Most Memorable Movie Villains

A darkly satirical novel by Bret Easton Ellis laid the groundwork for this film adaptation, in which businessman Patrick Bateman dispenses music trivia and murder. The character’s casual sociopathy and obsession with status provided a grim mirror to New York’s shallow yuppie culture. Christian Bale’s status as an enduring movie icon arguably starts here.

Playing scientist Norman Osborn, Dafoe experiments on himself and unleashes the monstrous alter-ego Green Goblin. The character was one among a number of supervillains to reappear in the recent blockbuster “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

Using a powerful hallucinogen to render his victims insane, ScareCrow was quite unlike any previous villain in the history of Batman movies. His method of madness bore unique ties to Bruce Wayne’s backstory and helped whet audience palates for Christopher Nolan’s trilogy in general.

Bardem’s Oscar-winning performance as cold-blooded assassin Anton Chigurh lent this Coen brothers classic the air of a horror movie. Equal parts relentless and emotionless, the character tracks down his prey with the dedication of a Terminator.

Batman’s most iconic adversary, the Joker has never been more calculating or nihilistic as he is in this beloved sequel. The premature death of actor Heath Ledger has only added to the enduring mythology surrounding his legendary performance.