Some of the cinema’s most legendary villains have been the subject of thrilling origin stories, with only the very best leaving a lasting legacy. From iconic Disney bad guys to misunderstood misfits, notorious evildoers and ruthless crime lords, Hollywood has produced its fair share of critically-lauded masterpieces centering on devious characters.
Audiences across the world were completely captivated by Joaquin Phoenix’s chilling portrayal of the eponymous DC character in Joker, while critics raved about Francis Ford Coppola’s spellbinding origin tale The Godfather Part II and the sensational performances by its gifted stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. Let’s take a look back at some of the very best villain origin stories in movies.
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9 Maleficent
Walt Disney Pictures
Angelina Jolie delivers a delightfully devious performance as the “Mistress of All Evil” in the 2014 fantasy film Maleficent, which recounts the powerful fairy’s transformation from a hero to a notorious villain and her subsequent quest for revenge against those who wronged her.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
The talented actress had been a huge fan of the Disney picture and famous character at a young age, and felt compelled to take on the role at the urging of her children and after reading the moving script. She called her interpretation of Maleficent as “slightly crazy, extremely vibrant, a little wicked, with big sense of humor, so she’s quite full on. It’s one of those characters that you couldn’t do halfway.” The overwhelming box office success of the film led to a 2019 sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
8 Oz the Great and Powerful
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Chronicling the arrival of savvy con artist/magician Oscar Diggs in the wondrous Land of Oz, the 2013 fantasy adventure Oz the Great and Powerful follows Oscar as he becomes entwined in the battle between three witch sisters Theodora, Glinda and Evanora. Mila Kunis appears as the kind and naïve Theodora, who through a tragic manipulation ultimately leads her to becoming the iconic Wicked Witch of the West. The enchanting Sam Raimi picture takes place twenty years before the events of The Wizard of Oz and serves as a spiritual prequel, showcasing the complicated dynamics between the vastly different siblings.
Oz the Great and Powerful was a smash hit at the box office and earned praise for its performances, with Empire commenting, “Mila Kunis gets a gold star for excellence in bewitchery and Sam Raimi can settle securely behind the curtain as a mature master of illusion.”
7 Cruella
America’s sweetheart Emma Stone showed off her devilish side in the 2021 crime comedy Cruella, donning the notorious Disney villain’s trademark black-and-white hairstyle while giving moviegoers a look at her ominous origins. The adaptation centers on the criminal-in-the-making as she attempts to take the London fashion industry by storm during the 1970s, going head-to-head with narcissistic haute couture designer the Baroness (Emma Thompson).
When discussing what initially attracted her to taking on the hefty role, Stone told Marie Claire, “I thought it was so cool to see a film where there’s no love story in sight, it’s really just these two women on their own journey doing what they love to do and they’re doing that against all odds, at all costs.”
6 Minions: The Rise of Gru
Illumination
Steve Carell reprises his role as the diabolical Gru in the 2022 animated hit Minions: The Rise of Gru, depicting the eleven-year-old’s efforts to become the greatest and most feared supervillain in the world with the help of his zany trusted sidekicks.
Featuring the additional vocal talent of Taraji P. Henson, Michelle Yeoh and Julie Andrews, the blockbuster details Gru’s unintentional rivalry with the villainous supergroup Vicious 6 and his entertaining journey of embracing his inner bad side. Minons: Rise of Gru was celebrated for its animation and endearing humor and was well-received by audiences, earning an impressive A CinemaScore from moviegoers.
5 Batman Returns
Warner Bros.
The great Danny DeVito truly left his mark on the DC Comics universe when he brilliantly portrayed the psychopathic crime boss the Penguin in Tim Burton’s 1992 knockout Batman Returns, in which Michael Keaton reprises his role as the brooding masked vigilante as he fights to protect Gotham City from the deranged villain. The Penquin/Oswald Cobblepot’s tragic backstory is showcased in the picture, with his socialite parents having abandoned him in the sewers after discovering he was malformed at birth, thus kicking off his wicked ways.
Fellow Batman star Jack Nicholson recommended DeVito for the sensational role after the success of the initial film, and it took three hours for his distinct make-up and prosthetics to be applied; special make-up effects legend Stan Winston came up with the Penguin’s memorable look involving a fat suit, beak-like nose and webbed hands.
4 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
20th Century Fox
Die hard fans of the beloved George Lucas Star Wars franchise watched in amazement as former hero and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side of the force to transform into the iconic antagonist Darth Vader in the 2005 epic space opera Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. The thrilling installment of the series stars Hayden Christensen as the legendary villain who first captivated audiences in the 1977 groundbreaking masterpiece, having been notably voiced by James Earl Jones.
When discussing how he prepared to take over the illustrious role, Christensen recently revealed, “I was very cognizant of the performance that Jake Lloyd gave [in Episode I], and wanting it to feel like it really was just an older version of that kid, to some of the nuances and mannerisms of Darth Vader, wanting that transition to have some context as well, and to his children, Luke and Leia, and for that lineage to feel convincing.
3 X-Men: First Class
Marvel Entertainment
Jam-packed with some of Hollywood’s most brightest stars like James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicolas Hoult, the 2011 superhero flick X-Men: FIrst Class serves as a prequel to the popular series that centers on the complicated relationship between Charles Xavier and the X-Men and their eventual adversaries Magento and the Brotherhood of the Mutants. Michael Fassbender appears as the powerful electromagnetic mutant Erik Lehnsherr/Magento, who finds himself at odds with Xavier during the Cold War in the 1960s despite initially beginning as friends. To prepare for the part, Fassbender turned to Ian McKellen’s performances before opting to “paint a new canvas” and instead, “just going my own way and working with whatever is in the comic books and the script.”
2 Joker
Joaquin Phoenix took home the Academy Award for Best Actor when he delivered a career-defining performance as the titular nihilistic clown criminal in the 2019 psychological thriller Joker, chronicling the mentally ill character’s descent into madness and mayhem.
The seasoned actor lost 52 pounds for the role and in order to nail the Joker’s signature laugh, he thoroughly studied “videos of people suffering from pathological laughter” and spent a lot of time observing those living with the chronic condition and the way they express their thoughts and feelings. Phoenix did not reference past Joker portrayals or the DC Comics, instead reading a novel about political assassinations so that audiences could not identify with the dark character.
1 The Godfather Part II
Paramount Pictures
Though arguments can be made both ways as to whether infamous Mafia don Vito Corleone is solely a ruthless villain or instead a pseudo Robin Hood looking out for those closest to him, there’s no denying that Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 epic crime drama The Godfather Part II is a cinematic triumph of massive proportions.
The Oscar-winning picture stars Robert De Niro as a young Corleone, chronicling his early days in Sicily and his journey to New York City, where he becomes embroiled in the underground crime world and creates his prominent mafia empire. De Niro rightfully won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (one of six wins for the drama), and The Godfather Part II is heavily regarded as one of the greatest films in cinema history.
