The best villains infantasymovies aren’t necessarily the scariest or most violent but the most engaging and memorable within the story’s world. While plenty of these characters are vile and willing to do whatever it takes to gain power, their motivations are also compelling, allowing the viewer to understand their point of view and become invested in their quests. In many cases, the performances of the actors are what set these villains apart.Truthful and dedicated work by the performers is a vital part of fantasyas a whole since the stories take place in otherworldly environments.
The 2000s were a fantastic decade for the genre, as there are manyfantasy movies from the 2000s that are perfect. The success of these stories doesn’t just come from daring heroes but also the unforgettable villains. Without a villain, there would be no stories in the first place, and the heroes would never receive their calls to action. Typically,these films elevate the connection between the heroes and villains, showcasing how they’re two sides of the same coinand serve as mirrors of each other. This is why it’s so important for antagonists to be fully developed in cinema.
10The White Witch
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
The White Witch is afantasy book villain who’s downright terrifying, and Tilda Swinton did a great job of bringing this chilling charisma to life onscreen.The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobewas a blockbuster hit in the 2000s, earning $745,013,115 worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo). Though the love for C.S. Lewis' novels played a role in the movie’s success,there was something both inviting and forbidding about the magical world of Narnia that drew audiences in.
She’s especially engaging because she understands people’s darkest desires and most painful thoughts, allowing her to control them.
As a villain, The White Witch is representative of the sources of evil in Narnia, which physically manifests as the winter taking over the land. She’s especially engaging because she understands people’s darkest desires and most painful thoughts, allowing her to control them. The most prominent example of this is the way she initially turns Edmund against his siblings, only to have him achieve the best redemption arc in the first film.
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
75%
61%
9Captain Hook
Peter Pan (2003)
Captain Hook wasn’t the only fantasy villain that Jason Isaacs brought to life in the 2000s, as he’s also known for his turn as Lucius Malfoy in theHarry Potterseries. However,the underrated 2003 adaptation ofPeter Pandeserves a lot more recognition,as Isaac’s turn as Hook might be one of his best performances to date. While most audiences know the basic story beats of Peter Pan and know what kind of villain Hook is supposed to be, Isaacs brings surprising depth and sadness to the role.
Hook’s loneliness is brought to the forefront inPeter Pan,as the movie leans into the fact that Hook hates Peter because he’s mourning his own childhood. He is a cautionary tale of what can happen when children grow up without being properly prepared for the real world, never really growing older, only meaner and more unhappy. His piracy and adventurous life are a way for him to get as close to Peter’s world as possible.
77%
74%
8Captain Barbosa
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
When Disney first envisioned thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, the studio likely didn’t realize what a phenomenon the movies would become. Though the original trilogy is the strongest, with the first movie,The Curse of the Black Pearl, one of the tightest fantasy movies of the 2000s, each installment has successfully expanded the world of the narrative. While most audiences might think of Captain Jack Sparrow, Will, and Elizabeth when remembering the characters in the films,Geoffrey Rush’s Captain Barbossa is just as iconic.
As the franchise continued, other, more terrible villains emerged, but Barbossa will always hold a special place in the heart of the narrative.
As the franchise continued, other, more terrible villains emerged, but Barbossa will always hold a special place in the heart of the narrative. He’s the prototypical example of a classic pirate, making him the perfect foil to Jack, who always defies expectations. Though he’s unscrupulous and unafraid to push his crew to their limits, Barbossa’s pride in his ship and loyalty to his cause are a credit to the character. Barbossa might begin the story as the source of Elizabeth’s nightmares, but his aim to become mortal again is one any audience member can understand.
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86%
7Fairy Godmother
Shrek 2 (2004)
TheShrekmovies are known for their playful satirization of the fairy tale genre, subverting audience expectations by undermining the tropes that fairy tales rely on. In the firstShrek, this is achieved by positioning the classic villain, the ogre, as the real knight in shining armor. InShrek 2, the writers took this even further, forcing Shrek to question what comes next after his supposed happily ever after.Making the Fairy Godmother, who usually makes dreams come true, the ultimate villainwas a stroke of genius.
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Jennifer Saunders voices the Fairy Godmother, a character who carefully manipulates people and events behind the scenes to put her son in a position of power.By relying on her reputation for helping people find their happy endings, she has a lot of freedom in the narrativeand is able to convince the other characters of her pure intentions. Even though the audience knows that she’s pulling the strings and has ill intentions, the archetypal goodness of a Fairy Godmother creates inherent conflict.
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69%
6Lamia
Stardust (2007)
The 2007 screen adaptation ofStardusttakes some liberties with the book, but it preserves many of the dark and unique elements that make the story so memorable. While the witches are far from the only people in pursuit of the star, Yvaine, who fell from the sky, Lamia is smart and conniving enough to come the closest. Played by Michelle Pfeiffer in a deliciously evil performance,Lamia is the witch who sets out to carve Yvaine’s heart from her chestto preserve her youth and beauty.
Her ambition, power, and perfect character design all keep the audience immersed in the narrative and fantastical elements ofStardust.
While this goal in and of itself is scary enough to be entrancing, Lamia’s prowess in terms of subtle manipulation is what sets her apart. There are plenty of morally ambiguous characters inStardust, but Lamia is the most undeniably evil, lulling Yvaine into a false sense of security to kill her and reanimate the corpses of the dead to fight Tristan in the final battle. Her ambition, power, and perfect character design all keep the audience immersed in the narrative and fantastical elements ofStardust.
5The Other Mother
Coraline (2009)
BringingCoralineto life using stop-motion animation was the perfect choice for this story, as the terror and seduction of the Other Mother translate perfectly through this medium.Coralinewas immediately singled out for its visual style and cohesive aesthetic after it was released, and in the years since its premiere, it’s aged extremely well. ThoughCoralineis meant for children,the frightening nature of the narrative will give even adult viewers nightmares,especially after the Other Mother transforms.
The uncanny likeness the Other Mother shares with Coraline’s real mom lulls Coraline into being enchanted by this parallel world where it seems as if everything will go right for her. However,the Other Mother has terrifying intentions and feeds on the fear of Coralineand the other children she’s trapped. As one of thebest animated fantasy movies ever made,Coralineseamlessly blends the material aspects of the story and the Other Mother with the larger themes she represents, like loneliness and abandonment.
91%
4Sauron
The Lord of the Rings (2001–2003)
When it comes to fantasy villains, many wouldn’t exist without J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sauron. Though the characters inThe Lord of the Ringsmovies rarely come face to face with the powerful antagonist, his shadow and gaze are everywhere they go, especially in Frodo’s part of the journey. As the ring bearer,Frodo is constantly laden with the weight of Sauron’s power and influence,which lesser beings would easily succumb to in his position.
Early on, the audience is introduced to how quickly the greatest minds of Middle-earth are undone by the corruption of the Ring and its desire to be reunited with Sauron.
Understanding the extent of Sauron’s reach and inherent connection to the One Ring is a critical piece of everyLord of the Ringsfilm. Early on, the audience is introduced to how quickly the greatest minds of Middle-earth are undone by the corruption of the Ring and its desire to be reunited with Sauron. There are few villains who exude as much undeniable power as Sauron, andThe Lord of the Ringsdoesn’t shy away from imbuing the stress and tension of his existence into every scene.
The Fellowship of the Rings (2001)
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95%
The Return of the King (2003)
94%
88%
3Captain Vidal
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Guillermo del Toro has long been hailed as a master of character design and immersive storytelling, andPan’s Labyrinthis one of the best examples of this. WhileCaptain Vidal, played by the terrifying Sergi López,isn’t one of the creatures that del Toro decks out in intricate prosthetics, he is the most intense and arresting antagonist. It’s his humanity that makes him so horrible, as his cruelty is simply that of a man instead of a mystical beast like the Pale Man.
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Many of the most iconic fantasy movies in cinema history feature performances from actors who are the best at bringing magical worlds to life.
Vidal is a stand-in for the totalitarian government he works forand is a much more real and immediate threat to Ofelia and her allies than the antagonist she comes up against in the Faun’s quest. Even thoughPan’s Labyrinthis often described as a dark fairy tale or a grown-upAlice in Wonderland, the story is deeply rooted in Spanish history and is a fierce indictment of the rise and brutality of fascist governments. These elements make the story and Vidal’s character eternally enduring.
2No-Face
Spirited Away (2001)
Spirited Awayis remembered as Hayao Miyazaki’s magnum opusand one of the best fantasy films of the 21st century. Visually stunning and emotionally raw, the movie transcends genre, connecting with all audiences. Its sweeping story is engaged in themes of loss of innocence and coming of age, which every character grapples with. While the protagonist, Chihiro, is the clearest example of the themes, the antagonists also go through these changes and development. No-Face, like many of Ghibli’s villains, isn’t really a villain at all.
Miyazaki is known for giving all of his characters the same levels of empathy and nuance, no matter their role in the story.
Miyazaki is known for giving all of his characters the same levels of empathy and nuance, no matter their role in the story. No-Face might cause trouble at the bathhouse, but it’s because Chihiro shows him kindness and attention that he’s subdued. He’s representative of the fear of abandonment and isolation that plagues Chihiro and the other characters throughout the story.Spirited Awayis afantasy movie that’s pretty dark, but its most emotional elements all serve the greater purpose of the story.
96%
1Voldemort
Harry Potter (2001–2011)
Fantasymovies in the 2000s were defined by theHarry Potterseries. Following the explosive popularity of the books, it didn’t take long for the film adaptations to start rolling out and capturing the minds of a generation. As much as the series is about Harry, it’s equally about his eternal nemesis, Voldemort. A terrifying manifestation of all that’s dark and evil in the Wizarding World,Voldemort ends up creating Harry, the only person who can defeat him,through his own arrogance and cruelty.
ThroughoutHarry Potter, Voldemort consistently underestimates Harrybecause Voldemort doesn’t understand that love is an even more powerful source of magic than he can imagine. This is his ultimate undoing as a villain and allows Harry to come up against him, even when Harry is only a child. It’s been over ten years since the lastHarry Pottermovie came out, and the hold that the franchise and its characters have on the cultural mindset hasn’t faded. While part of this is thanks to Harry, the story wouldn’t exist without Voldemort.
80%
82%
90%
Order of the Phoenix (2007)
78%
81%
83%
85%
