9 Most Iconic Cinematic Villains We Can't Forget

Walking through the dark alleyways under the fading twilight, if the eerie tales of horror come to your mind, you know you are a suckler of thrillers. Heroes are underdogs, champs, big shot, superman in a grand narrative. But the dichotomy with villains is such that a hero cannot become grand without their treachery, manipulative and sociopathic tendencies.

Antagonists challenge the virtues, tapping into our primal fears, curiosity, and sometimes, even admiration. Their take on the world forces uncomfortable truths about human nature and the society. Villains like Freddy Kruger, corrupt but charismatic Reverend Preston force actions and philosophies that are not normative and are tales of caution and fear.

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Moreover, well characterised villains bring moral ambiguity and create a lot more fascination etching them in our cultural consciousness. And you are not weird to feel love while you hate them, its pure magic of writing.

Iconic Villains We Can't Forget

Some are born villains other become that, nevertheless, these cinematic nemeses have provoked our sensibilities and forced us to reflect on human nature and critique cultural norms:

Hannibal Lecter (Silence of The Lambs, 1998)

Played by Anothy Hopkins, Hannibal Lecter is an iconic villain who lacks empathy but is extremely intelligent. So much so that he is able to think ahead of his victims and outsmart them all. A cannibal, Lecter's taste is twisted but refined.

He creates the most stunning dishes out of his victims (at least from his presentation skills) and exploits the human fear of being exploited and consumed. His unpredictability is his wild card.

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Certainly, a compelling and terrifying villain that has his franchise - from books to sequels to TV series, Hannibal Lecter's choice of weapon is his ability to be a great manipulator who is seductive and charming. A special mention to the actor who played the young Hannibal in Hannibal Rising directed by Peter Webber.

Hans Landa (Inglorious Basterds, 2009)

A Quentine Tarantino creation, Hans Landa, is the multilingual Nazi brut in Inglorious Basterds. Cunning, unsettlingly charming, Landa is one of the villainous villains who has mastered the art of manipulation and brutality, making him the most hated yet fascinating characters.

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Langda Tyagi (Omkara, 2006)

Langda meaning limp, is a character created by the genius Vishal Bharadwaj. Inspired by Shakespeare's Othello, Langda Tyagi ( Lago from Othello) played by Saif Ali Khan is one of the most iconic villains from Hindi Cinema. What makes him the most hated characters is the fact that his ruthless ambition brings the worst out of him, leading to several lives being ruined. He is deeply jealous but begrudgingly loyal to Omkara (Ajay Devgn). Tyagi only desire revenge.

Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter and Order of Phoenix, 2007)

Everyone hated Bellatrix Lestrange from the magical fantasy world of Harry Potter, especially when she tortures Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) for being a mud blood. Her sheer madness is jarring and fanaticism terrifying. What makes her so dislikable is the fact that she enjoys inflicting pain. A despicable character, she is unapologetic about being who she is but dearly seeks approval and care from the one who must not be named.

Voldemort (Harry Potter Series)

Voldemort, the one who must not be named, will go down in history as one of the iconic villains. Creation of author J.K Rowling, Voldemort is the nemesis of Harry Potter. He lusts power of all things and is willing to do the worse kind of damage to make it happen. Killing, torturing, using people as his puppets is what thrills him. The dark lord of magic, Voldemort's obsession with immortality is creepy.

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Gabbar Singh (Sholay, 1975)

The dacoit from Sholay deserves a spot on the iconic villain of all-time list. A combination of Salim Khan's and Javed Akhtar's creative genius, more than his ruthless behaviour, it's his thinking- the dialogues-that make him a menace and iconic.

Scar (Lion King, 1994)

Pretty sure, those who grew up watching The Lion King really hated Scar for his jealous nature. Cunning and a pathetic manipulator, Scar's iconic status stems from how well his arc was written and animated. Of course, the voice-acting makes him terrorising.

Norman Bates (Psycho, 1960)

Whatever made Hitchcock present Norman Bates' inner turmoil the way he did in 1960's Psycho, he ended up creating a villain who is the most fascinating yet terrifying at the same time. Suffering with Oedipal complex and a split personality, he is comfortable with his brutal actions and disturbed nature, and inflicting horror.

Joker (Batman Series)

A cult villain played by several actors in Hollywood, Joker is the perfect iconic villain. Known for his anarchic nature, he fears nothing, making him extremely dangerous and mysterious characters to have ever been created. He is able to push the moral fabric, highlighting Batman's limits and perfectly complementing his clean conscience with corruption, filth.