From Scar’s telling us to be prepared to the poor unfortunate souls of Ursula, Disney movie villains have played vital roles in simultaneously frightening viewers and becoming fan favorites over the decades.
In honor of Walt Disney Co.’s 100th birthday later this year, Variety ranks the animation powerhouse’s 10 best movie villains of all time.
The talented animators that have passed through the studio’s halls have created countless characters that transcend the boundaries of conventional archetypes: Not only the whimsical roster of heroes that touch the hearts and imaginations of audiences globally but also the pure evil and sinister villains who have left indelible marks on audiences.
For generations Disney has tapped into the moral complexities of human nature, often challenging the viewer to question their own beliefs that can often live in the gray area between the existence of good and evil. We’ve seen it in redemption arcs explored such as Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast” (1991) or the Evil Queen in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” (1937), providing false hope to the audience that they can transform themselves but ultimately showing their evil is immutable.
Some of the most memorable villains have endured in pop culture, with icons like Cruella de Vil from “101 Dalmatians” and Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty” inspiring live adaptation adaptations, re-imaginings and spin-offs. There’s also a sea change in diversity seen with characters like Mother Gothel from “Tangled” or Dr. Facilier from “The Princess and the Frog,” which provided a refreshing departure from the Eurocentric villains of the past.
Read Variety’s list of the best Disney villains below.
Honorable mentions: Evil Queen (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”), Shere Khan (“The Jungle Book”), Syndrome (“The Incredibles”)
In advance of Walt Disney Co.’s 100th anniversary on Oct. 16, Variety is taking a look at its rich creative legacy. For 10 weeks beginning July 5, Variety will publish a new “best of” list honoring the powerhouse company’s many accomplishments. With a long-lasting legacy of bringing joy to people globally, the cultural impact of Disney may be impossible to measure, but we’ll surely try with each new entry.
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Jafar – Aladdin
The sorcerer wants it all, and with a fire-spitting staff in hand, he’ll do whatever he needs to get it.
In “Aladdin,” Robin Williams owns the genie front-to-back, but Jonathan Freeman’s portrayal of the droopy-faced Jafar is nothing short of outstanding.”
His exaggerated intonations on particular lines, such as “You’d be surprised what you can live through,” offers the base for a backstory worth exploring.
And who can forget all the iconic memes of “hot Daddy Jafar” that littered the internet when viewers feasted their eyes on the Dutch actor Marwan Kenzari in Guy Ritchie’s live-action adaptation? That’s always worth the price of admission.
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Captain Hook – Peter Pan
The enduring Captain Hook from Disney’s “Peter Pan,” voiced by Hans Conried, is the pirate of all pirates in film history (for me, anyway).
With brilliant comedic timing and a natural blend of sophistication and dim-witted catchphrases (“Smee, my dear Smee”), Hook has been done and re-done countless times in the live-action realm, but the animated impression will always remain paramount.
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Humans – Bambi
It’s the evil that lives within us all.
The unseen “man” in the 1942 heartbreaking classic “Bambi” likely started the inner complex within us all that at some point, very soon, we were all going to lose our mothers in the most heinous ways.
When the young Bambi is frantically looking for his mother Faline, following a harrowing gunshot, his Great Prince of the Forest father sure doesn’t evoke any empathy with his coldly delivered “you’re mother can’t be with you anymore.”
Humans are terrible. Men could be worse.
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Lady Tremaine – Cinderella
What a bad Mommy she is. So bad that not many even remember her name outside of “wicked stepmother.”
In “Cinderella,” Lady Tremaine, voiced by Eleanor Audley, exudes sophistication. However, the cruelty and hatred for her stepdaughter, who has lost her parents, is vividly pronounced.
Even how she calls her to her room or drops the memorable one-word “if” regarding her going to the ball is icy and fascinating.
Where’s her origin story or post-event spin-off as the black widow?
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Yzma – The Emperor’s New Groove
Anything Eartha Kitt touched in this life is gold. The eccentric Yzma from the underrated “The Emperor’s New Groove” is among them.
A voice performance worthy of an Oscar nom, the captivating and unforgettable creation of the scene-stealing ex-employee is too amazing not to adore.
Her sly deliveries, sultry voice and brilliant potion creations at among the most quotable in the Disney roster. “Pull the lever, Kronk!” is a line that is often repeated randomly around my home.
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Gaston – Beauty and the Beast
He’s conceited. He’s got a reason.
In “Beauty and the Beast,” the first animated film nominated for best picture, Gaston has good looks and big muscles that have women fawning over him, but he wants more. Much more.
Brought to life with wicked pizzazz by Richard White, the blend of arrogance and narcissism is perfectly executed when amplifying the same qualities that got the Beast into the pickle he finds himself in.
Let’s not forget the sinister “Mob Song,” where the core of his villainy is etched into viewers’ minds before succumbing to a very long mountain drop.
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Cruella de Vil – 101 Dalmatians
Image Credit: Disney The lady kills dogs. That should automatically place her No. 1 on this list; however, we must consider a few other factors when ranking these bad people.
The “101 Dalmatians” antagonist, voiced beautifully by legend Betty Lou Gerson, is unabashed with her cruelty to animals. Still, the excessive ostentation comes with a distinguishing black-and-white fashion that brings her to the right border of “fun.”
While despicable, the villain’s tale spurred a spin-off live-action version, where Emma Stone stepped into the shoes of the complex woman with a tragic backstory.
Cruella’s twisted desires are always on display.
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Ursula – The Little Mermaid
Image Credit: Disney The dastardly octopus/sea witch is a remarkable presence in the 1989 classic “The Little Mermaid,” with an iconic performance from Pat Carroll.
A larger-than-life personality, her flamboyance, desire for power, and thirst for revenge are quite the match for young mermaid Ariel, who seeks the love of a human.
In the echo chamber of iconic villain songs, “Poor Unfortunate Souls” ranks high with its seductive charm and theatrical display that laid the foundation for Melissa McCarthy to deliver a faithful rendition in the live-action remake of 2023.
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Scar – The Lion King
Image Credit: Disney Scar can’t wait to be king, and he’ll do anything to get it, even kill his brother and nephew.
The manipulation and cunning tactics of the “third-in-line” to the throne are expertly brought to life thanks to the team of animators and expert musicians that give him a quintessential bad guy number (“Be Prepared”) and, of course, the voice talent of Oscar winner Jeremy Irons.
And while he may be “surrounded by idiots,” his charisma and power for hunger are best shown through his unflinching murder of Mufasa at the stampede and his relentless disdain for young Simba.
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Maleficent – Sleeping Beauty
Image Credit: Walt Disney Pictures A powerful presence, aside from her iconic design of sorcery and fashionable headpieces, the “Sleeping Beauty” villain, voiced by Eleanor Audley, is the essence of cruelty and evil.
The way she takes delight in imposing curses and pain onto others with a dramatic cackle makes the children’s movie feel like the closest Disney ever came to making an animated horror movie (that floating green light).
And let’s not forget the simple fact she turns into a badass dragon. I know we’re supposed to root for Princess Aurora and Prince Philip’s love, but is it too wicked to share we wanted her to live on?
