With the range of circumstances and worlds built into the sci-fi genre, also comes a range of villains. There are villains compelled by complex belief systems; villains who believe they are doing what is right, and villains who just want to destroy all that is good. The genre continues to turn out absolutely amazing characters like those recently featured in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Dune.
A good villain has to be terrifying, clever, and a suitable match for our protagonist. Aesthetics go a long way in defining a good villain; they have to be easily distinguishable from the protagonist and distinct. The shock factor from looks alone doesn’t make a good villain great; a superb villain has a backstory to justify their needs, and a character arc that progresses throughout the narrative. So here are the very best sci-fi villains, ranked.
9 Knifehead Kaiju - Pacific Rim (2013)
Warner Bros. Pictures
From the film Pacific Rim, in which giant monsters called Kaiju have invaded the human world, and giant robots called Jaegers are humanity’s only means of combating them. The film is directed by Guillermo del Toro and stars Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, and Rinko Kikuchi. The Knifehead Kaiju may not be the most powerful in the movie, but it definitely wins the beauty contest. This massive creature does not bode incredibly well when judged on its intellect – but its head is literally a giant knife, which makes it one of the coolest looking monsters in sci-fi.
8 General Grievous - Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Lucasfilm Ltd.
The now infamous mult-saber-toting cyborg was first introduced in the animated 2003 animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars and later in 2005 for the live action Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. There is not an incredible amount of backstory included in the film, but through other material, Grievous gains quite the in-depth history. His introduction to Obi-Wan Kenobi is full of suspense, and the two have beautiful cinematic combat. He is one of the more unique antagonists of the Star Wars franchise and for that, ranks very highly.
7 Predator - Predator (1987)
20th Century Fox
A villain first appearing in the 1987 action film Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although it has the skilled ability to track and hunt, this villain gains most of its prestige from its uniquely stylized looks. The character went on to receive many spinoffs and adaptations, a testament to its continued popularity.
6 Xenomorph - Alien (1979)
A now classic rendition of extraterrestrials in mainstream culture, the Xenomorph from Alien reconstructed the nightmare fantasy of aliens in an incredibly creative way. Building off concepts from H.R. Giger of extraterrestrials that included elongated extremities and morphed cranial structures, the creators of Alien created a slimy lizard-like creature that is truly terrifying.
Alien Movies in Order: How to Watch Chronologically and By Release Date
5 Agent Smith - The Matrix (1999)
Warner Bros.
The main antagonist from The Matrix, Agent Smith is an A.I. that exists within the Matrix and is programed to eliminate any errors in the code. There is not only character development in the first film, but over the entirety of the franchise! Agent Smith is constantly changing visually throughout the series, but becomes an enemy that you are relatively familiar with. From his appearance, he looks as though he is just a regular guy, but he shows complexity, and cleverness as he gains autonomy throughout the series.
4 Khan Nooien Sigh - Star Trek (1982, 2013)
Photo Credit - Bad Robot Productions, Skydance Productions, K/O Paper Products
A truly evil and cunning villain, Khan Nooien Sigh is a classic Star Trek villian. The character was played by Ricardo Montalbán in the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and then again by Benedict Cumberbatch in 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Khan is a genetically altered human who was once a great ruler of Earth, and possesses a strong hatred for Starfleet after they maroon him on an uncolonized world.
3 T-1000 - Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Tri-Star Pictures
The T-1000 is the terminator model featured in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It is newer when compared to the T-800 of the original film. The T-1000 is made from a liquid metal that can mimic the shape of any object it touches of a similar size. Although now well known, the reveal of this ability in the second film in the franchise is one of the greatest moments in action cinema history. Its ability is completely unexpected when compared to the weaker T-800, and its power seems to be unrivaled.
2 Immortan Joe - Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Immortan Joe is the main antagonist of Mad Max: Fury Road. He is an authoritarian dictator and leader of the fanatical militant group, War Boys. He controls the water supply in town and has constructed a breeding program in which he searches for an heir to his empire. This character is truly evil, as he exploits the work of his followers and has created a society that resembles a cult.
1 Darth Vader - Star Wars (1977)
Lucasfilm
Possibly the most iconic figure in sci-fi history, Darth Vader from Star Wars is the leader of the great and powerful Galactic Empire. Once known as Anakin Skywalker and training in the ways of the Jedi, he turns towards the darkside and joins the Sith. The progression of this character is robust; both the original trilogy and the prequel movies all tell the transitional story of the character. The character is incredibly powerful, hungry for control, and although it is not explicitly shown all that often, he is extremely smart. Darth Vader really hits all the marks; he truly is the most despicable sci-fi villain.
