alien demeanor perfectly encapsulates everything Zod should be, helping to shape the character’s future both on-screen and in the comics. Considering the groundbreaking nature of the movie and its villain, it’s safe to say that Stamp’s chilling portrayal of General Zod makes him one of the best DC movie villains of all time.

5 Tom Hardy As Bane

First appearance: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Even though The Dark Knight Rises was considered by some as the weakest entry in Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy, its 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’ Bane such a good villain is relatively simple. Instead of simply embracing the character’s obvious strength, care was also taken to communicate 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 of the character’s best traits from the comics, while 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’re far more than simple adaptations of the comics. They’re quirky and dark, and imaginatively depict Burton’s unique take on Gotham City. 1992’s Batman Returns saw Burton introduce Catwoman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Though she’s 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 within Burton’s world. Despite a modicum of comic accuracy, she’s also every bit as weird and wonderful as the other aspects of Burton’s Batman movies. Her story is dark and tragic, and her now-iconic costume has only furthered her continued popularity. Considering how she embodies the dark and twisted spirited 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 Batman, Jack Nicholson’s turn as the Joker remains a firm contender for one of 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 every bit as twisted and dangerous as the Joker should be, with a look firmly reminiscent of the villain’s traditional comic book garb. In terms of faithfulness to the source material and in 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 Batman, Paul Dano’s Riddler played a unique role in the reinvention of the character. Whereas previous live-action adaptations of the Riddler sought to embrace his quirkiness and flamboyance, the Riddler of Matt Reeves’ 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 amass a loyal following and his plot to murder high-profile Gotham figures was utterly horrifying, particularly presented as it was in such a dark manner. Dano’s unsettling 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 just 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 Knight’s villain took an instantly recognizable character and made him truly terrifying in the most outstanding way imaginable. Ledger’s Joker helped redefine not just the character, but the entire superhero genre in the modern age.

Heath Ledger’s performance managed to simultaneously horrify and mesmerize, making his Joker one of the most magnetic and disturbing figures in cinema. His ever-changing backstory, unsettling 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 just from the DC Universe, but across all of film.

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