Superhero flicks dominate the box office, but sometimes the most compelling characters wear the black hat. Here are five supervillain movies that delve into the minds and motivations of those who oppose the good guys, making them far more than just one-dimensional baddies.
1. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)
This neo-noir masterpiece isn’t just about the brooding anti-hero, Dwight McCarthy. Eva Green’s portrayal of Ava Lord is a masterclass in villainous manipulation. Sexy, cunning, and utterly ruthless, Ava leaves a trail of destruction in her wake, blurring the lines between victim and villain.
2. Venom (2018)
Tom Hardy’s charismatic performance elevates Venom from monstrous alien symbiote to an oddly endearing anti-hero. The film explores the complex relationship between Eddie Brock and the entity that grants him immense power. Venom’s motivations are a blend of self-preservation and a twisted sense of justice, making him an unpredictable and captivating character.
3. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Samuel L. Jackson delivers a flamboyant and unforgettable performance as Richmond Valentine, a ruthless tech billionaire with a megalomaniacal plan to wipe out a large portion of the human population. Valentine’s twisted environmentalism and his flamboyant personality make him a truly unique villain.
4. Cruella (2021)
This origin story for the infamous Disney villain, Cruella de Vil, explores the events that twisted a young Estella into the fur-obsessed Cruella. Emma Stone’s captivating performance showcases a character fueled by a desire for revenge and a taste for the finer things in life, even if it means sacrificing a few puppies.
5. Megamind (2010)
This animated gem takes a comedic look at the supervillain trope. Megamind, the blue-skinned villain tired of always losing to the hero Metro Man, hatches a hilarious plan to create a new hero – only for things to not go quite according to plan. Megamind’s journey from villain to reluctant hero is both heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny.
