We all have our favorite characters that we attach ourselves to and sometimes even emulate. I know when I was younger, all I wanted to do was to be like Fox Mulder from The X-Files. Strange choice, I know, but I was a strange kid. The best characters can help you see the best in humanity, even if it’s an idealized version of those qualities.
On the other hand, with a great protagonist comes despicable antagonists and side characters. The best of these characters live in our heads rent-free for completely different reasons than an upstanding lead. And yet there are certain morally awful characters that I can’t help but love, at least from the angle of enjoying a well-written baddie with a dedicated actor at the center.
Commodus from Gladiator
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Commodus from Gladiator is what happens when you let an extremely talented actor like Joaquin Phoenix just chew up the scenery for two hours of screen time. Commodus is petulant, spoiled, and bloodthirsty, and he embodies all the traits that a great villain should possess. He makes it that much easier to root for Russell Crowe’s Maximus.
All of these things would be enough to make Commodus a solid character, but Phoenix brings an extra layer of depth to the character that makes him memorable long after the credits start rolling. I still think he should have taken home the Best Supporting Actor trophy at the Oscars, but being nominated is still a nice testament to his brilliance. Every time I watch Gladiator, I can’t wait to see Commodus get his just deserts, and that’s how you know a villain is truly great.
Percy from The Green Mile
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Honestly, The Green Mile has more than one truly hateable character portrayed by a more-than-capable actor, but I settled for Percy. Portrayed by Doug Hutchison, Percy is a security guard who is cruel and possibly one of the least likable characters I have ever laid eyes on. He makes some of the prisoners in the film look almost saint-like, and I remember feeling an irrational sense of anger whenever he showed up on screen during my first viewing of The Green Mile.
The character of Percy is equally despicable in the serial novel by Stephen King, and Hutchison certainly does a fantastic job of bringing him to life. What could have been cartoonish in the wrong hands feels very human in his hands, and I know I’ve met some people in my life who have reminded me of the kind of person Percy represents. Even if The Green Mile isn’t a movie I can often rewatch — it’s just one of those emotionally powerful movies that leaves a lasting impact — I still find myself thinking about how much I loathe Percy.
Anton from No Country for Old Men
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Anton Chigurh is perhaps one of the most chilling characters on this list, because he seems almost inhuman in his capacity for violence and cruelty. A hitman that almost haunts the other characters in the film throughout like a specter, Anton is chaotic and random, much like violence itself. Deciding on the fate of those he comes across with nothing more than a coin flip, you never really know what will happen next when he’s on-screen.
This is another character that could have been too over-the-top in the wrong actor’s hands, but luckily for us, we get the brilliant Javier Bardem in the role. Bardem pulls from Cormac McCarthy’s brilliant novel of the same name expertly, bringing a complicated character from the page to the screen with seemingly little effort. Anton is truly one of the most memorable villains of all time, in one of the best movies ever made. No Country for Old Men is a prime example of suspense movies that haunt you long after they’re over.
Annie from Misery
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I mean, it’s Annie Wilkes. How could you not include her on a list like this? Another Stephen King story, who is the master of crafting the most horrifically entertaining characters you will ever see. Played with unparalleled skill by Kathy Bates, Annie is one of those characters where you can tell something is off almost immediately. As the film goes on, author Paul Sheldon (James Caan) fights to escape Annie’s clutches, and her true nature comes more into light.
What truly makes Annie so memorably terrifying, though, is how her actions never really wander outside the realm of realism. You could easily imagine her existing, and somehow, the theme of parasocial relationships and how dangerous they can be feels even more relevant now. Plus, there’s something additionally sadistic about a character who is supposed to be a healer actually proving to be capable of so much violence.
Shooter from Happy Gilmore
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There’s something extra fun about a truly despicable villain in a comedy movie, because it can be such a tight rope for an actor to walk. Not only do they need to be hateable, but they need to be funny as well. Christopher McDonald is the perfect example of how this is done with his portrayal of Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore.
A rival golfer who goes against the eponymous character played by Adam Sandler, Shooter is arrogant, slimy, and the exact type of villain you’d expect to find in a ’90s comedy. McDonald elevates the role with his comedic timing, though, and makes for a memorable big bad. The character makes a comeback in the sequel, and he’s a little less effective, but still carried by McDonald’s acting, which is just more proof that it’s really the performer that sells a lot of these roles.
Every film needs a good despicable character to really root against
While there doesn’t have to be a villain in the strictest sense of the word, I think the best films just tend to have those characters you root against on principle alone. For me, these are some of the best characters around for that purpose. Horror is also a great genre for finding some truly detestable characters, and we’ve made a list of some foreign horror films that are scarier than anything that Hollywood has produced.
