Movie villains certainly seem to the ones that we all love to hate, but when it comes to the meanest and most badass of all time there are so many in movie history to choose from, but thanks to Empire Magazine, the argument has been settled and the Greatest Film Villain has been found!
Darth Vader has been voted the Greatest Film Villain of All Time by film fans.
Yep, that’s right folks the legendary masked Star Wars baddie has topped a poll by Empire magazine’s website.
On the Dark Lord, Empire’s Chris Hewitt writes: “Everything about Vader is designed for maximum malevolence. The mask, the voice, the rasping rattle, guaranteed to keep kids awake at night.
That feeling that he’s in complete control of every situation. That feeling that if you even so much as look at him funny, it’s brown britches time. This is what pure evil looks and sounds like.”
In second place is Heath Ledger’s unforgettable portrayal of The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and in third is Tom Hiddlestone’s Marvel God of Mischief, Loki.
In fourth is master robber Hans Gruber portrayed in Die Hard by the much-loved Alan Rickman and rounding off the top five is everyone’s favourite cannibal, Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter.
Elsewhere in the list, Harry Potter’s nemesis Voldemort can be found at nine, the cold-hearted Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is at thirteen and horror icon Freddy Krueger, star of the popular Nightmare on Elm Street series, is at eighteen.
Commenting on the results, Empire’s editor-in-chief, Terri White said: “Bad guys are a huge part of what makes movies so damn good. But who’s the baddest? Empire readers voted in their droves and named Darth Vader their number one villain of all time. The pull of the dark side is still strong it would seem…”
The Top 20 Greatest Villains of All Time:
Empire Magazine – Greatest Villains
1. Darth Vader
2. The Joker (The Dark Knight)
3. Loki
4. Hans Gruber
5. Hannibal Lecter
6. Hans Landa
7. Kylo Ren
8. Anton Chigurgh
9. Voldemort
10. The Alien
11. Gollum
12. Sauron
13. Nurse Ratched
14. The Sheriff of Nottingham
15. Palpatine
16. Norman Bates
17. Agent Smith
18. Freddy Krueger
19. The T-1000
20. Michael Myers
So congrats to the Sith Lord. This month’s Empire magazine, featuring the Greatest Villains Ever, is on sale today.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
